31 Art Journals - Day 4

Welcome to Day 4.  Slightly later than I had hoped but better late than never.

This journal is the one I call my John Lewis Journal, because it started its life out as a John Lewis Catalog :)

I started it because I needed something to travel with when I was staying at my mums who I was looking after and just needed a break, without taking loads of supplies

I would use the catalog images along with gesso and red and blue and I would mask out some of the home and decor images and challenge myself by adding new ones.  I would mostly add people and try and integrate them within the space and let them tell a story.

As a carer it was great to use this journal in a way that would give me some time to myself, and it is important as a carer that you identify something that you can do even do for 10-15 minutes

That again is the great thing about creating in an art journal, and to make it your own, what you need at the time rather than what you feel that others are doing.

I have completed some of the pages, others I keep it for when I want to create a particular scene on the pages

Check out the video to see some more of the pages and think about what you can do in your own journal adventure.

Day 1 - 3

If you haven't had a chance to check out the other journals

Art Journal Day 1

 Art Journal Day 2

Art Journal Day 3

Stay blessed and be a blessing, and come back tomorrow.

31 Art Journals - Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of 31 Art Journals, It is great to have you here and to walk with me through another art journal.

This is a shop brought journal that  had the cover altered with layers of paint and finished off with a painting of a woman.  I enjoy doing faces so you will find a lot of them in the work that I do.

Soul - Art Journal

This particular Journal I used for a course called Soul Restoration with Melody Ross - it was a brilliant course and well worth you taking a look at.

Soul Restoration Course

I used it to answer the questions on the course which were always challenging and got you to think and while I wrote I also created art.  There were so many things on the course, art exercises, video tips, and more, my journey was to show myself how art and creativity was firmly knitted into my being and uncover my truth.

So here is another use for an art journal, and as I said you need to use it for the things that mean something to you.  If you are just starting out you may become slightly overwhelmed with a shed load of books, but I feel that each one that you create will eventually have a purpose.

Let yourself be free in your journal

Experiment and tell your story

Towards the end of the journal I used it to experiment with colour and collage material and used it to address things that were going on in my life at the time.  Use it for what you think suits, and don't stress about it.

Looking back through these journals and the work that I have done in them has been a blessing, and I am looking forward to next month when I share journal pages.

Check out the videos

 

Last but not least, I would love to have you join me for the online class in November that I will be teaching on called Hacking the Colour Wheel - Art Journaling for Creative Rebels. I have one spot to give away on the course and you will have access to a range of wonderful lessons to inspire and motivate you. You will also be learning a book binding technique to create your own art journal

Stay blessed and be a blessing, share, subscribe to my YouTube channel and come back tomorrow.

31 Art Journals - Day 2

Welcome to today's journal.  It was inspired by an artist called Teesha Moore, to do these style imagery as well as some of the fabric journals I will be sharing with you at a later date.

I kept the front cover simple and it is something that I can revisit at a later date.  The Journal itself was made from recycled card and has collage within the pages

I also left some of the pages blank and put background layers on some of them, awaiting a time when I can play within the pages.

This is the back cover

Check out the video of the journal to see how it fits together.

Last but not least, I would love to have you join me for the online class in November that I will be teaching on calledHacking the Colour Wheel - Art Journaling for Creative Rebels. I have one spot to give away on the course and you will have access to a range of wonderful lessons to inspire and motivate you. You will also be learning a book binding technique to create your own art journal

31 Art Journals - Day 1

 

Welcome to day 1

I have been art journalling for many years now, alongside the other art that I do alongside.  I find art journalling to be a great way to express on the page the things that you may not be able to say verbally.  I have had many journals over the years, some complete, half done or not touched yet and all different sizes.  I have created journals from card, fabric, plastic, there isn't a material that you can't try when making an art journal.

This was one of my first art journals in which I tried to practice different styles and finding my own style

First journals practicing styles

I used it to explore changes that I wanted to see in my own life and my walk as an artist

I also looked at things that I found challenging, around the area of dementia and looking after my mum.  I chose to focus on the positive things, such as my mums love for dancing and music.

The art journal for me was a source of delight as I looked to continue to grow and develop

I spent a lot of time playing around with faces and styles and leaned on other artist as my style began to come forward

 I used the art journal to experiment, In this image you can see the chin of the woman's face to be much larger than the one in the video, It is important to feel free in your art journal.

Before - with chin

After - altered - the joys of gesso!

 Whenever I got new supplies I use my art journal to experiment in, and practice using the supply.

Again trying different styles of drawing enables you to stretch yourself

and help you get to know your supplies

And find different looks that you might want to take forward in a painting or digitally

I also use it when I am trying out things like homemade stamps and create different characters.

Check out my video on this journal

I hope that this has encouraged you to see your art journal in a new light, and that you come back tomorrow to see day 2

Tip - Don't get hung up over what art journal to use

Last but not least, I would love to have you join me for the online class in November that I will be teaching on calledHacking the Colour Wheel - Art Journaling for Creative Rebels. I have one spot to give away on the course and you will have access to a range of wonderful lessons to inspire and motivate you. You will also be learning a book binding technique to create your own art journal

31 Days of Art Journals - Introduction

What to expect

Thought I would give you an idea of what you can expect over the next 31 days

• Insight into how each 31 journals were made
• Video flip through of pages on Youtube and
• Weekend roundup and tips
• Video of an art journal process ie 'backgrounds'

I love working in my art journals and over the years I have made quite a few over the years, I didn't like them all.  There is nothing quite like creating one of your own from start to finish, obviously you can go and purchase one, but once you start making your own there is no limit to what you can create. I thought I would share my love of art journals that I have created.  

For the next 31 days in October I will be sharing with you some of the art journals that I enjoyed working in, and still use.

Art Journaling is part of life

They come in all shapes and sizes, and have been used in a variety of ways, some are handmade, fabric, recycled, and shop brought.  I have much more than 31 so you are getting a taster.  Over the years I have found it a great way to get ideas down, express visually when you can't find the words and see how much you have grown in your creative walk.

Start somewhere

There is no right or wrong when you are making your art journal, once you learn the techniques you can take it where you want and have some great adventures.  There are revelations and gems dwelling within the pages.  

Art Journals fighting for their space

I will also be giving you a simple video flip through so that you can get a closer look at each one, the pages are a delight, and I love the texture that you can create with each one, mini works of art and  a masterpiece in its own right.

Art Journals come in all shapes and sizes

I will also be showing you the inspiration for some of the pages in the journals.  I really do encourage you to take the time to either make or use recycled materials to make your art journal, and then add to it using different textures to create a look that speaks to you.

Handmade Journals bring intense joy

So why not join me tomorrow and see what I have to share with you over the next 31 days of Art Journals.

Last but not least, I would love to have you join me for the online class in November that I will be teaching on called Hacking the Colour Wheel - Art Journaling for Creative Rebels.  I have one spot to give away on the course and you will have access to a range of wonderful lessons to inspire and motivate you.  You will also be learning a book binding technique to create your own art journal

31 Days of Art Journals - sneak peak....

I thought I would give you a sneak peak to 31 Days of Art Journals.  I will be sharing with you some of the Journals that I have made and give you a look through them, to inspire and encourage you to spend time making, playing and bringing life to your own.

From the 1st October to the 31 I would love to have you on this journey with me,  and I hope that it inspires you to look at different materials in a unique way and see how you can incorporate them in your creative journey.

Journals come in all shapes and sizes

The journals that will be sharing come in all shapes and sizes.  

I will also share some video hints and tips about working in your journal and will give you some ideas to play with in each journal that I share with you.

Come back on Sunday 1st October to see the very first journal I will share with you and stick around for the rest of the month to see the variety and get a closer look at some of the journals.

Leather beaded journal