Help [ME] Ronda

Art Journal Conversations: Arleigh

It's Art Journal Conversation time, the third Wednesday of the month! i love that i get to have conversations with some of my favorite "art journalers." i am just as curious as you are about their styles. So let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and chat with them about their process, supplies, and their thoughts on what goes onto their pages. 

i have known arleigh for years now as she is a fellow Coloradan scrapper. i actually first met her on two peas when i moved to town and then through Emily Pitts. You have heard me mention arleigh quite often on my blog and that's because i utterly adore her. She's witty, talented, and full of wisdom. Cocoa Daisy is one of her clients and i completely love what she designs for Christine. She has great insights and any time i can sit & chat with her, i do. i am blessed to live so close to her so i can soak up some of her creativity. i love her journals and really wanted to share them with you today.  

Do you "Art Journal" every day? If so, what time of day works best for you?

No, I don’t. I do it in spurts. But I leave it open and ready in my office/art studio all the time. It waits for me.

I love the little tid-bits you include in your journals. Where do you find all these pieces?

I grab things as I go. The tag from new jeans, a page from a magazine, instructions from Ikea with that little Ikea dude. They don’t all make it into my art journal. Sometimes I lose them or forget why they’re in my purse and throw them away. 

I also use my art journal the way someone might make Leftover Hash in the kitchen. Anyone who has scrapbooked with me knows that I hate seeing little scraps thrown away. So I save them up and make stuff with them in my art journal. 

My background as a typesetter, going back to the mid-‘80s, gives me a taste for text as essential to design. I feel like text completes the design. If I can’t do it myself with stamping or writing, I will use strips cut from magazines or washi tape with text on it, just to get that bit on there. 

Your journals seem to reflect your every day life extremely well. What’s your thought process for adding items into your journal?

I actually have three or four journals going at a time. Sometimes they have different purposes, sometimes they’re just a free-for-all.

Right now, one of them is a little mini booklet. My idea for this one is one thought or quote per page, a little bit of art, and the date. 

Another is a brain-dump journal. Sometimes it’s grocery lists, another day it’s meeting notes, and sometimes it’s just doodles. I carry it around in my purse and tuck things into it and let it get beat-up. This is the one that reflects my real life. When it fills up or I get bored of it, I put it on the shelf and get a new book out. Got to remember to put the date and the year on the first page. I’ve filled up books without writing the date, and I feel like Miss Marple trying to solve a mystery when I’m looking back through it later, trying to figure out the dates.

Then I have a book that’s more of what you think of when you say “art journal.” I like to prep a few pages when I’m doing something else like stamping, misting, or painting. I’ve even painted pages with house paint when I had a bit leftover on my brush. The prepped pages are my new “blank page” and I can go back later and collage onto them, or journal, or washi tape, or whatever.

This month, December 2014, I’m doing Julie Fei-Fan Balzer’s #CarveDecember stamp carving challenge, so I’m stamping my hand-carved stamps into my art journal. Maybe that’s all that will go on those pages, or maybe I’ll play with them. No idea. 

What kind of things do you write in your journals?

When I write in a journal, I feel depressurized. Even if it’s just a list of what I need to do tomorrow, or a note about something I want to look up later, I feel more relaxed knowing that I don’t have to hold onto it in my head anymore. Sometimes I write about what’s happening to me right now. Sometimes I write more philosophical content. 

What's your best advice to someone who is just started Art Journaling?

I think copying someone else’s work is a great way to explore the art form, learn new techniques, and fine tune your own. Just like following someone else’s recipe in the kitchen, then adapting it to your own taste after you’ve tried it a few times. Pinterest is a wonderful tool for exploring other people’s work.

It doesn’t have to be in a journal either. You could do it on the back of envelopes, a bulletin board, or a canvas. Paint, pens, text, scraps of paper, magazine collage, ribbons, staples, whatever. 

Don’t worry about what to write. If you can’t think of anything, just a snip of lyric from a song, or a phrase that you like. 

And last, do it for yourself. No one ever needs to see it. It’s like dancing alone. You’re just doing it because it feels good to do it. No deadlines, no critics, no rules.

What’s your favorite part of Art Journaling?

As a great artist once said, "No deadlines, no critics, no rules.” Oh wait, that was me, I just said it. 

I am a freelance designer and I do art for other people. I have to do what they want, work within their deadline, and also have a lot of my ideas rejected. There are also graphic design rules. Stuff like margins, and kerning, and readability, etc. I like knowing there’s a place I can goof around with no client to please. 

What types of Journals do you use? Purchased, homemade, or other?  Why do you favor the kind you use?

I like two kinds of journals. If I plan to write in it, I like a fully round spiral, so that I can fold the front cover all the way around. I have a binder-maker so that I can make my own spiral bound journals, which I do occasionally. Cereal boxes make awesome journal covers. 

For all other purposes, I just need to make sure it will lay flat. My rule of thumb is to never buy a blank book for more than $8. I don’t know where I got that figure; it’s just random. I like Moleskin style books—the middle staple booklet. But I go through them so quickly, I don’t pay attention to brand names. If I like the cover and the paper heft, and it’s less than $8, I buy it. I have a nice stack of blank books. I give them as gifts too. 

I don’t embellish covers much. Sometimes I doodle on the cover or just put one thing on the cover so I can tell front from back. I’m more interested in the pages inside.

Arleigh, which rhymes with “Charlie,” is a freelance graphic artist and fine artist who works from her home in Fort Collins, Colorado. Because she has to “follow orders” as part of her day job, she enjoys having no rules in her personal projects. 

Her personality is a combination of wisecracker, know-it-all, and grumpy old lady. Mostly grumpy.

Her favorite font is Kabel Ultra Bold, because it looks like bell bottom pants. Her favorite beverage is coffee, followed closely by red wine. But not together. 

Arleigh has a website, arleigh.com and she can be found on facebook at facebook.com/arleighville and facebook.com/arleighart. She is on instagram, and pinterest.

What words gave you inspiration?

When's the last time you "danced alone" and to what song?

If you could sit down with arleigh, what question would you ask her?

 

Art Journal Conversations: Andrea Walford

 

 

It's Art Journal Conversation time, the third wednesday of the month! i love that i get to have conversations with some of my favorite "art journalers." i am just as curious as you are about their styles. So let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and chat with them about their process, supplies, and their thoughts on what goes onto their pages. 

I met Andrea a while ago through Maya Road. i have been a guest designer for her a few times on the Paper Crafter's Library blog. i noticed something she had posted over there and was completely drawn in. Then i went in search of her personal blog and loved what i was seeing. She experiments a lot in her journals and i love that she writes out her creative process or thoughts on the opposite page. i think you will enjoy those too! Andrea also has a great feature on her site called Art Journal Express, a video tutorial where she shares her creative art journal process. Let's Chat with Andrea!

Do you art journal every day? If so, what time of day works best for you?

I wish I was able to art journal everyday!  I'm at a very hectic stage in life right now.  My husband travels a lot which means I have to shoulder the bulk of the load at home - running our 5 kids to and from activities, taking care of my 94 year old grandpa who lives with us, and trying to manage an online business. We're very blessed to have a live-in nanny who helps with the household chores - but even with her help I find that time is really scarce, and prioritizing is essential. Unfortunately I can’t always rationalize art journaling as a priority LOL!

Because I own a creative business, in a typical week I will spend time pretty much every weekday creating something - but it's usually something that relates to my business - which although still fun, isn’t really for “me”. Of course depending on my deadlines, some weeks I have more time to create "just for me"  - and when that happens, the first place I turn to is my art journal.  So there could be weeks where I art journal almost every day, and other weeks where I am not able to art journal at all.  I would probably have to say though that on average, I probably art journal once or twice a week.

I find that my best time for art journaling is in the early afternoon - when my essential tasks for the day are done, and before the kids come home from school. That's usually when I am most relaxed.

How do you typically start your art journal pages?  Does your process change? 

I have a little "routine" I like to follow when I am getting ready to art journal. I tend to be a messy artist/paper crafter - so by the time I am finished working on something, stuff is everywhere - covering all my tables and sometimes even in baskets on the floor. I rarely clean up that mess at the end of my creative session because usually by then I've either run out of time or I'm simply too tired. Of course then when I'm ready to create again I'm faced with a big mess - and there's nothing that I find more stressful than sitting down to create and having to dig through piles and baskets to find what I want.  

Because I know myself so well in this regard, I always set aside time at the beginning of an art journaling session to get my space ready. I clear my desk - putting everything away in it's "home" and set out my newsprint. Once that is done, I make myself a latte, turn on some music and pull out a selection of products that I think I want to work with. 

I then prep my part journal by adding a layer of gesso to my page.  

It may sound unusual, but I find that going through this routine “centers” me - it’s almost meditative.  I am a classic Type A personality, a perfectionist, very analytical, and an overthinker - which can really get in the way of the creative process. My biggest struggle as an artist has been to put aside my self-critic and learn to identify and follow my creative intuition. My routine seems to help me in this process.  

While my routine stays the same, how I approach each art journal page changes,  because I art journal for many different reasons. I art journal when I need to process thoughts, emotions or particular experiences I am struggling with. I art journal to stretch myself creatively. I art journal to try out new products, and I art journal when I am learning new techniques. 

How important is the journaling part of the process?  What makes it significant?

If I’m art journaling because I’m trying to process thoughts and emotions, then the actual journaling part is very important for me. So in these instances, when I have a lot on my mind, I will use a technique I call journal spilling. I start by just writing  - or “spilling” my thoughts onto the page - whatever is in my mind and in my heart.   

I will then apply my mediums and layers on top of my journaling. Usually by the time I’m done, very little (sometimes nothing) of what I wrote is actually visible - and that’s the way I like it because it’s my way of saying I dealt with the issue, got it off my heart and it’s now time to put it into the past and move on. I typically like to finish off those pages with a quote, a Scripture or a sentiment that positively speaks to whatever I was struggling with.  

Those kinds of pages are my most significant pages because when those issues or emotions crop up again I will often go back to that page - look at it, absorb the message - and use it as a reminder and as encouragement.

When leaning new techniques, stretching my creative muscles or playing with new products then the journaling per se isn’t part of the process - or at least not in the same way as I described above. Each page I create though, does have a central meaning or message which I may condense in a single word or sentence on the page.

What's your best advice to someone who is just getting starting to Art Journal?

Be gentle on yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others. Challenge yourself creatively and know that you can’t grow creatively unless you step out of your comfort zone. Let go. Have fun. Create and grow at your own pace. Accept yourself and your way of learning and creating.

Art is something I came into later in life. When I first discovered the world of mixed media and art journaling it was love at first sight.  But it took a couple of years before I gathered up the courage to actually try it. For a good part of my life I had yearned to be creative but strongly believed that I was creatively challenged. But I was determined.  So I took classes - LOTS of classes - in person and online. I read magazines, I bought books. I practiced and practiced and practiced.  

Through this process I learned a few things about myself.  I much prefer online classes to in person classes. When I am in class, I feel very self-conscious and cannot relax. My muse is silent. I spend way too much time looking at what everyone else is doing and feeling as though what I am doing is no where near as good. Even to this day I feel the most creative freedom when I am alone in my studio.

I also learn best by emulating or “copying”. As I follow along with what the teacher is demonstrating (or as close as I can), I  become comfortable with mediums and techniques. Once I achieve that level of comfort, it feels more natural to me to start experimenting and playing. Eventually my own style with that technique starts to emerge. 

Three of the pages that I shared with you today are what I call “learning” pages. The woman’s face was something I drew while working my way through one of Willowing’s online classes. The “darkest night” page I created as part of one of Mindy Lacefield’s online classes - you can see a little picture of the original which I glued into my journal on the left hand page. The “She Held His Heart in Her Hands” page is one in which I employed techniques I learned from Mindy’s class, but brought in a little of my own style as well.

The last piece of advice I would give is not to worry about finding your own style. It will eventually come. I honestly don’t know if I can still truly say I have found my signature “style” - I still spend a lot of time learning and experimenting, and incorporating the “styles” of artists I admire into my own artwork. 

How do you know when the page is finished?

I’m not sure that I can really explain how I know when a page is finished. It’s more of a feeling. When a page “feels” done, then I’m done. I still have a few pages in my art journals which feel incomplete to me, but because I’m not sure what else the page is saying, I leave them be until they are ready to be finished.

What types of Journals do you use? Purchased, homemade, or other?  Why do you favor the kind you use?

I have used all types of journals - both homemade and purchased.  I would have to say that right now my favourite journal to work in is the Dylusions journals.  For the last year I have been working in the large journal. I like the weight of the pages - they stand up to a lot of mediums and a lot of layers without buckling. I also like that the journal expands nicely. And I just love the size of the page.  

I always journal on the right side of the page and then use the left side for notes on the mediums I used as well as processes so that if I ever want to apply any of the colors or techniques onto other mixed media pieces I remember what I did and used.

I am an avid paper crafter, art journaler and mixed media artist with a passion for teaching, sharing and inspiring others towards creativity. For the last 10 years I have taught paper crafter’s around the world through in-person and online classes, digital tutorials, kits and now through my current online business - Paper Crafter’s Library. I share my life with my husband Todd, 5 children (6, 8, 11, 14 and 16), my 94 year old Grandpa and our dog Ginger.  When not working I enjoy date nights with my husband, spending time with the kids, traveling and exploring, art journaling, reading, cooking and working out at the gym.  

You can find more about Andrea on her: Blog, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook or on Paper Crafter's Library Sites: Blog, YouTube, Facebook

What words gave you inspiration?

Have you ever tried out a person's style in your art journal?

If you could sit down with Andrea, what question would you ask her?

 

 

 

Art Journal Conversations: Michelle LaPoint Rydell

It's Art Journal Conversation time, the third wednesday of the month! i love that i get to have conversations with some of my favorite "art journalers." i am just as curious as you are about their styles. So let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and chat with them about their process, supplies, and their thoughts on what goes onto their pages. 

I met Michelle a while ago through the Cocoa Daisy Forum. i loved her carefree style she uses in her art journals. There is something so colorful and whimsical about her pages. i asked her to join OLW because i loved her pages so much. i wanted to share her with you today. So let's chat with Michelle!

Do you art journal every day? If so, what time of day works best for you?

I do art journal every day.  Right now I’ve got two journals going.  I work in my main journal Monday thru Friday and in my planner journal on the weekends.  It helps me to have a schedule. As far as time goes I’m definitely at my best late at night!  It’s when I’m most awake and most inspired!

How do you typically start your art journal pages?  Does your process change?

Emotion drives my art.  I start with a feeling I want to express and then ask myself, what colors  portray that feeling?  What images?  What style of lettering? Then I get out my paints and get busy.  I usually work in layers of paint, collage, doodles, images, etc; but not in any particular order.  

How important is the journaling part of the process?  What makes it significant? 

The journaling is very important.  Some times I start a page by doing an entire first layer of writing.  In the end a lot of it gets covered up, but writing things out helps me get things clear in my head.  I also love to use other people’s words in my journal – especially song lyrics.

You use lots of different images in your journals.  What are some of your favorite “go-to” materials for these images?

I have a couple of big boxes full of ephemera from my life.  Lots of childhood stuff, like piano notes, sheet music, memorabilia from school days, photos, etc.  I love digging through those boxes and grabbing stuff for my pages.

I also love to look for treasures at thrift stores.  Old ledgers, children’s books and photography books are some of my favorites.

Magazines are a good resource too. My favorites are “O,” Rolling Stone, Birds and Blooms and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s Magazine.

How do you know when the page is finished?

It’s intuitive really.  If I look at it and get the feeling that I was trying to express, I figure it’s done. But even then, I might go back and add just one more thing – ha.

What types of journals do you use?  Purchased, homemade, or other?  Why do you favor the kind you use?

I’ve tried lots of different commercially made journals, but I’ve really settled on hand-binding my own for a number of reasons.  For one thing, I like working on  hot-press watercolor paper which is difficult (if not impossible) to find in a commercially made journal.  Also, it’s fun to have something uniquely yours.  My favorite sizes are 8 x 10” and 9 x 12.”

On any given night you can find me art journaling in my studio with my two cats – Willie and Johnny by my side.   I love to experiment, and believe that the best art comes from letting go and just playing. Some of the things that inspire me are bright colors, animals, music and – well – everything! I really believe that inspiration is everywhere you look! 

I live in Minnesota, USA, with my husband Michael who keeps me laughing, and of course, Willie and Johnny, who keep us both entertained!

Here are some places you can find me online:

Inspiration Everywhere Blog

Inspiration Everywhere Facebook Page

Shelley Rydellie Facebook Page

Flickr Gallery

Pinterest

One Little Word Challenge Blog (design team member)

What words gave you inspiration?

Have you ever used images from magazines in your art journal?

If you could sit down with Michelle, what question would you ask her?

 

 

Art Journal Conversations: Kasia Krzymińska

 

 

It's Art Journal Conversation time, the third wednesday of the month! i love that i get to have conversations with some of my favorite "art journalers." i am just as curious as you are about their styles. So let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and chat with them about their process, supplies, and their thoughts on what goes onto their pages. 

i found Kasia through pinterest.  Her beautiful pages just kept popping up and really caught my eye. i wanted more so i found her blog to dig deep into her art. i loved what i found there and knew i wanted to share her with you.  i love her colors and all the layers.   So let's chat with Kasia!

Do you art journal every day? If so, what time of day works best for you?

No, I don't art journal every day. I follow the words "do something creative everyday" but I think art journaling is best when you have something special to say. Of course, art journalling is great for trying new techniques or jumpstarting your creativity, but in my opinion we can get the best results when we find inside ourselves something that needs to be said.

 

How do you typically start your art journal pages? Does your process change?

I think it changes constantly and that is one of the best things. There was a time when I didn't prepare any backgrounds, just played with collage techniques and focused on tect which was often the most important part of my works.

 

Then my works evolved to being more layered and detailed. I was teaching a lot of classes showing this technique so after a few months I decided I needed to try something new to move forward. Now I work a lot on the backgrounds and I'm sure that the final result isn't always the best, but it's the only way to grow.

 

How important is the journaling part of the process? What makes it significant?

As for now, it's the most important for me. I feel my best in this medium and I think maybe it is the essence of my creativity and the best result of my need to express myself. While working on a layout or a canvas I always feel a bit restricted by all supplies I want to use or afraid that the final effect won't satisfy me. While art journaling I'm free from such fears. I don't know why it's like that, but I think it's just in my mind. Maybe it's because I have this idea of an art journal as of a notebook that I can close, throw into a drawer and no one will ever see it. As for layouts or canvases, they are something that could be put up on the wall to look at and feel proud of myself.

You use a lot of different materials (supplies) in your journals. What are some of your favorite "go-to" supplies?

I would surely say that there are some basic supplies that I always keep at hand. It's soft paintbrushes, palette knives, watercolor pencils, Gelatos, gesso and acrylic paints in small tubes, Twinkling H2O's and a huge envelope full of scraps of paper. If I have those in my bag, I can create anywhere I am.

How do you know when the page is finished?

Well... I'm afraid I never know. Probably it's never finished and there is always something that could be added. And this knowledge is essential I think. Less is more every often, and it took me almost two years to understand it. It's just like that: I'm working on something, go through different stages and when I feel like I don't want to add anything more, I just stop. Its that easy and all you need to do is listen to yourself.

What types of journals do you use? Purchased, homemade, etc. Why do you favor the kind you use?

There was a time when I used almost only handmade journals. I thought it was just more fun if you had something made by yourself from a to z. But now I feel more comfortable working in journals i can purchase. There are so many types available that you can always choose something best for your mood or current style or story you want to tell. Few weeks ago, I started my biggest art journal which was originally a sketchbook. Its large size, all this space pushes me to do different things and I feel much more free. But I also love creating in old books. I transformed them into art journals, I glue pages together if they are too thin, I prime them with gesso, strengthen the spine, color the covers, but still leave all beautiful original details visible. These kind of journals are best for art journaling with vintage photos for example.

 My name is Kasia Krzyminska, however in the scrap world I use my nickname Czekoczyna (or Czeko to make it shorter). I'm 24 years old and I live in Warsaw, Poland. I am a pharmacist and I really enjoy it. But I am also a bit of an artistic soul - I'm searching for an inspiration everywhere and everyday - in music, nature, old books, bad weather, dreams... I love summer, meadows and beautiful notebooks. I started scrapbooking in 2010 and loved it from that moment on. Now I am addicted to scrapping and everything that comes with it. I'm teaching online and in-person classes. You can find more about me here: Blog, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr.

What words gave you inspiration?

Have you ever made your own homemade journal?

If you could sit down with Kasia, what question would you ask her?

 

Art Journal Conversations: Jaszmurka

 

 

It's Art Journal Conversation time, the third wednesday of the month!  i love that i get to have conversations with some of my favorite "art journalers."  i am just as curious as you are about their styles.  So let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and chat with them about their process, supplies, and their thoughts on what goes onto their pages. 

i have been an admirer of Jaszmurka, or Jasz, and her art for a long time.  She was one the first artists i featured on United by Art.  i simply love, love, love her style.  She is the awesome force behind SODAlicious, a delicious mixed media shop.  i think you will really enjoy her approach to art, it truly reflects her life.  Make sure you also check out her instagram for inspiring life photos!  Let's see what she has to say about Art Journaling & her process.  

Do you Art Journal every day? If so, what time of day works best for you?

Unfortunately I don't.  I don't have as much time as I need.  Also too many things on my head... but of course it depends on my mood.  Most of the time I create at night.  Quiet aura + fav music in my ears = perfect match.

How important is the journaling part of your process?  How do you bring the Art part and Journal part together? 

Most of the time in my art journals I use quotes or lyrics from my fav songs at that time. I like handwriting pages.  They are more personalized for me.  I don't think about it.  I just do it.

How do you typically start your art Journal pages?

It's an impulse. I hear some song & just need to write those lyrics.
Also if I have too many emotions inside I need to throw them out somewhere. 
Others play sports, sing etc. and I make pages inside my art journal to relieve stress.

How do you know when the page is finished?

I just know. I have no idea how to explain that but when I take a look at the page I feel like "Thats it! Don't you dare add anything more because you will screw this up." ;)

I’ve notice you tend to have lots of black & white in your journals.  Why are you drawn to the black & white pages?   Were you conscious of your shift in colors in your journals? 

Yes. My pages look exactly like me, like my apartment. Black and white base and colors to "pump up" the total look.  I feel that if I add too much colors it will be chaos. And I don't like chaos.

What types of Journals do you use? Purchased, homemade, or other?  Why do you favor the kind you use? 

Most of my journals are from SODAlicious (which is my brand ♥). I like the size and the paper texture.  But sometimes I make my own art journal base - mostly from newspapers, envelopes etc. totally recycled :)

I transfer the emotions on paper. Both the bad and the good. It makes me feel better. Lighter. I need this to not go crazy in the real world. When overlaps me luck - I'm not for anyone. I love music. Accompanies me every day. Sounds and creative vein is the ideal combination. I'm doing what I love. It's my passion :) My dream has become a reality ♥ ► SODAlicious.  Right now you can find me on Instagram http://instagram.com/jaszmurka#
Sometimes on my blog jaszmurkowekrzywulce.blogspot.com

My Shop http://www.sodalicious.pl/

What words gave you inspiration?

Have you ever created just using black & white?

If you could sit down with Jasz, what question would you ask her?

Art Journal Conversations: Nathalie Kalback

 

 

it's Art Journal Conversation time, the third wednesday of the month!  i love that i get to have conversations with some of my favorite "art journalers."  i am just as curious as you are about their styles.  So let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and chat with them about their process, supplies, and their thoughts on what goes onto their pages. 

Nat & i go way back.  i actually met her online through my OLW challenge blog.  i have always adored her style and have watched her artistry grow over the years.  Like me she loves bold uses of color.  i love her "street art"-like approach to art and see so many beautiful layers in her work.  Let's see what she has to say about Art Journaling & her process.  

Do you Art Journal every day? If so, what time of day works best for you?

I actually do not art journal every day. I often art journal simultaneously while working on other projects or when I want to get jumpstarted to get creative. Another impulse to art journal for me is when I feel an emotional urge to "let it out". For those matters any time of the day works for me.  

How do you typically start your art Journal pages? Does your process change?

I oftentimes have my foundation in my art journal ready. Since I constantly create backgrounds in my workshops while demonstrating, trying new materials or techniques or using up excess paint when working on other projects, I do have a nice amount of "starter spreads" in my art journal. So I guess you could say my process changes every time because it gets triggered by what speaks to me what is already there.

How important is the journaling part of the process?  What makes it significant? How do you bring the Art part and Journal part together?

I am putting those two questions together since the answer goes hand in hand with both. I am actually not journaling in the common sense of art "journaling." My journaling is hidden in the art layers itself. I put everything I feel, think, intend to say in the color choices, techniques and layers. I put myself out in the artsy process. Usually I finish this process by adding quotes or short snippets of thoughts that are meaningful in the context of my emotions or express certain situations in which I was dwelling during the creation of the art journal spread.  I always know the background of the story and other people can also relate to it without knowing too much of my private details. This is my way of being able to share my private pages. 

How do you know when the page is finished?

I feel it when realize that I have put it all out there and when I have a feeling of calmness looking at my page.

 

 

What types of Journals do you use? Purchased, homemade, or other?  Why do you favor the kind you use?

I am not the kind of person that makes my own journal, only in classes, although I love them. I own a wonderful art journal that a friend made me to use, but I feel it is a piece of art itself and have not touched it yet. Right now I have three art journals that are all different sizes. A letter-size Ranger Journal, a gigantic 11x14 Inches Strathmore Journal and I just started one by Strathmore which is very small just in order to see how this pushes me doing different things.I favor them because of their sizes, the quality of the paper and also because I do like art journals that have a spine and are not spiral bound. The reason is that I love working on double spreads. 

I’m a European Mixed Media Artist residing in Jersey City. My husband and I moved to the States from Germany in September 2013 and it is has been a fun and inspiring transition so far.  My art work is layered and an explosion of texture, dimension and intense colors.

I teach creative, out-of-the-box and mostly technique-based mixed media and art journal workshops online and in-person. My style and classes are fresh and unique.  I have also worked with several companies in the Craft and Fine Art Industry consulting, designing and representing and have been published in numerous Scrapbooking and Mixed Media Magazines and Idea books. 

In the last three years I organized Creative JumpStart, which I founded based on my strong believe that everyone can be creative. Sometimes you just need to have someone help free your creativity. 

Since 2013 I have my own stencil designs out with Stencil Girl Products.

I released my signature line of stamps with Stampendous! at CHA2014.

You can follow my artsy adventures or thoughts here - I would love to see you :) 

• n*Studio Website & Blog
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Journal Conversations: Diana Trout

 

 

i am really enjoying this new blog feature which appears on the third wednesday of the month!  i have lined up many great art journal artists for you & for me.  i love that i get to have conversations with some of my favorite "art journalers."  i am just as curious as you are about their styles.  So let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and chat with them about their process, supplies, and their thoughts on what goes onto their pages. 

This month's guest is super talented and sweet Diana Trout.  I found Diana through her book Journal Spilling which i own.  It's a technique driven book which i just love but Diana also offers up lots of encouraging words to "tame the critic."  i highly recommend this book!  She has a playful style that uses lots of colors & words.  Let's see what she has to say about Art Journaling & her process.

Do you Art Journal every day? If so, what time of day works best for you?

I don’t art journal everyday. Usually I have more time on the weekends. Even though my profession is Artist, I am oftentimes busy with the marketing, class planning and sketching/painting that goes into the job description. Sometimes I sneak in a bit during the week. It feels quite wonderful when the time appears in my schedule.

How important is the journaling part of the process?  What makes it significant?

Very often I will begin a journal page by free writing all across a page spread. I love this process and sometimes I trip over something that comes out in this writing. The writing gets covered by a layer of gesso so that it is no longer legible. Sometimes I’ll write a single word or phrase down before I cover it with gesso. Or maybe I’ll pick it out after the gesso has dried and write it boldly. 

How do you bring the Art part and Journal part together?

The journal and art are linked and organic. My process is to move quickly and intuitively from one part of the page to another. My pages are never planned out. I’ve learned a lot about my particular artistic process through art journaling. I’ve become much more aware and respectful of my process. This carries into my other artwork and, really, into every other aspect of my life. Sometimes I’ll write more but mostly there aren’t any more words after the initial spill. It is meaningful to me and that is enough. I almost never work from a quote or written thought because that seems too forced to me. 

How do you know when the page is finished?

This question made me smile. A page is finished what I : a) run out of space; b) run out of time; or c) get tired of working on it. In other words, the critical left brain question “Is this work finished?” doesn’t enter the equation when I’m working in my journal.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting to Art Journal?

The best advice I could give is get a cheap sketchbook or composition book, scissors, gluestick, a pen and some sort of color: kids markers, watercolors or craft paints. Put these items all together. They aren’t precious or expensive. Pretend that you are a toddler and scribble or drip paint. Cut up some magazine pictures that you like and glue them in. Move on. Have no expectations. This is the most difficult part for adults, but perhaps you can say: "For just the next half-hour, I will have no expectations."

What types of Journals do you use? Purchased, homemade, or other?  Why do you favor the kind you use?

I use a variety of journals. My favorite purchased journal is the Moleskine sketchbook. The paper is heavy. I usually wind up painting the pages with gesso because they are a cream color and don’t take watercolor. I also like the Moleskine watercolor journal but the landscape shape is not ideal. I make a lot of my own journals using either rescue book covers or this simple journal I make from one sheet of paper. Here is the YouTube video. 

 

My favorite paper to use is Stonehenge. It is a printmaking paper that has a lovely surface for watercolor and other paints. If I’m making my own journals, I’ll put lots of different papers into them. It is nice to have a background to respond to and also a great way to recycle papers. 

Diana’s professional life is weighted equally between her twin passions for teaching and creating. Her stitched mixed media textiles, watercolor and bookarts have been exhibited nationally. Her artwork and articles have appeared in national magazines. 

Trout’s book, Journal Spilling, Mixed Media Techniques for Free Expression is used by artists, art journalers and teachers. Upcoming live classes will be in NYC, Art is You in CT, Princeton, NJ and her home studio. Online classes and links to her YouTube and other social media are linked there as well. http://dianatrout.typepad.com/

What words gave you inspiration?

Which piece featured today caught your attention?

If you could sit down with Diana, what question would you ask her?

 

 

Journal Conversations: Anna-Maria Wolniak

i am really enjoying this new blog feature which will now appear on the third wednesday of the month!  i have lined up many great art journal artists for you & for me.  i love that i get to have conversations with some of my favorite "art journalers."  i am just as curious as you are about their styles.  So let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee/tea, and chat with them about their process, supplies, and their thoughts on what goes onto their pages.

 

 

This Month's guest is Anna-Maria Wolniak.  Anna-Maria has an awesome art journal that's filled with wonderful white space and deep feelings.  She sometimes works in one color (monochromatic) on her pages but they are filled with such emotion.  Other times, the pages are filled with color but she always balances her white space.  She's very expressive and i just love her pages.  Let's see what she has to say about Art Journaling & her process.

Do you Art Journal every day? If so, what time of day works best for you?

The creation of my journals is driven by my emotional needs exclusively. There are moments in my life when I am incapable of conveying my emotions or thoughts to anybody... or nobody at the very moment is capable of understanding me, or there is nobody within reach I could talk to about some things. In these moments I resort to paint which is a natural means of expression for me. I do not feel the need to create large format paintings, I prefer small, sketch forms such as my journals. I often create only one page daily with only one leading idea that I am bothered by at that time.  So as you can see - there is not any 'best' moment during the day to create. All depends. I live in a very small apartment with my hubby and son so I often don't have any possibility to work in quiet :)

How important is the journaling part of the process?  What makes it significant?

I guess there is no golden mean. I am not quite sure how to answer this question, I do not know if my works are "idiosyncratic" enough to make me able to give advice on this subject. Personally, while working I try to follow the voice of my heart: the "colour" of my mood, the "saturation" of described moment, fragility or intensity of the moment... I think that anyone who wants to develop their own genuine style should above all listen to themselves, "touch" the inspiration with all possible senses, really experience what they are about to convey spreading on paper, reflect on each written word and totally feel - disregarding all the knowledge - the form and the colour. It is impossible not to be oneself fulfilling these conditions.

How do you bring the Art part and Journal part together?

These are really hard questions! I have no idea how could I answer on them... I really never think about such things, I just 'feel' it.

How do you typically start your art Journal pages?

First and foremost, it is about PASSION and willingness. Secondly, it is about finding a perfect material, substance in yourself, a tool that could be easily used, discarding the details and technical matters, a tool that would not impede conveying emotions and thoughts on paper. The third piece of advice - approach the journal with a thought, emotion or inspiration - if you have got it, the journal creates almost itself.

How do you know when the page is finished?

I say: "more or less - exactly as much as you reckon appropriate." Once I really wanted to master the art of minimalism with its pure and restrained form... I failed completely no matter how hard I tried, I had the impression that the result was somehow "empty."  I believe that each artist should adjust, adapt the number of applied elements, the variety of textures, etc., to his own self. Once again we are back on track: the journal must be entirely "yours", genuine... Nothing should inhibit you... neither the format, nor the technique, nor, sure enough, the subject.  I know some fantastic minimalistic journalers, in whose works sometimes only one line or one splash conveys more emotions than two overfilled pages of my journal... but this is a skill rather than purely material convictions. The page is finished when I decide that it's finished.

What types of Journals do you use? Purchased, homemade, or other?  Why do you favor the kind you use?

My favourites are custom A6 adn A5 watercolour papers from the block. 250mg. These are the best for my works because they are waterproof and as you can see I use a lot of watercolours and other watercolour media.

Just a few years ago papercrafting and art-journaling were only a part of my artistic activity, which I practiced just because I wanted to archive some moments of my life. Quickly it developed into one of my passions, and into my way of life. One thing that hasn't changed is that I'm still doing it for pleasure! I am a mother to 7-year-old son Jaś, a wife to a wonderful and terribly handsome man, and a resident of a cozy, though tiny, flat on the 7th floor of a skyscraper. Currently I work with my dreamy company - Studio Calico. I am a mixed-media teacher and traveling with my workshops all over the Europe. I really love this job!  You can follow Anna-Maria on her blog, pinterest, instagram, or facebook and don't forget to check out her other art journal pages. 

What words gave you inspiration?

Which piece featured today caught your attention?

If you could sit down with Anna-Maria, what question would you ask her?

Journal Conversations: Magda Bolinska

i am really enjoying this new blog feature which will now appear on the third wednesday of the month!  i have lined up many great art journal artists for you & for me.  i love that i get to have conversations with some of my favorite "art journalers."  i am just as curious as you are about their styles.  So let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee/tea, and chat with them about their process, supplies, and their thoughts on what goes onto their pages.

This Month's guest is Magda Bolinkska.  Magda, or Mumkaa as she is sometimes known online, has an awesome art journal style, one i just completely love.  It's lushiously layered, wonderfully chaotic, usually colorful, and always beautiful.  I really wish i could get my hands on her journal just to touch her pages.  Let's see what she has to say about Art Journaling & her process. 

Do you Art Journal every day? If so, what time of day works best for you?

Unfortunately no. I would like to work with my journal more often but sometimes it is so difficult to find time for this.  I like to play with my journal in the night (it`s my favourite part of day to create!) when everybody's asleep, it is quiet and I have time only for myself.

How important is the journaling part of the process?  What makes it significant?

The journaling part is important for me. Sometimes this could be only a word, a few words, sometimes whole sentences but I always write on my pages - I feel that without some journaling my pages couldn`t be completed.  It is something like the complement of the picture.

How do you bring the Art part and Journal part together?

It depends.  Most often I start creating with journaling in mind (sometimes some words or sentences sit in my head all day long and in the night I pour them on the paper) - play with colors, textures and mediums and at the end I add the journaling.  Sometimes I just start and it all comes just automatically.

How do you typical start your art Journal pages?

I love experimenting in my journal, trying new things so sometimes I just sit and start, the fun all comes during creating.  Often I start building my journal page from making some layers on the paper - just glue scraps of different kind of paper (sometimes there are in random places), then I apply gesso or acrylic paints. Then it is time for different kind of mediums (inks, sprays and so on), more scraps and stamps - these are what I love using the most and I can`t imagine my work without it. 

How do you know when the page is finished?

I just feel it!  Really!  I try not to go back to pages which I made before - when I've started creating a page I don`t stop until I feel that the page is complete.

What types of Journals do you use? Purchased, homemade, or other?  Why do you favor the kind you use?

When I started my adventure with art journaling I had one handmade journal made from envelopes and some loose pages. Once I created for myself a journal from an old notebook - it was fun!

Currently I have two journals. One- made from envelopes - and a second journal manufactured by SODAlicious.  I already filled a few journals from SODAlicious and I really love working with their journals - good size, good weight of paper so I can use a lot of different mediums as I like.

Magda Bolinska also known as mumkaa,  27 year old Polish girl, full time mum, scrapbooker, blogger, mixed media artist and immigrant. For the last 7 years she has lived in the UK – with her [almost] hubby and with their two little daughters – Olivia [6] and Hannah [1].  She's a design team member for SODAlicious and Prima Marketing.  You can follow her on her blog, Instagram, & Pinterest. 

What words gave you inspiration?

Which piece featured today caught your attention?

If you could sit down with Magda, what question would you ask her?

Journal Conversations: Jessica Sporn

i am really enjoying this new blog feature and have lined up many great art journal artists.  i love that i get to have conversations with some of my favorite "art journalers."  i am just as curious as you are about their styles.  So let's pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee/tea, and chat with them about their process, supplies, and their thoughts on what goes onto their pages.

Today's feature guest is Jessica Sporn.  Her art is bold, whimsical, and always colorful.  She uses a variety of mediums, loves lots of texture, and is always willing to share how she creates her beautiful pieces.   I love her messages as much as her art work.  Let's see what she has to say about Art Journaling.

Do you Art Journal every day? If so, what time of day works best for you?

I used to have a regular, daily art journaling practice.  I've fallen off of it a little.  I usually find that the timing is best when I first go into my studio.  I have also found that I'm experimenting more on canvas and other substrates.  I count this as art journaling, even if it's not in a journal!

How important is your journaling part of the process?  What makes it significant?

I don't really like too many of my inner thoughts to be visible.  Maybe this is because I don't want my children to read them someday!  It's also not important to me to chronicle every event in my life.  Sometimes I like to journal first, and then collage or paint over the journaling.  Sometimes I write my thoughts down on a piece of paper, and then rip it up and paste it onto my page.  Sometimes I just use words that are meaningful to me at a particular time, and that go with my imagery.  And sometimes I just let the images tell the story.  It's all valid in my book!

How do you bring the Art part and Journal part together?  Do you start on the Art with Journaling in mind?

It depends... Often I start by just gluing whatever's on my work table into my journal in what I've heard call "unintentional collage."  Or I start by journaling and then cutting up or ripping my words apart and adhering them.  Sometimes I have a particular story to tell and images in mind that tell that story.  My journal is a place to experiment and also to play with new techniques and new products.  And sometimes it's a place to play with a particular word or image.

Is it an Art Journal without any Journaling?  Why or Why not?

I think that pictures can tell a story as well as words can.  As long as the work is expressing feelings and thoughts, and it's process, rather than result, oriented, it's journaling as far as I'm concerned.

Do you have themed Art Journals?  If so, what’s the importance of the themes?  Does your journaling tie into the theme?

I tend to start at the first page of a journal and continue in it until it's finished.  I don't have themed journals.  I think it would confuse me to have various journals all going on at the same time.  My mind and heart are my themes!

What types of Journals do you use? Purchased, homemade, or other?  Why do you favor the kind you use?

My favorite journal is a watercolor journal by Global Art.  I've filled several of these.  I don't like having a spiral in the middle of a page spread, as I often like to have a two page spread as one journal entry.

Jessica Sporn is a mixed media artist and illustrator, known for her strong use of color, texture and heartfelt style. It's been said that her artwork always contains a sprinkle of her soul.  She is a designer for Stencil Girl Products; her illustration work can be found on stationery products, giftware, and Judaica products for Aviv Judaica. Some of her Judaica designs are sold at the Jewish Museum and Metropolitan Museum of Art. She keeps an active blog at http://www.jessicasporn.blogspot.com, and is represented for licensing by Creative Connection Inc, at http://www.cciart.com/.  She also has an active You Tube channel with lots of tutorials.

What words gave you inspiration?

Which piece featured today caught your attention?

If you could sit down with Jessica, what question would you ask her?