Journal Craft Inspirations

Zom Osborne has written a wonderful article on Art Journaling on her blog -

What is it about art journaling that makes me love it so much?

I like that it’s in a book. I have always loved books, and I love working in a book. I can take it with me, and the pages turn and I can close it and it’s like I have my own little world under my arm or in my bag.

I love that I get to write in my book. I also love that it isn’t just writing. I love that I get to use different pens in pretty colours when I write. I have an excuse to buy lots of pens.

I love that I can do anything I want in there. I can draw or paint or collage or write, and one isn’t ‘better’ than another. I don’t have to worry about what it looks like or how it will turn out. I really really like that.

I love that I get to use pretty colours and buy new materials that I can try out. I also love that I can use ugly colours and use stuff out of the bin and recycle useless stuff.

I love that I sometimes write really deep stuff and get these wonderful insights into my self and the world. I also love that I can write really shallow stuff like lists of stuff I want to buy or complain about petty things, hee hee.

 

Read the rest of Zom’s article on her blog here

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Take inspiration from what you find lying around, clippings, photos, magazines, and turn it into a wonderful journal page.

From the journal of Betsy Cañas Garmon
(Click on the image to view original)
Image copyright of the artist

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Calligrapher and artist Martha Lever has come up with a great idea for what to do with all those loose bits of artwork we all  have lying around, put them in a journal of course…

Checkout her video here – (more…)

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Your art journal is a good place to explore symbols and meanings

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Sometimes it’s hard to know how to start an art journal, but be warned, when you overcome the resistance it can become addictive…
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If the previous posts have not inspired you to document your resolutions, then read about the results Pam achieved -

“Speaking of goals for the New Year, have you started to write yours down yet? I will confess, until last year, I did not. Maybe I was afraid of not meeting them? Whatever the reason, last year I got brave, what was I waiting for? I’m in my 40′s now, time to ‘put the big girl panties on’ and go after my dreams. So I wrote down my goals. It was a simple one, simple and scary. Try to get a piece of artwork published. Now I am looking back at what happened this past year and shaking my head. As the year progressed and the first goal was met, I added another, when that was done, another, and so on. Each step was recorded in my personal journal.

 

I have 4 journals going right now, and this one is my ‘personal, for my eyes only journal’. I decided to share a snippet of my goals and accomplishments pages so you will be motivated to do this for yourself. You don’t even have to start with a big list, I started with one goal and added to it. It is important to write down your accomplishments too. That is what will keep you motivated and inspire you as you realize the fulfillment of your dreams. As the New Year approaches, don’t be afraid, write down your goals, no matter how BIG or small. Document your journey. Be proud of your accomplishments. It’s OK, really!”

From the journal of Pam Carriker
Click on the image to view Pam’s blog – The Bag Lady’s Art

Image copyright of the artist

If one of your resolutions is to do more journaling, then why not join Pam’s online workshop – Visual Journalism 101 starting 12th January 2009 (yet another of her resolutions that has come to fruition!), click on the image below for more details -

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Another simple phrase for inspiration in 2009…

“I have used several journals, and I find I like the bound ones better than spiral. I like to work over a two page spread best as well. Really any journal will do, you just have to be careful when using thinner pages. I love gesso!!!!
Love, fluid acrylics – cheap ones work well in journals, they don’t leave a rubbery feel to them as much as the costly ones do. I love watersoluble crayons, ink, stamps, and pitt artists pens. Oh, also love Sharpie poster-paint pens, as well as masking tape!!! ”

From the journal of Mary Freeman
(Click on the image to view original or view Mary’s Blog)
Image copyright of the artist

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Well you know what they say, if you commit something to paper or announce it to the world, it is more likely to happen.  So, take a deep breath, gather up your favourite art supplies, create a journal page on your resolutions for the coming year and see what transpires …

“All my good intentions for 2009! Will I keep them? Watch this space!I used my Claudine Hellmuth acrylics and LOOK I did it in BLUE although I did sneak a tiny bit of pink in the corners. I got a new Faber Castell Pitt pen which works great for journalling, even on these semi gloss paints. I doodled round the edge in black and white, and added an image of a crow (don’t tell me it’s not a crow, it looks like one) and gave him a black and white hat. A little touch of zetti. A couple of rub-ons and ta-da! Finished.”

From the journal of Kate Crane
(Click on the image to view original) or view Kate’s blog here
Image copyright of the artist

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Why not share your resolutions with us – submit your page by clicking here, or click on the Submissions link on the top menu

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I love the way Paula has played with her layers of text here - stamping out a much larger message over her original written journaling.

“layers of paper, paints, foam stamps, images,etc. – whatever was on the art table or nearby in a Moleskine Sketchbook”

From the journal of Paula Bogdan
(Click on the image to view original) Image copyright of the artist

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Nancy has used an old printed book for her Art Journal.  Using a pre-printed book takes the fear away of making that first mark on the pristine white page…

“This was done in a French text book that I found at a junk shop and became my art journal! I painted right onto the page using acrylic paints, first with a dark olive and after it had dried I rubbed antique gold using my fingers. I then painted in white acrylic for the center and painted a leaf in fall colors. Last was my journaling for my love of Autumn and all it’s magnificent colours!”

Acrylic paints in an old book
From the Art Journal of Nancy Baumiller (click to view original source) – Image copyright of the Artist

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