Art Journal Joy

Hi, Kel here, and I'm wondering...

Why do we do it to ourselves? 

We learn a new skill and we enjoy it. Before long though, we start getting over critical of ourselves and our work, picking it apart and apologising for it. That is when we need our friends to remind us that "There are no quilt police/scrapbooking police/art police!" Why do we do it? These are hobbies, how we express ourselves, how we relax - it's meant to be enjoyable!

What I love about this blog is the joy that everyone shows in their work. We encourage each other and we enjoy what we do. Everyone is (quite rightly!) pleased with what they have done, and when we are beginners in a particular craft, we accept that and are excited about learning more

 I've been in a kind of funk lately, and needed to have a good old play to get myself over it. In this spirit, I am going to share how I make a 'general purpose' page for my art journal. Sometimes I plan a page for a specific reason, other pages are a mess of scribbled ideas and pen tests. From time to time though, I like to start off a bunch of pages to complete later. This is handy for those days when the blank page is an intimidating wilderness.

Add some colour...

 

I dry-brushed some gesso over the pages and let it dry before covering it with diluted acrylic paint. Click on the picture for a closer look at the texture added by using the gesso for resist.

Gather some stuff that catches your eye...

I collect images from magazines, quotes and poems, and favourite pens.

Start gluing them down - trust your eye...

I use gel medium, but pva or gluestick will work too. I like to add a sparse layer of paint to kind of hold it all together - sometimes dabbing it on with tissue or bubble wrap to add texture. 

That is the end of that stage. Now it is a blank canvas, ready to inspire me when I need a jumpstart, to give me somewhere to write down random thoughts or journal a summer day.

Comments

[Diana]

That's great idea for thos days that I have a little mojo - just preparing. I love to use old magazines!.

[Spangle]

This is such a great idea! I've just started art journalling myself and you have inspired me.