Why Journal?
- to personalize or internalize new information
- to process ideas and feelings
- to create stronger connections between new ideas and things we’ve already experienced or learned
- to retain information for longer periods of time
- to build understanding through a symbolic process
Is There a Right Way or a Wrong Way to Journal?
- No — Because an art journal records your personal journey to enlightenment, there is no one way to journal. Check out how these Pinterest Examples use colour, objects, texture, words in different ways.
- HOWEVER — The more that you put into an art journal, the more you will get out of it.
- Art journals are layered – with colours, textures, media, and meanings.
The medium is the message, and the thoughts / attitudes / actions of the journalist will affect the outcome of the journal.
GETTING STARTED:
Ask yourself, “Why am I creating this journal?”
- to reflect on an experience
- to express an idea
- to balance 2 opposing thoughts
- to argue a position
- to tell a story
- to persuade
- to explain
Ask yourself, “Who is my audience going to be?”
- myself
- friends / family
- colleagues
- anyone
The answer to this question will guide you in how personal, experimental, RADICAL you want to be with your journal.
BASIC MATERIALS:
- Colored pencils
- Gel pens
- Markers
- Crayons
- Magazines or other image resources
- Decorative papers (wrapping paper etc.)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Glue sticks
- Double-sided tape
ADVANCED MATERIALS:
- Water color paint
- Water color pencils
- Acrylic paint
- India ink
- Acrylic inks of different colors
- Oil pastels
- Linseed oil
- Chalk pastels
FOUND MATERIALS:
- coffee
- tea
- salt
- leaves, sticks, shells, stones
- lint
- candy wrappers
SOME ARTY THINGS TO CONSIDER:
The Elements and Principles of Art when combined can help you to express your ideas and your emotions. Over time, as you experiment, mix, and match line, shape, form, space, texture and value with pattern, rhythm, movement, proportion, scale, balance, unity and emphasis you will find yourself becoming more conscious not only of your choices but the reasons behind your choices.
You may even find yourself becoming …. an artist.
A local artist and ardent art journalist can be found in Terrace, BC at Green Blossom Studio. She is a published poet, and artist. Her work can be found at greenblossomstudio.wordpress, where she also writes extensively about the process of art journaling.
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