Happy Current
from the Happy Doodles Project

This diptych titled Happy Current is a collaborative community project that began when the Scouts troop I led wanted to create something to help sick children. We called it the Happy Doodles Project, and the concept is essentially that there is a joyful, caring, timeless energy flowing in the world, from —and for— us all. The artwork represents this current in both its visual form and process.

“The concept is essentially that there is a joyful, caring, timeless energy flowing in the world, from —and for— us all. The artwork represents this current in both its visual form and process.”

In our process, we invited people at various community gatherings to create “happy doodles.” Over 80 children and some adults participated, and then I scanned the doodles, digitally composed them with other painted textures to represent a “current,” printed them on archival canvas, and wrapped the canvas on frames to donate and sell.

We sold the artwork at a local community festival, with all proceeds donated to Ellie's Hats, a local-run organization that gives fun hats and financial support to children battling cancer. Prints were also donated to our schools’ health / nurse offices.

The Happy Doodles Project aims to empower children and people of all ages to feel empathy, use their creative expression, and take action to help others. As a collaborative project, there is value in the large quantity of contributors, all creating as part of a common cause.

The artwork’s visual form is a celebration of the goodness present in the world: The "Happy Current" represents the continuous flow of positive, uplifting, fun, joyous, loving energy that exists in our world. We can contribute to it; we can draw from it; we can share it. And it has tremendous power to heal and soothe.

The "Happy Current" also celebrates joyful presence: what we can give at the current moment in time. Doodles are spontaneous by nature—free expressions in the moment.

In many ways, this project invites viewers to celebrate our children (and all people) not just for what they might become, but for the perfect individuals they are right now — the perspectives and gifts they have at this time to offer the world.

Our doodle philosophy: Think of something happy, grab an art tool, and see what you make. Whatever you have to contribute right now, in this current moment, is wonderful and enough!

“Whatever you have to contribute right now, in this current moment, is wonderful and enough!”