Notable Doodlers: Old School STEM Sketches with Leonardo Da Vinci

You may be thinking, old school STEM ?

  • 3D drawing: Large-headed human figure with large arm
  • Close-up of 3D man's body drawing on paper.

That’s right! Even though the STEM acronym was only introduced in 2001, STEM has been explored by many great thinkers throughout history.

One of the greatest intellectuals who documented his reflections on the arts and sciences was the late Renaissance prodigy, Leonardo da Vinci.

Regarded as one of the greatest painters of all time, da Vinci spent a significant amount of his life designing inventions in his journals and diving deep into studying science, technology, engineering, mathematics, anatomy, architecture, sculpture, music, cartography, literature, astronomy, geology, botany, writing, and history, to name quite more than few! His journals are filled with machine prototypes, drawings of human bodies, plants, geometric figures, and much, much more. His margins, interestingly, are filled with notes written backwards and from right to left, which is theorized as being a product of his dyslexia.

Though the majority of his prototypes were not made due to limitations of metallurgy and manufacturing at that time, his designs of flying machines and other large-scale inventions are a testament to his technological ingenuity. Of note, some of his smaller inventions did make it into manufacturing, including a machine that measured the tensile strength of wire.


Leonardo da Vinci’s explorations of the sciences were quite advanced for his time. In fact, da Vinci’s journals document the first known systematic study of the laws of friction. His journals also show that he applied the findings from his studies on friction to prototype designs later in his life.
Close-up of 3D drawing: detailed man's arm muscles.

Unlike most artists, da Vinci achieved recognition within his lifetime for his body of work, and the King of France held him in great reverence. There are legends that say the King cared for da Vinci in his elderly years, and even held him as he passed away. However, many critics would say that this endearing tale is untrue.

Leonardo da Vinci’s popularity has only increased over the years, and his famous Mona Lisa painting is said to be the most popular painting in the world. His influence on the arts and sciences has been profound, and he will be forever remembered and revered in our collective memory.

Do you keep scribbles in your science notes? We’d love to see all of your Doodly diagrams.

Please share your STEM scratch pad with us on social media!

@3Doodler #3Doodler #3DoodlerEDU

Busy Bee Doodles for Honey Bee Day

So, what’s the buzz about Honey Bee Day?

Honeycomb 3D pen art: Bees in a beehive.

Honey, we’ve got the inside scoop for you.

Every year on the third Saturday of August, National Honey Bee Day honors honey bees, beekeepers, and bee enthusiasts all across the globe. This day is a perfect time to spread awareness of the profound influence that honey bees have on our everyday lives, and to also share the importance of protecting these magnificent creatures.

So, what can you do to honor our buzzing bee friends on this special day?

We have just the activities for the occasion.

  • 3D pen shoes and bug paper-cut art
  • Bug and shoes on 3D pen drawing board
  • Black and white paper on 3D pen drawing board
  • 3D pen art of a toy bug on a table
  • 3D pen art: Bee toy on drawing board

  • Make a Doodle that’s as cute as a bug with this stencil by @sydtropolis.
  • Bring some STEM learning to Honey Bee Day by learning bee anatomy. Can you identify the anatomical parts on your Doodled bee?
  • Spend some time gathering local wildflower seeds. Make a plan to spread them to promote honey bee pollination.
  • Plant some bee-loving plants in your yard or on your porch. Bees love lavender, alfalfa and clover!
  • Get your morning coffee or tea buzz on with honey instead of a different sweetener.
  • Research what is happening with bees in the world and share what you learn with a friend. A great resource for learning about bees is HoneyLove.org, the non-profit that manages National Honey Bee Day.
Bee and insect in hand – 3D pen art

You’ll be very busy bee Doodling adorable bugs, gathering seeds, and tasting the delicious honey made by our pollinating pals.

Bee sure to share your Honey Bee Day activities with us on social media!

@3Doodler #3Doodler #HoneyBeeDay

Doodles by Sydnee Davidson @sydtropolis