You know when you do something and think, “Well that turned out better than I expected!”?
That was my day yesterday.
In preparation for the workshop I’m leading on Art Journalling at Kensington Art Supply, November 19th, I am testing different ways of creating an art journal. Yesterday, I took an inexpensive scribbler and transformed it into the beginnings of an art journal.
The process includes gluing and taping together with masking tape every 3 pages so that they are stronger, masking taping the spines and creating a more sturdy cover. I’ll also gesso (a medium designed to strengthen the page’s ability to accept paint without soaking it up) all the 3-page layouts I’ve taped together as well as the cover so that we can begin to create and journal without spending time waiting for the paint to dry!
My process yesterday was all about painting the cover as I’d spent the evening before taping the pages together and affixing the heavier paper to make the cover.
Let’s just say, I’m pleased with the outcome – which is quite different than what my original ‘vision’ for the cover had been – and that’s the joy of art journaling. There’s really no destination other than where the muse, and your willingness to be open and present to the process, takes you.
Now my goal is to have several pages of the journal completed by the workshop so that I can use them as examples, and to have journals ready for the participants to begin painting. Each participant will be provided with a journal that is ready to paint — that means the cover and the first 3 page layouts.
For the workshop I will also have a journal example where rather than painting the cover, I’ll have glued paper to create the design. I’ll use papers I’ve already printed/painted and affix them to the cover – at least that’s my ‘vision’. We’ll see what happens when the muse and the creative process meet up on the cover page!
Art journalling is about the freedom to flow and be present to the moment. It’s about living the questions, not the answers or things you tell yourself you know.
Questions like, ‘I wonder what is calling within me to be expressed?’
What is the most brave thing I can do right now?
What am I not saying?
What if I give up thinking I know and allow myself the freedom to be present?
Or, ‘I wonder what will happen if…?’
If I spread some teal over this pink paint and then use a stencil and babywipes to rub out some of the paint?
If I cover this area in gesso and let the images beneath peek out?
If I stop trying to make the page ‘look like something’ and just let it become what it is yearning to express?
Art journaling is all about expression, not perfection.
It’s about experience the freedom to create all over the page, not creating in a box.
And it’s about being present in the moment, letting what is appear without fearing what will happen if you just let go.
The muse and I danced together yesterday. I am grateful for every step of the dance we created together.
Namaste.