Art Journaling 101
Sun, August 23, 2009 at 09:23PM "To be nobody but yourself
in a world which is doing its best,
night and day to make you everybody else -
means to fight the hardest battle
which any human being could fight;
and keep fighting."
~ E. E. Cummings
1. Understand the idea behind art journaling. Unlike many other forms of art, art journaling is not all about the art, it's about the creative process of pulling together color, words and images as you wish on a page. Check out the abundant information about art journaling at Aisling D'Art.
2. Give some thought to what you would like to do. Would you like to write your thoughts on a pretty background? Would you like to get messy with paints? Build a collage? Anything goes, so think about what you want to do. That will help you decide what art materials to buy.
3. Get some art materials. Each art journalist has a different list of core art supplies. Here is my suggestion for a core set of materials to get started.
a. Paper. A blank journal, a pad of watercolor paper, an old hardback, a loose sheet of watercolor paper or bristol paper. You don't have to pick just one, you can have lots of journals and pages in process. But don't get bogged down with all that.
b. Paint. Get some fluid acrylics in 1oz or 2oz bottles, or thick-bodied acrylics in a small tube. If you are choosing between quality and quantity, go with quality. Better 5 colors in good quality paint than 50 colors of mediocre paint. You can build your collection gradually.
c. Markers. Faber-Castell PITT Pens are my favorites. They dry quickly, don't tax my hand, and are permanent. The journaling in Do Something is in black PITT pen. Details on nib sizes are in Art Materials. You can also use alphabet stamps to add words... as in Adjectives and Happy Life.
d. Adhesive. I use Mod Podge matte gel medium on almost every page. Some art journalists use scrapbooking adhesives (i.e. double sided tape).
e. Brushes. Junky/cheap brushes for Mod Podge and gesso because they will be trashed; decent brushes for watercolor/acrylic paint.
f. Gesso. Gesso is basically a primer. See Gesso - what it is and how to use it at Aisling.net. I use both black and white gesso; see Black Gesso & Stamps + Art Journal: Faded Blue + Altered Book: black.magenta. You don't need to prime watercolor paper, but you will need gesso as a base layer on thin or rough paper, in a hardback, or as a layer in your collages.
g. Neocolors. Caran d'Ache Neocolors can be blended with fingers, wet with a brush, sooooo versatile! You can even doodle with them as in Altered Book: orange.peach.
4. Find or make stuff to put in your art journal
Find stuff. Ephemera is a fancy word for stuff you put in your journal... clippings from old textbooks, maps, receipts, recycled stuff from other art projects, product packaging, recycled cardstock, quotes, lyrics, lists you've written, your kids' artwork.
Make stuff. See Psychedelic Batik Cardstock, handmade eraser stamps, stamp unique patterns.
5. Find 60 minutes
Where does art fit into your world and your priorities? Creating art wasn't even on my list 3 years ago but now it is crucial to my happiness. Find time in your schedule by doing art while waiting for something, at lunch, on the metro, at kids' activities, while the baby naps. If you truly want to do art, I promise you will find a niche of time.
6. Do an experimental art journal page
Take out a piece of heavy paper. Take out a paint brush and a junky brush, Mod Podge, a handful of clippings from the "find stuff" list above, and 3 colors of acrylic paint. You can choose the colors with your eyes closed. Paint here and there on the page. Let it dry (acrylics dry quickly). Attach some of your clippings randomly with Mod Podge. Add some more paint. Add some more clippings. Write something, anything, perhaps a list of your favorite foods.
7. Pay attention if you aren't getting started
I've received positive feedback for my post How to Trick Your Inner Perfectionist and Become an Art Journalist. Get your analytical mind to quiet down! You might also consider Perfectionism and Creativity, Perfectionism vs. Art Journaling, Art Journaling Imperfection and It's Your Art.
8. Join Flickr
Flickr is fun and inspiring. You can join groups and share your art, like Art Journal Pages {Unfinished}, The Creative Mom Podcast, Just Art Journals, Journal Junk and Visual Journals.
9. Try prompts & challenges
The Official Guide to Daisy Yellow Creative Prompts
The Unofficial Guide to Creative Prompts | Challenges | Inspiration
Creative Every Day, a challenge to create something every day
10. Subscibe to art journaling blogs for inspiration, ideas & techniques
Samantha Kira Harding's blog A Girl & Her Journal
Hanna Andersson's blog Create & Live Happy
Teesha Moore's blog Teesha's Circus
Spilling Open: The Art of Becoming Yourself
Kaleidoscope by Suzanne Simanaitis
The Decorated Page by Gwen Diehn
Taking Flight: Inspiration and Techniques to Give Your Creative Spirit Wings by Kelly Rae Roberts
Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention by Michael Csikszentmihalyi
The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to be the Artist You Truly Are by Danny Gregory
An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers by Danny Gregory
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
12. Listen to creative podcasts
The Creative Mom Podcast
CraftyPod
CraftSanity
I hope this has been of some help in your art journaling endeavors!
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Reader Comments (4)
This is a great article to introduce people to art journaling. I have posted a link on my blog for anyone interested.
I'm fairly new to art journaling and I love this tutorial. So many great ideas. Thanks so much for putting this together.
What a great inspirational spark! I've found great links on your site, and as a journaler myself, finding great links is like finding a vein of gold in a big rock mountain.
I am just beginning to explore art journalling, and much of the material out there, both in print and on the web, seems to be aimed at those with more art experience than I have. Thanks so much for this great introduction, and for all the links and reading recommendations. It is so helpful for this true beginner.