Hi everyone! This is Bea, lettering artist and journaling lover, and I’m so happy to join the Archer & Olive Ambassador Team this year! You can find me as @bealettering on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Simple repeating patterns are one of my favorite creative tools to reduce stress and quiet my mind. In a world that often feels overwhelming, drawing repetitive shapes can create rhythm, focus, and a sense of calm when everything gets a little too much.
And the best part is that you don’t need artistic skills and you definitely don’t need to create a masterpiece. You just need a pen (or several 😉), a notebook, and a few minutes to spare. And in this post, I’m not only sharing with you six simple repeating patterns you can draw to reduce stress and anxiety, but I’ll also show you how to use them inside your journal.
Supplies I used to create the patterns
- A journal or notebook to practice. I'd recommend to go for a smaller size, since large pages can be a bit intimidating at first!
- Brush pens and fine tip pens, such as Calliographs and Acrylographs
- A soft pencil for guidelines (optional)
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Why repeating patterns help reduce stress?
Repeating patterns reduce stress because they have a calming effect on our brains. Repetition creates rhythm and, in a chaotic world, it provides a sense of stability.
It’s well known that creating repeating patterns can trigger a flow or meditative state. This allows the mind to quiet its internal chatter and focus on the present moment, instead of the never-ending list of things we have to do (and will get to eventually, just not right now :).
But I also love them simply because they’re fun. When I draw them, perfection becomes less important than the process. And the best part? You can easily adapt them to fit your color palette and journal style.
Let's dive into the patterns!
1. Horizontal & vertical lines (grid pattern)
This is one of my favorite patterns to draw!
Start by drawing horizontal lines across the page, trying to keep a similar distance between them, and then add vertical lines crossing over the first layer. If you use a light color and go over the intersections with the same pen, the overlapping areas will naturally appear darker. This layering effect creates a woven texture that feels very satisfying!
I use this parttern for days when my mind feels scattered and I need structure. The repetition brings order, and the visual rhythm creates a sense of calm. Soft neutral tones like beige, pale olive or muted blue work lovely here, but even a simple dark grey can create a beautiful result.
2. Scallop or fish scale pattern
You can create this patter by drawing semicircles one after another, and they can represent anything with a rounded shape: scallops, suns, rainbows… you name it.
Begin with a row of curved shapes, and then start the second row from the center of the first semicircle so the pattern sits in a staggered layout. In monochrome, it feels soft and elegant, while in rainbow gradients it becomes joyful and uplifting.
This is a wonderful pattern for creative days when you want something soothing but not too rigid. Using a brush pen gives the arcs more personality, while a fine liner keeps everything more controlled and refined.
3. Relaxing dot patterns
If you’re familiar with stippling, this one might sound a bit intimidating. But don’t worry, our dot patterns are much more relaxed. There’s no right or wrong way to do them. Just fill a section of the page with circles or dots, changing the size and spacing as you go. The goal isn’t symmetry or perfection (once again, we’re letting that go here).
The repetitive tapping motion can feel grounding, especially on anxious days. It’s also perfect if you only have five minutes and want a quick creative reset, although that depends on how big your page is!
A simple fineliner works perfectly, but a round brush pen makes it even easier to vary the size naturally and fill the page without overthinking it.
4. Diagonal rain lines
For this pattern, lightly draw a diagonal guideline in pencil, going from the bottom left to the top right (that ascending diagonal just feels more uplifting). Then go over it with short, broken strokes to create a soft rain-like texture.
These little discontinuous lines add movement without making the page feel heavy. It can be energetic if you use thick, bold strokes, or calming if you use lighter ones. I especially like using it as a light background behind lettering, and it’ll work as long as you keep the colors soft: it adds depth without taking over the whole page.
5. Parallel curved lines
The title here says “parallel,” but don’t worry: you won’t need a ruler to create this one. And remember, imperfections are welcome!
To create this pattern, draw long curved lines from one side of the page to the other, allowing them to bend naturally as your hand moves. After drawing four or five parallel lines, begin a new group crossing the first set, and keep going until you’re satisfied.
The result feels dynamic and organic, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. In fact, this pattern is especially helpful if you struggle with perfectionism, because it’s all about movement rather than accuracy. Using two tones within the same color family (like sage and deep green) can add subtle depth while keeping the overall look cohesive.
6. Imperfect hollow shapes
Drawing small, imperfect squares across the page creates a texture that feels structured, but still very human. Don’t worry about closing each shape perfectly: those little irregularities are part of the charm. You can also play with other hollow shapes, like rectangles, circles or even simple stars. Just keep them loose and sketchy.
I love this pattern when I want something that feels organized but not too rigid, or when I need to fill an awkward empty space in my journal. It works just as well in a minimal black-and-white spread as it does in a more colorful one, so it really adapts to whatever mood you’re in.
How to use these patterns in your journal
This is where things get exciting!
These patterns aren’t just drawing exercises: we can use them to design beautiful pages in our journals.
Dense patterns like grids or scallops make amazing monthly cover backgrounds. You can fill an entire page with your pattern, then glue a white rectangle in the center to write the month name and add a small calendar. I love the contrast between a busy background and a clean central space, because it creates depth while everything still feels readable.
Patterns that are dense but simple to draw also work beautifully across a double-page weekly spread (and since a double spread already means double the space to fill, keeping the pattern simple is a very good idea!). Once the background is done, you can place small white rectangles for each weekday and maybe a slightly larger one for notes. You still get structure, but the page feels much more creative than a plain layout.
Parallel curved lines that leave white space between them can turn into a creative journaling page. Instead of writing on traditional ruled lines, you simply write between the curves. It immediately feels more expressive and fun. And if you struggle with journaling, the parallel lines fill a lot of space, so writing feels less overwhelming than writing on a blank page.
And finally, repeating shapes like imperfect squares or circles are perfect for trackers. Each shape can represent a day, a mood, or a habit. You just fill them in with color based on your legend, and then a simple tracking page becomes a mindful drawing practice as well.
Download your free templates and watch the video
Repeating patterns invite you to slow down, step away from the noise, and reconnect with yourself for a few quiet minutes. They don’t demand perfection, and they don’t require a big time commitment. Even five minutes of mindful drawing can shift your mood and help you reset 😊
If you’d like to practice these simple repeating patterns, you can download the free printable templates below and follow along (I’ve also included some blank space for you to create your own). Click the image below to download it!
And if you prefer to see the process in action, make sure to watch the full video where I draw each pattern step by step and show you how I use them in my bullet journal.
Start with just one pattern today and let me know if it helps! I’d love to see your repeat patterns and how you use them in your journal. Share your pages on social media and tag @archerandolive and @bealettering using the hashtags #AOShare and #archerandolive.
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