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Art Journaling

Introduction

As a fanatic of mixed media, art journaling is something I am constantly drawn to; that is for many good reasons. Modern art journaling (similar to scrapbooking) is one of the most expressive forms of art. It is a 'piece' of space usually contained in a form of a book, where words weave themselves into the beautiful fabric of art in a way that is most personal to the creator. The entries vary in length, from a word to a full page of writing, all accompanied by colours, shapes, textures and images. The entries can vary in content; coverage of day-to-day experiences, personal struggles, truths that never make it to the outside world, explorations, dreams, travel memoirs, childrens' stories or life changing experiences. The combination of personal expression, whether with the use of literacy or not, allows the artist to communicate through photographs, colours, drawing, paintings, sound and other elements. Historically, illustrated journals were used by many significant figures such as Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci. They documented their observations, insights, concepts and experiences with both words and imagery.

A sheet out of a journal belonging to Leonardo da Vinci

Materials

Art Journal 

Your first task is deciding on your journal structure. Be mindful of your own work ethic. Pick the appropriate shape and size: square, rectangle, long and narrow, large, pocketsize (A5 or A6). Next figure out what style you would like the most, something simple and clean or old and vintage. The beautiful thing is that this part really allows you to show off your character. Here are some examples:

• Sketchbook with heavyduty paper sheets
• Photo album ring binder
• A hardback book of your choice (be careful! Make sure it is stitched not glued)
• Handmade journal (pick your own size, cover type, sheets, folding type; a great advantage is the ability to allow space in between sheets)
• Black paper interleaved album (e.g. used for stamps or photos)
• Wire bound pad of watercolour paper
• I personally love using leaflets made of out good quality (thick) paper or showcase booklets (usually to be found in DIY stores)

My small unique book I got from a special someone featuring a beautiful owl on its cover

You should try be considerate of the media you would like to use. Heavyduty paper might be a must as it will add rigidity to your journal and wont lose shape when glue or paint is applied. A simple hardback book will be perfect for the use of pencil, charcoal, pastels, markers, coloured pencils or crayons. If you like, glue a few pages together to create a thicker base. You may also remove as many pages as necessary if there is a lot of volume in your art. By using binder rings you will allow more space in between sheets, therefore you will be able to create volume (the bigger the rings the more space). Also the amount of sheets you would like to have is a big factor. A few pages in your journal would be easier to keep than a few dozen. Therefore choose carefully!

Text

Jacqueline Newbold

Adding text can be a central element or a detail in your art journal. Your written entry can be assisted by landscape sketches, a portrait or anything else that relates to the text and vice versa. The decision to contain personal information is up to you however there are a few good ways to keep it private. To begin with you could make an entry as the base of your art, it will show in some parts that you are comfortable showing and cover those you want to keep for yourself. Creating your own unique code is also a good alternative. You could separate each letter of your entry with two or three random letters. Da Vinci used mirror writing in his notebooks to keep all his ideas and thoughts confidential. Once you are comfortable with writing backwards you can develop the style of your writing and make it even harder to figure out. 

Paint

The Diary of Frida Kahlo

Using painting in art journaling probably offers the most freedom. There is an opportunity to use this technique to show a landscape, a person or an object exactly how you remembered it. Choice of colour can be another way to express an emotion or create an atmosphere. Acrylic paint can add a bold statement to your page or serve as a background to your art. Mixing paints can also create lovely colours and their application with varying brushes can create an interesting effect. By using different techniques you can add texture to your sheet. Tip: In order to prevent pages sticking together remove excess paint or coat it with wax or dust it lightly with baby powder once dry.

Fabrics and Textiles 

Suzy Quaife

Fabrics and textiles can add a lot to your journal. I love reclaimed fabrics as they all have their own history. There are so many opportunities here to make your pages look rustic and old or soft and inviting. It combines the sense of sight and touch and occasionally smell! This technique can also exhibit something you are sentimental about like a piece of clothing someone you love wore or a piece of cloth from your grandmas kitchen (be sure these are ok to use first).

Embellishment

Judy Wilkenfeld

Embellishment is the addition of three dimensional objects to an art journal page or cover, therefore we have already mentioned some ideas. However it is important that your art journal doesn't fall apart once it emanates and spills with creative spirit and a range of materials. The fundamental factor to this technique must be the practicality of placing such items on the pages. If you would like to really play with art journaling and add statement pieces that will add a sculptural essence as well as a personal touch to it you need to make sure it is going to be secure and will still be able to close once finished. Stitching and using adhesive is good for fabrics and textiles. Craft glue will be perfect for lighter items such as flowers. Hot glue gun will hold heavier and larger pieces such as metal objects, shells, tree bark and silk flowers. Stones and plastic can be attached using specialised craft glue for non porous material. Don't forget to keep it meaningful to what you are trying to capture on the page!

Printmaking

Printmaking can be used to create an interesting ornamental background or on top of fabrics, photos or writing. Patterns and shapes can be cut by using soft objects like rubber/eraser or a potato cut in half or they can purchased at the craft store. Mesh or netting can be placed on to paper and painted over to create an interesting pattern. Wooden rolling pins can be cut out to create a pattern or a design of your choice or purchased at a craft store. Similarly leaves, string, flowers, wood can be painted and pressed to create an image. To stamp the shapes you can use acrylic paint, ink, charcoal, craft paints or ink pads.

Details 

Karen Cole

Detailing is an important part of art journaling. It can vary from exposed stitching, ornamental wallpaper piece, flowers, glitter, buttons, beads, crystals or anything slightly bigger such as pendants, flasks, keys, stones, tree bark, envelopes, mirrors and everything in between. Adding such pieces can have a big effect on your page. Gathering bits and pieces like this is almost like a hobby, for me at least. Anything can become useful and play a major part in your art journaling experience, especially unique pieces like those made out of metal or glass. By keeping a few pieces of a jigsaw puzzle you may create an opportunity to express yourself in a way unique to you in the future. I am a fan of adding smell to art so do not be afraid to scent your pages with whatever you like. Keep some orange peel in a little bag on your page or spray your sheet with perfume, go with the flow :)

If you haven't yet started I hope you enjoy your experience with art journalling! Maybe I'll go back to it :)

Forget-me-not PROJECT

Preparation

There is something mystical and beautiful about childhood. The opportunity to lead a life full of excitement, exploration and new experiences. So many breathtaking memories that we get nostalgic about as adults. Isn't it beautiful to believe that toys are real characters that pretend to be inanimate, that magic exists or that the stories we hear or read about really took place?

Those a little closer to the ground who walk on the streets of Dublin, Ireland, may notice tiny little changes as I have decided to take some action. Some secret lives of friendly Irish mammals and amphibians will be temporarily exposed in random places. This little project will bring new inhabitants to the city and hopefully remind some people that we are sharing the ground with some very important and beautiful creatures, even if we don't always see them.

List of small animal characters I would like to exhibit

• Bank vole
• Lesser stag beetle
• Common frog Rana Temporaira
• Scalloped oak moth
• Hedgehog
• Dorcatoma dresdensis beetle

I sketched some ideas in my diary and then developed on the drawings in my A3 art pad. Next I chose the colour palette.

The below image is one of the paintings. It portrays a bank vole and a lesser stag beetle.

There is a risk of not being able to accomplish a satisfying quality of the paintings as they will be placed in somewhat awkward places such as kerbstones as well as being very small in size. Nevertheless I remain positive. 

The Message Behind Your Art

It is important that you remember what you want your art to stand for, something you care about and can come back to for inspiration. This is pretty much breaking it down to the very basics however it is nowhere near simple. If you are unsure of what it is have a look at what you have created before and try spot out a pattern, something that carries through from one thing on to another. Perhaps try search within yourself to define your story, your inspiration and your message. Is your art symbolic of anything like freedom, love or does it represent willingness to experiment and take risks? Or maybe it is a showcase for your skill and knowledge of techniques and isn't emotive? It could be a scattered mix of a few of these or a chronological order that makes up your life story. The sooner you find out the better.

I personally like to use powerful emotions like anger or frustration and encapsulate it on a sheet as a form of freeing myself from their negative effect. Therefore you could say my art reflects my inner self and the struggles I go through. On the more positive side I tend to get inspired by nature and its beautiful diversity, therefore it may be represented in my art literally or as an idea.

As an example I will show you a painting I had done while in school a couple of years ago. It was for an art competition with the theme ‘Nature’. After years of painting this picture it is still something very personal to me.

With this painting I tried to represent the continuous struggle to achieve harmony between mankind and nature. The car or the window symbolises something that is man made yet is rusting away and is breaking down in a natural setting. The wallpaper in the car was a slightly ironic statement as it is a floral design pattern inspired by nature yet fully man made. The reflection of the face represents my willingness and desire to form a relationship with the fauna and flora that is being separated by a piece of glass in the car, a symbol of the barriers that exist between those two varying habitats. It is an effort to submerge in that beautiful world and leave behind all the influence of mankind. The ivy which has grown inside the car, the broken glass, the holes, the lizard and the beetle suggest that I am slowly letting go and I’m allowing myself to be free of influence. From a different perspective, the animals and plants are invading something that is man-made (car) and are adapting to survive, again symbolising how humankind had invaded the natural habitats of organisms to make it their own, forcing them to either adapt or die out. 

Leaving your personal mark in your art is a vital part of being a successful artist as it will allow the viewers to gain a better understanding of who you are or how you differ from others. By doing this you become more memorable. A personal statement could be a reappearing object, shape, symbol or colour. Something like this will create interest and a greater depth to your art. Vincent Van Gogh, for example, was obsessed with the colour yellow, it is speculated that it was a result of the opium he was taking, an adverse effect of his medication or something directly linked to his illness. 

 A Meadow in the Mountains, Vincent Van Gogh, 1889 

How To Handle Criticism

I have struggled with criticism continuously for years and even though it is often difficult it is surely something you can learn to take well. When you find solace in art or when you enjoy the process of creation there is obviously no reason for you to stop it or suppress it. However, some people aren't as confident about their work and the fear of criticism can often worsen the whole experience. Is it inevitable? 

As individuals it is important to criticise or should I use the work critique ourselves, in order to drive ourselves on to the right path. Our intuition and experience will often lead us on to better ourselves. For example, if we consider a person (let’s call him Jack), who would like to begin painting as a hobby, we will learn that his first attempt at fine art is somewhat questionable. The painting strikes the eye of the viewer with simplicity, unrealistic shapes and a lack of perspective. Jack however realises that and is ready to rip the painting in half and throw it out. Jack’s problem is the harshly realistic outlook he has on the concept of painting. He had seen the work of Da Vinci and he knows his work is nothing in comparison. He had let himself get overwhelmed by what he had seen and what he knows. Instead, it is important to understand that the ability to do art is a talent, although it is also a skill that can be learnt and approved upon. There is no reason why we should pressure ourselves to be someone we are not or to meet someone else’s expectations if art is something we love doing. Naturally, questioning is a massive part of creation and without it nothing would be as it is. In terms of art we need to ask ourselves if this shade of paint will look better in contrast with that shade of paint, if the hinge on that door should be on this side or the other. The vital part is to not let ourselves submerge in negativity but be proud that after creating this work, the process of improving has started, that there is a lesson or lessons to be learnt.

"Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots"- by Frank A. Clark


Let yourself be your own most important critique and don’t be too harsh on yourself. Do listen to what other people have to say, think about it, learn from it but do not overthink it, simply move on. There are a lot of advantages that come with constructive criticism, like the opportunity to view your work from a different perspective or a valuable insight or an idea that could possibly improve it. Be careful though because there are those people who have acquired the name ‘haters’ who only offer destructive criticism which has one major purpose - to hurt you, so do not waste your time on such comments. Just like many things in life, handling criticism is a skill, the better you get at it, the more you will create and consequently the more happiness and satisfaction you will find.

Sound

This post is going to be about another topic related to A R T :) and believe me there are many.

Sound. Yes, sound. I know that it's not something you would think would appear on a blog about A R T...but here it is. I took part in a workshop held by a Ph.D student, Linda from NUI Maynooth. I participated in recording and analyzing sounds to develop a soundscape of Smithfield in Dublin, Ireland. Did you ever notice how many sounds you hear in just a few minutes? Ranging from the mysterious knocking to open and loud chatter, there are maaany. Sound can be inspiring however it is something that is not usually the main focus when doing something arty. It is a great medium which can question the barrier between the artist, the space/the art piece and the viewer. While designing a page in scrapbooking for instance, the simple (somewhat) action of attaching a small music box to the sheet will immediately create an atmosphere or/and serve as a reminder of something special.

Sound also plays a tremendously important element in film. I personally love Hitchock Presents! Bernard Herrmann prepared the music for Psycho and had a huge impact on the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG3-GlvKPcg Furthermore, the voices may not only tell the story but create a special atmosphere with the use of accent or tone of voice.

http://www.aldrichart.org/exhibitions/past/chelpaferro.php

Similarly, modern art museums use sound prepared by the artist whose work is currently displayed. This is a great opportunity for both the audience and the artist to engage in the piece by more than just the visual aspect of it. Sound in itself is a form of expression and can easily trigger emotions. The combination of the two does change the overall experience of viewing art. Sounds and voices can be very evocative and affect our emotions at that exact time and place. Softly spoken words can start off a stream of consciousness in our minds whereas sounds can allow for quiet contemplation.

Gathering Supplies

There are many art shops that will provide you with beads, glitter, stickers, fancy paper... I do realise that they have amazing stuff there but it's all very expensive. I have always been collecting my supplies from very weird sources...

Charity shops offer a wide range of 'stuff' that is just waiting to be discovered! They sell jewellery, glass, clothes (some are made out of interesting fabrics), buttons (my favourite), pictures, books ect. There is really a lot in there, plus you would be helping those in need. Something I had to get used to was going there over and over again because I never found what I was looking for on the day of the visit and I found that continuously visiting the shop allowed me to discover a lot more interesting things. One day I saw a box with hundreds of buttons in it, I have this obsession about buttons...anyways they were on a shelf and when I got closer they were covered in dark residue and dust and most if not all were plastic. I picked my favourite, there was a couple of them. I went to buy them and guess what? I got them for free. It must have been the fact that I used to go there every couple of days and they treated me like a loyal customer.

I sometimes find interesting things on the ground :) This doesn't sound too appealing but it's fun. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? I once found a charm with a heart, but of course I pick leaves, flowers, branches, anything I know I could use later. Hay is a good one too. I used it for a decoration among dried lemon, orange and rose petals. Moss has a beautiful colour and texture (remember to consider that it could be a habitat to many organisms) These are also great for giftcards! Nature is a great inspiration and has plenty of natural materials available for you.

Newspapers. They are great to use as a base. You could also use an article that you like or cut out a sentence or even a word. This is a cheap choice. Some images from magazines are suprisingly good quality and you could use them too. Some flyers are made of a very good quality paper and it can be useful when making a giftcard, bookmark, colage, or a scrapbook page. You can change, cut, tear, draw or paint on it, you take it from here and let your creativity take you on a journey :)


Textured paper is great.. It can add elegance and sophistication if you go for the plain sparkly type or an old antique feel if you go for the 'worn out' vintage designs. Manipulate it to suit whatever you are making. It's a useful media to use in cardmaking as well as scrapbooking etc. It can be quite costly and I usually use pages from old books which leaves me looking with longing at the art store. In the previous house of mine I there was a little bit of burnt wallpaper under the stairs. It was creamy and golden and it looked really old. There were small flowers on it. I had to tear it out. Especially that the little space was really abandoned and the landlord used it for paint storage. I was so proud of this find...I also tend to keep the wrapping paper from Christmas :)

Fabrics. I do not tend to throw things out. I also use old clothes, ribbons, socks, scarfs, shirts and so on and so on... My friend used to do sowing so she had a lot of nice scraps like lace or red dotted fabric. Wool can be good to use when you know how to knit. Again, It can be used in jewellery, gift cards, soft toys, small gifts, scrapbooking or colage, but who am I to limit the creativity of others.

Damaged jewellery is a good one too. You can make an entirely new piece or use it anywhere else. A charm can be used for so many things, i.e. a bookmark with a loop at the back and a nice charm hanging of it. Small things tend to get misplaced  or lost. It can be upsetting to have only one of your favourite earrings but it would be a shame to throw them out. Broken or unwanted watches can be taken apart and used as individual parts. Glass jewels are fabulous and work exceptionally well on scrapbook pages because they add so much glamour to the sheet.

Anything has the potential for a second life. Recycling or reusing is a very efficient and an eco-friendly lifestyle. These materials add personality and history to art. It is really up to you what you find appealing or inspiring. I hope this helps and creates a few ideas :)

Calligraphy

I started exploring the world of calligraphy as part of personal development for Gaisce the Presidents Award. If you have never heard of this thing do not worry. It is an Irish programme created to encourage young people to develop their personalities and challenge themselves (I got the award!). There are three parts of it, personal, physical and community involvment. It takes 13 weeks each and additional 13 weeks on any of them, when the whole process is confirmed it is then signed by the president. I was taught or supervised by my art teacher. He gave me books and I had to practice at least an hour per week. I have to admit that I didn't know where to start, my letters were all varying sizes and shapes. I had no experience but soon I started enjoying making backgrounds for poems or quotes. It takes a lot of time to become familiar with the pen and do it well. I will show you some of my first work later on :) .

My favourite style of writing was Flourished Italic because it looks really neat and decorative. It is also a good font for beginners and a good hand practice.

Another interesting font is Gothic, it looks really powerful. It is hard to do but with practice it becomes easier. There is a lot of fancy pens you can use, when I started I used pencil, then ordinary pen, roller tip pen, fountain pen and paint brush.

Here you go, one of my first works

I used watercolour paints and wax crayon for the background and a fountain pen for the writing

For this one I used watercolour for the background and a roller tip pen for the writing

What is Art....

Oxford dictionary definition: "The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power"

Art holds great value and has the potential to capture the essence of a human-being and the associated emotions. "Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known"- Oscar Wilde

My experience with art started when I was very young. As a child I was lets not say appreciated but noticed when it came to art. I would draw the scenario that happened to appear in my head at that moment, just like any other child, I would draw the unrealistic looking figures on the sheet, with the sky usually being portrayed as a blue line at the top of the sheet (I always thought that the conviction of having to paint the whole sky was absurd. I mean why would you have to waste your crayon if people will know what the blue line stands for?). My mom had always told me, if it doesn't come from your imagination then it's not worth the attention, because anyone can copy an idea or an image. That perspective on art, to me as a child, sparked off some fear. I would look at the blank white page, starring at it blankly. 'Am I supposed to see something while I look at it?' I'd think to myself.

It's important that we don't become too influenced by our surroundings. We should stay true to our feelings and while we should strive to gain skills, we should also believe in ourselves. Expressing yourself by painting, drawing or sculpting offers a great insight into the creator. Some may not think it's worthy of the name art, others may be able to relate and will find that it evokes a memory or a sensation from the great depths of the mind. It's inevitable. Let's not forget what the true meaning of art is, and it is unique to each and every one of us, so do not feel ashamed or scared to express yourself!

Thomas Merton, No Man Is An Island: "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time"

Hello there :)

ART

A quick introduction to what I plan to write about. I decided to start this blog to develop my skills as well as to broaden my understanding of the use of social media to spread inspiration and ideas related to art. I will write about art of all kinds, paintings, art journalling (also known as scrapbooking), making jewellery, calligraphy and anything else that I come across. Those are the ones I am mostly interested in, so I hope You enjoy reading my blog and that you wont be too judgemental.