An exclusive interview with Mr Doodle

Dope! recently had a special catch-up with Mr Doodle. Read on for this exclusive interview!

Born in Kent, England, Sam Cox, or Mr Doodle is well-known for his signature doodle drawings featuring a barrage of characters, objects, and patterns. Described as “Graffiti Spaghetti" because the line twists and tangles over everything in its path, Mr Doodle’s quirky work has conquered various fun objects, rooftops, his hometown, and even an entire whole room!

Starting his artistic career at just three years old, Mr Doodle scribbled over any object he could get his hands on and covered his bedroom with paper doodles. He soon manifested his vision of the world, creating his own iconic “DoodleWorld” – a place where his monochromatic doodle touches almost every surface it touches, moving from walls to the furniture to the floor. When completed, the doodles cloak everything in 2D drawings and flatten 3D spaces, making it hard to distinguish between different surfaces.

Dope!: Are there any artists or doodle artists who inspire you?

Yes, some of my inspiration comes from Banksy, Walt Disney, Keith Haring, and Pablo Picasso.

Dope!: What pen do you use and do you always draw with the same type of pen?

I use different pens for different projects and it does tend to vary. I love working big with thick markers or spray paint.

Dope!: What’s going on in your mind during the doodling process?

I am usually thinking about old memories or imagining future events, sometimes I think about whether aliens exist and whether there are other dimensions that exist along with ours.

Dope!: Your works have transformed over the years to arrive at the current bold monochrome images that are comparatively more striking. How did this transition come about?

I think that through constantly practicing my work the doodles have eventually become bolder and more confident, so it was a natural progression to start to use bigger tools. I love working in black and white because it is the most striking contrast you can create.

Dope!：? We love the sense of spontaneity and fluidity when you draw. Do you usually plan what (and how) to draw in advance or do you conjure the drawing right when your pen touches the paper?

I don’t plan any of my works, I let them all come to life when I put my pen to the surface. Sometimes I will have a theme in my head that I base the work off, but I don’t create plans and sketches because I feel like it constrains the work.

Dope!：Your character is always regarded as positive and cheery. Do you ever feel that you are not taken seriously in your work, especially compared to other urban artists? Do you try to balance humor and wit with a sense of gravitas in your work?

Yes, I feel very happy when I am drawing, so I think it’s natural for that feeling of positivity to show through. I don’t take my work too seriously because for me it is the happiest thing in the world. I don’t mind how people compare me to urban artists, I am here to have fun.

Dope!：You’ve doodled on so many interesting surfaces, including an entire room! What’s your most memorable project? What’s the craziest doodle medium idea you want to execute?

One of my favorite projects was a Doodle Tunnel installation that I created in London. I think this was really cool because it was a great opportunity to share my work through an immersive experience to everyday people who may not usually go into an art gallery. My next big project is to doodle my entire house inside and out!

Dope!：You’ve created social media content for a decade now, and have amassed over 2 million fans. How has social media helped in your growth over the years?

Social media has been a really powerful tool for sharing my work with people all over the world. I love using these platforms to showcase my work. I particularly love capturing myself in videos as I feel that is the most awesome way to show my work because it shows not only the final image but the process of creating the work too. My videos on social media have helped me reach new countries and have lead to offers of me exhibiting my work around the world.

Dope!：Out of the previous brand collaborations, which one was most memorable or most challenging for you? Is there a dream brand that you hope to partner with in the future?

I think the most memorable brand collaboration moment was my work with Samsung for Unpacked 2018 where I was invited to go on stage and doodle live in front of thousands of people. In the future, I would love to work with a company like Coca Cola and doodle a whole factory or something!

Other Brand Collaborations:

PUMA, 2020

FENDI, 2020

PURLING LONDON, 2019

Dope!：Although your auction debut only started less than a year ago, you have already received some commendable reaction, like how “Spring” was hammered down at US$890,210 (12 times its pre-sale estimate). How will this newfound commercial success affect the way you create new works in the future?

I was thrilled to see my work sell for such a good price at auction. I am really happy about this because it’s not only good for me but it’s good for doodlers everywhere. It validates doodling as an art form so that it is no longer about quick throwaway drawings. But instead, each doodle that everyday people make should now be considered differently and valued more than it was before. This is a great thing for people who are nervous to create art or feel they aren’t good enough because everyone can doodle and I’d encourage everyone to try. The newfound commercial success has encouraged me to make more and more works.

Dope!：There is an obvious interest for you and your works in Asia, like how you achieved an auction record in Tokyo and headlining Sotheby’s exhibition in Hong Kong last year. Have you traveled to Asia before you visited Hong Kong in 2020?

Yes, my first trip to Asia was to HK in November 2017.

Mr Doodle Invades Sotheby’s Opening Reception

Dope!：What are your impressions of Asia? Where in Asia would you like to visit after the pandemic?

I really enjoy visiting Asia, the people in each of the counties I have been to have been very pleasant to me. I enjoy looking at the architecture in Asia and I particularly like the busy-ness of cities like Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong. In the future, I’d like to visit China.

Dope!：We noticed that you created doodle versions of artworks by Chinese artists such as Sanyu and Ni Zan. Is there any reason why you picked these artworks?

I felt these artworks would be really fun to make in my style. They are very different from my drawings and I thought that would be a good challenge.

Dope!：Do you have any thoughts on traditional or modern art in the east?

I am particularly drawn to the ‘cute’ characters that are popular in Eastern culture, the cartoons from comic books, social media apps, and video games, like LINE FRIENDS and Super Mario.

Dope!：Are you planning to recreate any work by other Asian artists soon?

In the future, I am sure I will create artworks with references to Asian artists as it is an area I am interested in. I am keen to create works that communicate with people all over the globe!

Dope!：What’s next for Mr Doodle in 2021?

I will doodle over my whole house! I hope people will enjoy seeing the results.