The Sydney Man Taking On The World In… Doodling

Tom Hadley is Australia’s best doodle artist, beating thousands of other talented Aussies for the coveted title.

Now, Hadley is in Amsterdam, representing Australia in the Red Bull Doodle Art World Final.  

On today’s This Arvo In Sydney, host Sacha Barbour Gatt and LiSTNR journalist Micaela Savage spoke to Hadley about his art and when a doodle becomes a drawing.

Click the link below to listen the full episode:

Hadley told This Arvo that it felt “surreal” being the best doodle artist in Australia as his winning entry was actually an artwork he whipped up while killing time on the train to Newcastle.

Obviously, I didn’t think of myself as that and still don’t think of myself as the first doodle artist in Australia,”

Hadley said.

From 25 to 28 May 2023, the World Final will bring together all the national finalists globally for a three-day immersive experience in Amsterdam.

Participants must draw with only black or blue pen, stylus (digital pen) or pencils.

Going to Amsterdam, there are 62 other countries that each have someone representing them. Essentially all I can really give away is that the art, the artwork needs to represent me and the culture that I’m from,”

he added.

Beaches and surf culture heavily influenced Hadley, and one of the artists that inspired his artworks was a local Manly artist named Ben Brown, famous for his bold and hard-line works. 

Hadley decided to draw the Eora Nation, which referred to 29 Sydney metropolitan area clan groups.

The City acknowledges the Gadigal of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of this place we now call Sydney.

I wanted to pay my respects as someone who was born and raised in that area and to the people who originally were the custodians of that land.”

Hosted by Sacha Barbour, This Arvo in Sydney is a 10 to 12 minute daily news podcast made just for Sydney! Listen now on theListnr app.