Everyone please note: I am NOT an art journaler – prior to this weekend.
I do not work in a journal; I don’t have a cool moleskin book with beautiful, funky and colourful pages; I don’t write down my deepest darkest feelings in spaces in and around my artwork. I get that people do this as both a creative and personal/emotional outlet. That is totally cool! I admire that anyone can just dump it all out there and onto rich, vibrant pages in a book. It’s just not me – usually. This weekend, I decided I’d try to see what all the fuss was about LOL! I mean I ‘get’ the artistic process part… I just struggle with the unburdening of my soul and inner torment onto the pages of a art book. Maybe that’s just me.
Today however, I locked my inner critic [IC] in the closet and wouldn’t let her out until I had created something. Something started out with some really crappy stuff that eventually evolved into some really cool stuff by late last night/early this morning [as you can tell by the time]. It was interesting to see that no matter how badly it sucked, I could still make it work; telling the IC to be quiet was most helpful and allowed me work through the challenges one at a time without getting discouraged.
So here’s what I learned. I can art up a page with the best of them IMHO; but my need for emotional privacy keeps the juicy, deeply personal stuff inside and off the page. And you know what? I’m ok with that. The pages still look great [especially after I gessoed over the worst attempts at 'freedom' LOL] there are words on 75% of them, even if it’s not that many words, or deeply profound.
All in all, it was nice flexing some creative muscles without my IC butting its nosey head where it wasn’t welcome. It was fun to play, get really really painty, gluey and generally messy. It was great using all the custom, handcut stencils I’ve made [yes, eventhough it was super windy and I was forced to work inside. Let's hear it for brushes, make-up sponges, acrylic paint and paper towels!]. Overall, I’d say the experience was a good one, and one I will indulge in again soon. Often.
In the meantime… here is what I accomplished today. Thanks for looking!
Love it! The best thing about art journaling: there are no rules. You don’t need a Moleskine (although yes, they are cool, and the card stock so creamy), I am currently working in a ring binder I fill with card board pages from old cereal boxes and boxes DVD’s my Love bought online came in. And it is just as much fun!
You can use any technique, any material. You don’t have to ‘journal’, some people don’t even use any words at all. Some pour theirs hearts out on the page, others write down a sentence or a few words. Do whatever feels best, and most importantly: enjoy the proces!