There are some tiny troublemakers loose in Payson, and I have a confession to make. They're mine.
 

If you've noticed a funny little face hiding around town lately, you're not imagining things. A handful of doodles have made their way out of Doodle Buddies Art Studio and into the wild. They've been popping up in unexpected places, making new friends, and generally causing the kind of harmless mischief that only a little piece of art can.
 

And while I would love to tell you they escaped entirely on their own, I may have had something to do with it.

But there's actually a reason behind all this silliness.

It All Started With a Doodle!
 

Think about the first time you made art.

Chances are, it wasn't a masterpiece. Maybe it was a stick figure with questionable anatomy, a smiling sun in the corner of a notebook, or a creature that looked suspiciously like a potato.

But you made it anyway.
 

You probably weren't thinking about technique, composition, or whether someone would like it. You were just creating because it was fun.

That's the thing I love about doodles. They're wonderfully imperfect. They don't ask for permission, they don't follow many rules, and they certainly don't care whether they're good enough to hang in a gallery.
 

Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, though, a lot of us lose that freedom.

We start saying things like "I'm not creative" or "I can't even draw a stick figure," as if creativity is something we're either born with or not.

And I think that's a shame. Because creativity doesn't disappear when we grow up. Sometimes it just needs a little encouragement to come back out.

So, Why Are There Doodles Running Around Utah County?

When I started Doodle Buddies, I wanted to create more than a place to take art classes. I wanted to build a little corner of our community where creativity feels welcoming. Somewhere kids can make a mess, adults can try something new, and nobody feels like they have to be a professional artist to belong.
 

But why should all that fun stay inside the studio?

That's where our Escaped Doodles come in.

Each little character is a reminder that art doesn't have to be expensive, complicated, or even particularly impressive to make someone smile. Sometimes it's as simple as finding a goofy little face when you least expect it. Maybe it makes you laugh. Maybe you stop to take a picture. Maybe it inspires you to pick up a pencil for the first time in years. Or maybe it's just a small, unexpected bright spot in an otherwise ordinary day.

That's enough for me.

Because art isn't just about what we make. It's about how it makes us feel, the connections it creates, and the little bits of joy we share along the way.

Wait... I Found One! Now What?

First of all, congratulations! You've officially encountered one of our tiny fugitives. Don't worry, they're harmless. Although some have developed rather questionable personalities. If you've spotted an Escaped Doodle, here's how you can join the fun!

 

• Give your new friend a moment in the spotlight. Snap a picture and share it on social media! Tag Doodle Buddies so we can see where our little troublemakers have ended up.

 

• Get to know your doodle. Every doodle has a little personality of its own. Some even have names! Feel free to give yours a backstory. We love a good origin story.
   

• Help spread the joy. Your doodle is marked as free to take, you're welcome to bring it home. Otherwise, you can re-hide or leave it where you found it so someone else can experience the surprise!
   

• Let it inspire you. Draw something silly. Make something imperfect. Get creative for absolutely no reason other than the fun of it.

And if you share your discovery, there's a good chance your little friend might make an appearance on our Doodle Sightings Wall!

A Little Art Can Go a Long Way

I know these are just doodles. They're small, a little ridiculous, and probably not going to change the world.

But I do believe that small things can make a difference. A doodle might make a stranger smile. That smile might turn into a conversation. That conversation might introduce someone to a creative community they didn't know existed.

And suddenly, something that started with a few markers and a silly idea becomes a way to bring people together.

That's really what I hope Doodle Buddies can become for Payson. Not just an art studio, but a place where creativity spills out into the community, where people feel welcome to try new things, and where we remember that making art is something we can all enjoy.

So, the next time you spot a little doodle peeking out from somewhere unexpected, say hello. And maybe ask yourself when you last made something just for the fun of it. After all, if a doodle can escape the studio, maybe your creativity can escape its hiding place, too.

With a little creativity and a whole lot of doodles,

Ryleigh

Founder of Doodle Buddies Art Studio

P.S. The Doodles Are Still Out There...

Keep your eyes peeled around Utah County! You never know where one might turn up next.

Want to see where all this creative chaos began? Come visit us at Doodle Buddies! We offer art classes, private lessons, and creative events for kids, teens, and adults.

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