how to create an art journal page
My journey with art journaling started with Anne Penniston Gray. We would gather at her office, she would serve tea and we would create the morning away. When I left those sessions, I felt uplifted and whole again. Like many things in life, I had great intentions of keeping up with my art journal. I had dreams of finding prompts on Pinterest and I would continue with it...I never did.
Then, I became a mother & business owner, and LIFE really got in the way. Between feedings, sleeplessness, and the general upkeep of life, when was I to find the time? I lost myself for a time. But, creativity found me again – and in creativity, I found myself.
This past April, I went to Calgary for a whole week. ALL BY MYSELF (yes, CAPS are required for that...let me say it again...ALL. BY. MYSELF). I attended Level One Expressive Art Training with Prairie Institute for Expressive Art Therapy. One morning, Our instructor Carmen was reciting a poem and this phrase just stuck with me: "...show up with love". Over the next few days, I was reflecting on how I show up with love – for my family, my business, myself. I wasn't entirely convinced I was intentionally showing up – in any capacity.
That phrase, the week away, and this renewed clarity prompted me to start doing things for myself again. I felt inspired in ways I haven't been for years. And now, I need it. I need it like I need to eat, breathe, and hydrate! I dream about collaging, and my Pinterest is overloaded with new techniques I want to try. I look forward to that 45-minute window in the evenings when I can take over my entire kitchen and create.
I encourage you to ask yourself: how am I showing up with love?
What you need to start your own art journal using this technique:
Sketchbook or notebook (could be from the dollar store, or even loose-leaf paper)
A variety of paints
Paint brushes
Stencils
Magazines
Paper bits (could be scrapbook paper, or any patterned paper you can find)
Embellishments (quotes, floral bits, butterflies, etc)
White glue
DIRECTIONS:
Take 3 deep breaths. Close your eyes. Imagine a colour (any colour at all). Does the colour have a shape? Take three more deep breaths. Open your eyes.
Start by using the colour that presented itself while your eyes were closed.
Begin by putting some paint on your page, with total randomness.
Keep painting/stencilling until you feel like the page is sufficiently layered.
When you make a ‘mistake’, just cover with more paint.
Place your embellishments/paper/stickers/magazine cutouts onto the page with white glue.
Blend with more layering of paint.
You can drip paint by mixing with a little water. Or smear paint with a spatula.
Don’t forget to BREATHE
Ask yourself, does the page feel finished? If yes, then let dry. If no, keep going until it feels finished.
Keep making art - it’s good for you I promise.
NOTE: This is a rough guideline. Art journaling is about process, not product. It is an open ended, process-driven experience, though to start you might find it easier to use a guide for the journal page. You can find all sorts of journal prompts on Pinterest.
Until next time,
