Calling all doodlers and dabblers — it's time to join the resistance!
ArtRage fwd (Forward) is a Texas-based, volunteer-run project aiming to forward 200 pieces of resistance-motivated doodles from registered, Texas voters to Texas politicians at the state and federal level ahead of the November 2026 mid-term elections
Who is this for?
TL;DR — We're looking at you, introverts...
But we avoid eye contact and quickly look away. We're not monsters. Read our full answer: 'Learn more'
Doodle & Letter Gallery
Above are samples of some of our earliest sends. Follow us on social media to see more!
Who is this for?
Yes, we're looking at you, introverts. Sorry to make it awkward.
You might assume we dreamed up this idea as a way to engage artists, but that's not quite right. This project is for the dabblers and doodlers, the socially anxious, and the sensitive folks who cringe at the thought of calling their representatives, even if an app promises to script the conversation for them.If you've ever handed over your phone to a friend to talk to a customer service representative for you, or kept an item you wanted to return just to avoid an awkward conversation with a stranger, then you understand the kind of visceral reaction that stops some people from raising their voices in standard ways. If that sounds like you...Let us be your buffer! You don't have to be anyone but you. If you have strong feelings about what's happening in our state, our country, and our world, and you doodle or dabble in art, then we'd like to help you join the resistance movement in a way that respects your well-being and, dare we hope, adds to it.
Why should you doodle your outrage?
TL;DR — It's good for you, and it's good for the movement.
There are at least two very good reasons you should consider engaging in art and sending it to us:
Reason 1: Art is good for humans.
Processing intense emotions through artwork is incredibly good for your mental health, and we all need to be taking care of ourselves.
If you're overwhelmed to the point of feeling numb or frozen, art can help you work through the backlog of unprocessed emotions. It's not a substitute for professional help, but it is a healthful practice.
Abstract is awesome! Art is a language that can express complex emotions we don't have words for. If trying to translate your feelings into words (especially political-talking-point-type words) only adds to your stress — try art!
Reason 2: The resistance movement needs you.
"History shows that when just 3.5% of a population — about 12 million Americans — engage in peaceful protest, their demands become nearly impossible to ignore."*You may have already heard about the 3.5% Rule, and that it isn't a rule at all. It's an observation and evaluation of historical movements. The good news is, history is a great teacher! The resistance is growing across the country, but the big question is — will it reach critical mass? We sure hope so! Which is why engaging all types of people feels so VERY important right now. We can't afford to ignore a population of genuinely wonderful and caring individuals who are ever-so-quietly raging inside and who have yet to find a way to engage that works for them."For everyday Americans wishing to actively object to the government's slide toward's authoritarian policies, the 3.5% rule is a motivational yardstick to measure the likely result of peaceful mobilization."*
*source: Center For American Progress
What issues have us raging?
TL;DR — We're big mad about authoritarianism.
There's a lot to be mad about. We've compiled a quick (incomplete) list of our stances. If you're in a rage about any of these, send us your artwork! If you have an issue you’re passionate about that’s not listed below, please email or DM us to make sure we can help get your artwork to the right representative.
What we stand for:
Democracy - protect our free and fair elections.
Justice - for victims of the Epstein files, for citizens wrongly detained and deported, for harmed immigrants, protesters, and communities.
Impeachment and accountability - no one is above the law.
What we stand against:
ICE - unlawful tactics, sweeps, surveillance, detention centers, assaults and deadly violence.
International hostilities - most recently against Venezuela and Greenland.
Environmental and economic harm - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and clean energy rollbacks; tariffs, rising prices, and billionaire subsidies.
Guidelines For Participating
Here's a quick overview of what we're asking you to do:
Arm yourself with art tools — Find a small notebook, a pad of post-it notes, or a stack of printer paper. Locate a few pens or pencils, and you're all set. Your materials don't need to be fancy.
Commit to capturing your reactions — Set up a regular practice of 15 minutes a day, a week, or just once to process some of the news and events you've heard about. Turn those reactions into flash art, doodles, or any form of quick, visual expression that captures your emotional response. We're not looking for finished pieces. Your angry doodle conveys sentiment every bit as well as a sternly worded email and stands out even more!
Send us your artwork — We'll need some other information, too (see 'Send Art'). We'll forward your drawings, doodles, or flash art to one of your representatives, and we'll include a letter from us. See a sample letter below. Politicians are constantly gauging the reactions of their constituents. Numbers matter, but so does genuine emotion.
Note: When we post your artwork on our social media accounts, we'll keep it anonymous, but you're welcome to claim the art in the comments and share the post.
Requirements
You must be a registered voter in Texas.
Your submission must be your own original, human-created creative work. We are not accepting digital art at this time.
Your art can express anger but must be safe for work (SFW). No sexual images or threats of violence.
SIZE: Your submission must be mailable in a standard 9”x12” manila envelope or smaller, folded or flat. The maximum weight is 3.5 oz.
Sample Letter
Below is a sample of the letter we'll include when we forward your artwork to your representative. Your full name and address will be in the signature. We will not share your identifying information online or anywhere else.
May 1, 2026Representative [Name]
Texas House of Representatives
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, Texas 78768-2910To the office of ---,Joy Doodlesgood is a registered voter from San Antonio. Joy created the enclosed artwork entitled “I'm Angry About Everything That Is Happening Now” to express her outrage over the news that ICE intends to build additional detention centers in Texas.On Joy’s behalf and with her permission, we are forwarding her artwork to you because:
As a member of the Texas legislature, you can oppose ICE's efforts to buy warehouses and build more detention camps in our state.
You can call for a stop to the inhumane treatment currently happening in ICE facilities.
Your constituents expect you to take action.Sent on behalf of:
Joy Doodlesgood
123 Address
San Antonio, TX Zip
Send Us Your Artwork!
Now that you're ready to join the resistance, here's what to do:
Address a non-rigid envelope (no. 10 preferred) to:
ArtRage fwd, P.O. Box 17601, Austin, TX 78760In your envelope, include your artwork (see Guidelines), and the following information on a separate piece of paper:
Your full name and pronouns - your name will appear in the letter forwarded to your representative. No identifying information will be posted online.
Your full address - Your home address (not a P.O. Box or mailing address). We need this to identify your representatives and to include in the letter. If you’d prefer we only include your name and city in the letter, let us know.
Topic or title - let us know which news item or event you are responding to. You can be brief (ex. 'ICE in Texas') as long we have enough to identify the issue.
Your primary emotion - i.e. anger, rage, sadness, etc. We’ll use this to fill in the letter.
Voter registration status - Write a quick note saying, "I'm registered to vote." If you are not sure, please verify your status before sending artwork. Check my voter registration.
Written permission - Write a brief permission statement. Ex. “You have my permission to send my original artwork to one of my representatives. You may post my artwork online anonymously.” If you don’t want us posting your artwork online, say that instead. We’re happy to respect your boundaries.
Example: Joy Doodlesgood (she/her), 123 Address, San Antonio, TX, 12345. My art: "I'm angry about everything that is happening now," responding to ICE in Texas. Outraged! I'm registered to vote. You can forward my art and post online.
Mail us your envelope. We ask you to pay for postage to us. You can send more than one doodle per envelope, but no packages or rigid envelopes, please. We’ll pay for postage to forward on your artwork to your representative. If you’d like to include extra stamps in your envelope to help with the cost, we’ll gladly accept!
(Optional) Follow us on social media and keep an eye out for your post. When you see it, you are welcome to identify yourself as the artist in the comments. If you’re the type to share, then please share to help us reach more doodlers and our goal of 1,000 forwards. If you need to contact us about your post, please DM or email us.
What happens next?
When we receive your envelope, we’ll look at the issue that inspired your artwork and determine who we think is in the best position to impact that issue. We frequently start with 5Calls.org. It's a great resource even if you don't like making calls. We highly recommend supporting it!We'll aim to identify the representative who has the most authority or ability to impact your issue at the state or federal level. If multiple representatives could be the right audience, we’ll make a judgment call. If you have a specific representative in mind, feel free to include their info with your submission.