How to Art Journal for you

In my last post, I talked about art journaling–what it is, how to do it, and why it is good for you.  It’s a good post and I recommend it to anyone who wants to start an art journal but is fearful, or confused about how to get started.  The rule is–there are no rules!  Just start where you are and go with it.  That being said, I thought I would post here about how you can make your art journal yours and not feel like it is someone else’s.

 

 

There are so many blogs and videos online that tell you how to make an art journal, how to do an art journal, what to put into an art journal, etc.  I thoroughly understand how a person who has never done anything remotely “arty” might be off-put or confused by the amount of and difference between all the information online.  So, here I just want to clarify something for any person who has ever thought about starting an art journal and been stymied and never started; an art journal is what you want it to be.  There really are no rules and you can make it however it serves your purpose.

Here is a good article on what is an art journal.  You might want to read it, but remember this is her way to do it, not necessarily your way.

One Little Word

Let’s begin with what you want to accomplish with your art journal:

1. Do you want to use an art journal to play in? 
2. Do you want to have an art journal to express your thoughts and feelings?
3. Do you want an art journal because you always thought it would be a cool thing to do?
4. Do you want to art journal because you need stress relief?
5. Do you think an art journal will be therapeutic for what you are dealing with right now?

All of these are a correct reason to start an art journal.  If you just want to play, this is the place.  If you want to learn to express yourself, this is the place, If you think it will be a cool thing to  do, this is the place.  If you need stress relief, this is the place, If you need therapy right now, this is the place.  I hope you got the message that art journaling is for any and all reasons.

Let’s talk about what you can use to art journal:

Now we get to the nitty gritty.  An art journal can be made on or out of anything.  Surprised?  I know people who use old magazines or sales catalogues; I know people who use a $.50 lined notebook; I know people who use individual pages that later are clipped together; I know people who use store bought journals; I think you will only be restricted by what you can find or have access to.  There are even people that journal on playing cards!  Think about that for a  second.

 

 

 

Your art journal needs to meet your requirements.  Do you want to only journal at home in a safe place? Do you want a journal you can keep with you at all times? Do you want to journal big? small? tiny? Once you figure out what you can use and the size, you are ready to get started.

Let’s talk about what you will need:

Here we can really get lost.

• You can art journal with only a pencil and paper, or pen and paper.  I have seen examples of such journals that took my breath away in their simplicity and beauty.
• You can choose to use papers and collage for your art journal.  I have seen artists who do entire portraits out of collage and entire landscapes out of collage, so there is no limit to what you can accomplish with using just paper.  If that is your style, you will only need papers (trash, containers, magazines, mail, as well as store bought paper) scissors, and glue.
• Then there is the person who wants to use paint in their journal.  You go!  Get yourself a very cheap set of acrylics for $2 at Walmart and get going.  Make a mess with paint, or paint what you are seeing or feeling.  Do use paint, you will need paper that can hold up under the paint, paint brushes (get those at the craft store of Walmart too), and something to hold water in.  I use a bottle top from my laundry bottle.  It’s free and it works, so I am confident you can find something for free in your own house.  Let’s not forget that you can use watercolor or gouache paints too, but I find acrylics work best for me.  You do you.
• Then there is the person who likes to mix things up and use all of the above.  My kind of art journalist.  This type only wants to play and use various supplies to express themselves and their moods.  They need all the above and usually have them already because they have dipped their toes in before but got distracted by life.

The bottom line is that everything can be used in an art journal, you decide what makes you happy and that’s what you do!

Let’s talk about how to get started:

 

Okay, you have your journal (paper or whatever), you have the supplies you need.  Now what?  Well the best answer to that question is just get started; but I know from my own experience that answer is not helpful.  So let’s get real here.  Maybe you need some inspiration.  Go look online at other art journalists to see what they are doing, go watch some videos online to learn new tricks to try out, but my favorite is to find a quote somewhere that speaks to you (you know what I mean here I hope) and start there.

When I find a good quote, I usually think about it for a few days and images start to fill my head.  After a while, I just have to get started putting them down on paper.  Sometimes I draw, sometimes I collage, sometimes I paint.  There is no rhyme or reason to it.  It just happens.  I play with it until I feel satisfied that I have done all I need to do.  Then I move on to something else.  It is not unusual for me to make 2 or 3 pages in one sitting, but that is me.  You may take days and days just to finish one page. Again, you do you, boo!

However you find to get yourself started, just make sure you do it instead of putting it off for later. Later never arrives.  You will be standing in your own way of progress.

 

 

 

Let’s talk about what you get out of art journaling:

1. You should get a sense of satisfaction that you created something that did not exist in our world before.
2. You should get a feeling of relaxation and decreased stress.
3. You should get a feeling of accomplishment: You did that!
4. You should feel happy and relieved.
5. You should have a release from the issues you were dealing with in that page.
6. Mostly, you should just be pleased with yourself.

Art Journaling is so good for your feelings of self-worth, self-esteem, and connection.  When you play in an art journal, you receive so much back that you will wonder why it took you so long to get started.

So, now my question is, What are you still doing here?  Go get started!