I have been keeping my promise of taking time for me and creating in my art journal. I have been setting aside time specifically for it. It's me time and i am important enough. I have kept journals most of my adult life but i truly enjoy the intersection of the two. Art + Journal = Art journaling. Here are some thoughts about art journaling and getting started.
Just start. This to me is the biggest hurdle. Here's a quick way to start.
Let go of expectations. Julie has a brilliant post on this statement.
take an opportunity to just play around. try out a new technique. try new mediums (watercolors, pastels, acrylics, etc)
work with what you have & become a master at it. try uisng just one medium over & over and discover all the different ways to maniuplate it.
you don't have to share any of your pages unless you choose to. it's your safe place.
backgrounds come in handy. Another Brilliant post from Julie. below are some pages that are in the works. who knows what they will morph into. i am ok with that.
which brings up the next point, use your leftovers. Got paint leftover, swipe it across a page. or use your leftover paper towels. (see this post about paper towels).
scraps make interesting bits & pieces on your page. i cannot even begin to count how many times some little scrap laying on my desk, destined for the recycling, has made it onto my pages
try an art journal collaboration. Seth Apter is superb at this. Check out his blog and his new book The Pulse of Mixed Media. I admit this idea really intrigues me.
journal. What to journal? your mood, your day, your thoughts, just start writing. Maybe there are no words. guess what? there are no rules!
make a themed art journal. i have been kicking this idea around and cannot settle on a theme. but i feel it coming closer.
pick up an art journal magazine. My favorite is Art Journaling by Somerset Studios. So many wonderful articles and beautiful art pages in this magazine.
Browse the internet to find inspiration. Some of my favorite art journalers include: Dina Wakley, Roben Marie-Smith, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Pamela Garrison, Junelle Jacobsen, Mumkaa, Ania-Maria, etc. I could go on & on.
