Monday, August 10, 2015

What Do You Put in Your Art Journal?



Artist Trading Card for T-Tuesday swap,
 sent to Julia Dunnit.


"What types of things do you put in your art journal?"  The question came from a non-artsy person in a business environment.  The question was unexpected, and I wasn't very articulate in my answer.  I am one of those folks who seems to think of what I should have said--days later!






I stumbled over my words and didn't express myself very well...I suppose I was trying to relate my answer to the business discussion at hand.  But the real answer is that I:
  • Draw
  • Paint
  • Doodle
  • Collage
  • Take notes
  • Jot down quotes
  • Paste stuff in
  • Whatever makes me Happy!
Art makes me happy, so I try to do a little every day. It's a stress-reliever.  It's therapeutic.  And it can be made from just about anything, in just about any way that you can think of!





There are many on-line resources for art journal prompts. I am in the second year of The Documented Life Project. (The Journal~2015) The two pages with the theme 'roads' (above) are from my DLP 2015 journal. But you don't have to use prompts...

If you aren't confident in your drawing skills, then what?
First, I think you can become more proficient if you practice! But you can also use lots of items to create collages that make you happy.  I especially like quirky, but whatever you like will make it uniquely yours.  Make use of YouTube and the many blogs that have great tutorials.





Some of my favorite materials to use in collage: assorted papers, fabric, brown paper bag, stamping, diagrams from old books, security envelope designs, stitching, vintage illustrations and ads.




Not everyone understands the concept of making art 'just for fun.'  So if you aren't comfortable about sharing your art with those friends and family members who 'don't get it,'  well, you don't have to.  Fortunately, there are many supportive artists and bloggers who do 'get it,' and are willing to share their work, process, insights and encouragement!

So if you're looking for some fun with art, some time for yourself, and some inspiration...grab a beverage and join Elizabeth and Bleubeard for T~Tuesday!  If you want to join the blog hop, include something beverage-related in your post.  There's always time for tea...and Art!





13 comments:

  1. Oh WOW.. what a fantastic POST! I love all your pages and what you think about Art Journaling!
    Happy T-Day!
    oxo
    Susi

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  2. Love the journal pages you've shown. My journal is part journal / part sketch book... I like to make pages around quotes and i like to work out ideas in there before using a canvas... Its my everything i guess.. its whatever i need it to be.....Thanks so much for sharing your pages and your thoughts this T day! Hugs! deb

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  3. Great thoughts about art and art journaling. I too find it easier sometimes to think of what I could've said after the fact. We are lucky to be connected to so many mixed media artists that "get it" with no need to explain 😀. I always enjoy your creativity!!! oxo
    p.s. thank you for popping by my sunflower post...a friend said I found a little sun bonnet Sue in the fields

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  4. Wonderful post, love all the journal pages. I always find time for art, I leave out some housework to make more time. Have a great week, enjoy your tea and art. Happy T day, hugs, Valerie

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  5. Really loved your post. It made sense! Like some people I can't draw (I have tried, and I suppose I could learn, but I don't want to spend time learning). But doing collage does sound good. Anyone can do that. I have also started doodling and 'zentangling' etc, very relaxing.
    Thank you for sharing your thoughts,
    Have a great week and thanks for popping by earlier,
    Lisca

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  6. I always feel like your art journals are a little closer to the true definition of an art journal. But who gets to define those things, right?!?

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  7. You did a great job explaining what your art journal is to you. The fact that you enjoy working in it always shines through!

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  8. The great thing about art journals is that they are anything that you need/want them to be--sketch book, diary, notebook, scrapbook, etc. Maybe the reason that art journals are sometimes hard to explain is that they can be so many things at once.

    Happy T Day from R2D2and me. :)

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  9. I'm with Halle on this one. I believe your definition of an art journal is closer to what an art journal should look like. I joined Journal 52 last year because I thought it read PROJECT 52. I got it confused with DLP that you joined, which I thought was too intense because I really can't draw and didn't like the setup. I like that I can use collage, magazine images, etc., and don't even have to write any words if I choose not to in J52.

    I am not really into art journals, but I LOVE to make them. I just don't like to write in them. In fact, I don't care to write on my pages if I can keep from it. I guess that's why I never cared for scrapbooking, either. Oftentimes, I see too much angst when I visit journalers. Thankfully, that has NEVER been the case with you. You are always upbeat.

    So keep up the good work, dear friend, and get those images turned into rubber stamps. You are wasting your talents by not doing so! BTW, when you sell your first rubber stamp line, I expect ONE (and only one) for pushing you into it.

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  10. Beautiful pages and a very good reminder that making art doesn't have to be that big finished canvas. Doing something, if just a bit, daily is a good idea. I should listen to my own advice and Do Something! I've been wound up in other things and just reading this made me realize how much I miss sketching. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Darla

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  11. This post made me think of my journaling process Dianne. I am a list person and that is one of the things I add to my journal pages along with my art (DLP ) and sketches from everyday life. I also love adding inspiring quotes to my pages.
    Thank you for coming up with this post.
    Happy Tday
    Susan

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  12. Belated T-day wishes and thanks for your visit and comment.
    Yep, Camp Grandma is officially closed.....mixed emotions here......LOL

    What do you put in an art journal....is a hard question to answer, but you summed it up so well in this post. I rarely write in mine, but your quotes are inspiring me to maybe give it a try. There are pages of just trying a new technique to see how it all works......still don't write on those pages either.....LOL

    The GDs took their journals home :( before I could get some of their other pages scanned to share. I do hope they will continue to work in them too.

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  13. Hello Dianne, I LOVE LOVE everything about this post!! The words, the art, all of it. I too stumble on my answer when others ask me about my scrapping or my art, some people just don't get it. You did a great job describing it and I enjoy your art SO MUCH!! These are all beautiful and I like that you do a mix of styles too!!

    Thanks so much for the blog visit. I miss T time and hope to get back there soon once school starts and I have more time again. Dianne, I too have a few months of photos that need ordered and put into my album. Hope you will get them ordered and started on it, we can do it together!!

    Enjoy the last of this summer month, it went by way to fast. I'm excited about fall my favorite season but not quite ready to say bye to summer and gorgeous weather and nature just yet either. Take care xo

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