The best part of art journaling is that you focus and enjoy the process rather than the result. It might be something beautiful and organized, it might be something messy and obscure. There is no right, no wrong and certainly, no better time to begin than NOW!
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| A page dedicated to a sarcastic saying and my love of bright colors, lemonade and summery vibes. Acrylic, Paper Cutouts, Highlighter, White Uniball Signo, Chalk Pastel |
➸Paper + Journals
There is no rhyme or reason behind what I use for my Art Journaling. Sometimes I'll just start working on a loose piece of paper. Sometimes I journal inside an old book. I am particularly fond of my Dylusions journal. There are a couple sizes--an 11x8.5 (my fave!) and an 8x5. The paper is SO thick, there's a pocket on the inside, and the cover is easily painted. It works great for mixed media--especially acrylic paint. (Remember--to keep your pages from sticking together, just cut a piece of parchment paper to fit between the pages!) Unfortunately, it's not so fantastic with watercolor. For watercolor, I love using the Strathmore Visual Journal. The pages in this are also incredibly thick--very much like a super heavy-duty watercolor paper. I own a couple of these and they are fantastic for every medium. The only reason I'd choose my Dylusions journal over the Visual Journal is the binding--I prefer a wrapped binding as opposed to a wire-bound book.
Bottom line: Use what YOU like. Don't be scared to switch it up and think outside the box.
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| A page dedicated to the ghosting process. Ghosting can be achieved with water soluble inks. For a great video on this awesome background technique, check here: |
The things I use the most are the things that are within arm's reach.
My favorite marking materials are:
Dylusions Ink Sprays - These are perfect to lay down a layer of color, to use with stencils or to watercolor with! (Seriously, I dip my water brush in these and they're amazing.) They come in a myriad of colors and are just the best. You can't go wrong here!
Golden Acrylics - I have these in the fluids (favorite!), liquid and heavy body. If you're wanting to dabble in the Golden Acrylics, buy the A-Z Set and you'll have a little bit of everything! They're awesome. I'm such a skeptic when it comes to spending a LOT of money on any one art supply, but these paints are worth it. SO worth it. (The Fluorescent Pink is my favorite, fyi.)
White Pens - These are like a Uniball Signo knockoff. I used one the other day in front of one of my students and she was in awe--it's like writing with completely opaque white paint. They're amazing. They mark beautifully. I use them all the time.
Sharpie Pen - I adore these pens as well. I don't even have a reason why, other than they just mark beautifully.
A few other things I love using are oil pastels, chalk pastels, Prismacolor colored pencils and my Pelikan watercolor pan.
Again, you don't need to go out and buy brand new things to start Art Journaling...sure, it's fun to use new stuff...but the point here is that anything you have is perfect!
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| I started this page by smearing on some acrylic paint in fall colors. I then cut out a myriad of leaves from tissue paper. I mod podged them on the page and added layers of paint and marker. |
➸Obscure Materials
Gesso - If you're working in a heavy paper weight journal, or on watercolor paper, you don't need gesso. If you're working in a sketchbook meant for drawing, a coat of gesso can be used to strengthen your page and reinforce it a bit! I don't personally use gesso because I love working on thick paper.
Stamps / Stencils - You can make your own stamps with a lino cut block, and you can create your own stencils with a transparency. I also love using found objects for stamping--from bubble wrap (my favorite!) to cookie cutters, lids and random, interesting textural pieces that I can dip into my paint, spray with my ink and voila! a stamp.
Scissors - Obviously. For cutting things.
Brushes - I use old brushes for art journaling. Avoid brushes that are incredibly cheap as they'll shed and you'll be left with pieces of brush hair in your artwork.
Adhesives - From tape and glue to staples and even a needle and thread. You need a way to attach things, and a good adhesive is key. I am also quite fond of Mod Podge. I use it on everything, and I actually like the smell!
Found Objects/Ephemera/Journal Fodder - Examples of this are pictures from magazines, old cards, scrapbook paper, ribbon, vintage paper goods, postage stamps, maps, newspaper, pictures and so-on. You can actually buy packs of paper ephemera in different themes and color schemes. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm quite fond of these little packages. They really add something special to a journal page. I encourage you to add a folder to your sketchbook (on the inside cover or something) in which you can keep all your ephemera and fodder.
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| A messy page smeared with acrylic paint, collage, pens, markers and glittery Mod Podge. This is a perfect page that represents how Art Journaling doesn't have to be beautiful to be fun. |
➸How to Start:
The most important part of art journaling is losing the fear of being right or wrong. There is no right or wrong. The final product does not matter. What does matter is that you're exploring, trying new things, and engaging in the creative process.
You just need to find yourself a place to work. I usually work at my desk at school during my plan period. If not there, I'm at my table or in my studio. Open up that book and get going!
If you're not sure where to start, here are a few prompts for you. Pick one and make it happen!
- Blindly grab a tube of paint--make five big, bold strokes across the spread.
- Pick up a writing utensil. Make an intricate, continuous line across the page.
- Cut a face out of a magazine. Attach it to your page.
- Draw your favorite flower.
- Use bubble wrap and stamp a background.
- Create a blind contour drawing of a shoe.
- Use your fingers to make polka-dots.
- Smear paint on one page, shut your book and reveal a very Rorschach-y design.
- Cover a page in a collage of tissue paper.
- Make a grid.
- Blow blobs of watercolor around to make spider-y like shapes.
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| This page was done for Christmas. I used Dyan Reaveley's Ink Sprays, made tree cutouts and embellished with marker, Tombow Brush Pens and my white Uniball Signo pen. |
...Make sure you join me back here on May 19th for a BIG announcement regarding Art Journaling during the summer of 2016!
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