So what’s all the fuss about?
Art journaling is a form of
creative expression, exploration and experimentation. It can be done in a bound
journal, on single sheets of paper, an old cardboard box even a canvas. It’s
the art form that is more about the journey than the destination. It’s about
letting go and having fun with your art.
"Art journaling is
about the creative process of pulling together colour, words and images as you
wish on a page. Unlike many other forms of art, it is not about the
outcome." ~ Tammy Garcia
Your journal page can be as
complicated or as simple as you want it to be, there are no rules or
limitations. It can be bold and bright, soft and pastel, monochrome even black
and white. It can be flat or super textured, use two mediums or twenty.
It’s a great place to see
how mediums react with each other and on different surfaces or how colours work
together. It can contain journaling and images or not.
I often get asked how I
know when my page is finished. When do you know when to stop? There are no
rules here, no magic formula. It’s ready when I no longer have the desire to
either add or subtract from my page. When I can look at it and not think I
wonder if I … do I need to add a quote, a word, drip some ink, and stamp an
image add some black, white or a colour?
There is a perception that
you need tons of stuff to art journal … not true!
So what do you need?
A journal or paper with a
gsm above 110 is recommended.
Black, white and clear
gesso, a gel medium maybe a texture paste and some clear gesso are a must. A good quality glue stick, a wet fast drying
glue and foam tape are recommended.
You will need a selection
of products to create colour such as paint and ink, sprays, a selection of
brushes, spatulas and sponges. A stencil
or two, a couple of background stamps, and some found item ephemera will get
you started.
Some found items such as
tissue paper, magazine cut outs, teabags, gauze, washi tapes, ribbon, fibers,
maps, tickets, brochures, receipts, patterned papers and fabric just to name a
few are great to have on hand.
Organize your creative space
Most
of us have a limited creative space and storage area so organization is the
key. When journaling you need supplies at hand so you don’t have to break your
creative flow to get up and get supplies. If you’re like me and “create on the
run” you have no clear plan where you are going when you start a page then this
is challenging. I have “pick trays” or baskets that I collect some supplies in –
e.g. stamps, stencils, and embellishments. Remember you only need a few of each
not your entire collection on hand. My mediums and paints, pens and inks are stored
in baskets or drawers either on or beside my desk on bookshelves as are my
brushes and basic tools.
You
need a relatively small amount of space to work, make sure you have a cutting
mat and a heat resistant craft sheet on your desk. I also keep a roll of grease
proof paper on hand and tear sheets off to protect my workspace
Grab your journal and just get started
Most
of my pages begin because I want to see how something works; how long it takes
to dry, is it water fast, how does it take colour or what its texture is like,
does it do what they say it will. I
might have a great quote or a picture I want to use, I’ve just seen a new
technique I want to try or I’m just feeling creative and want to play.
One
important tip is to prep your pages; I usually have two or three journals on
the go so while I’m waiting for layers to dry I often prep another journal. It’s
always a great idea to prep your pages with Gesso prior to starting; this
primes your pages and prevents leakage onto your completed work.
Once
you’ve been journaling for a while you let go, the messier the better, it’s
about drawing and gluing stuff on, pages that stick together, weird colour combinations,
adding more layers until it’s right but mostly it’s a space to create whatever
you feel, it’s where you work out how everything reacts with each other
challenge your assumptions but mostly where you learn about yourself.
So just relax and enjoy the journey
cheers H
