Keeping an art journal is very popular right now. There are journals of all kinds of sizes, bindings, and paper types just about everywhere you go. I always thought I should be keeping one. I saw them everywhere. I loved the look of the mixed media pages with paint and pasted images. They are all over the internet. So cool, I thought. And surely I should be keeping one, I thought to myself. After all, they are so "artsy"!
But as I attempted to journal using the beautiful and ever popular paint and paste method, it just didn't work for me. Art journaling should be free. One should just go with the flow with the inspiration of the moment, just as a written journal would be. I found that I got so caught up in the method of painting and pasting and looking for the right image, that any sense of free creativity elluded me.
And so, I did not journal.
Until it occurred to me that I could find ways to accomplish the same looks with my artist's pencils. Well, that sounded fun to me. But where to start? I began to play with my pencils in a free and journaling format. And with time I began to discover all kinds of ways to create some of the same layered and colorful looks of paint and paste journal pages, simply by using my pencils.
But the most fun discovery for me in this art journaling process, was how relaxing it was. If I wanted an image, I didn't have to search through files or worry about where to find just the right image. I simply drew it. I don't mean grand works of art. I mean simple easy drawings that most anyone could do.
Using graphite, charcoal, or colored pencils to create my images was a slower process. But it gave me more time to mull over the idea I was trying to communicate with that image.
Having loved this process, I would like to share what I've learned with you. So I have created a workshop in which I share some of my discoveries from art journaling with artist's pencils. This workshop is currently available on Creative Pencils. In this workshop I will help you find your focus and help you see how to bring a variety of elements to your pages. I will create an entire page on camera so you can see the process unfolding. You will get to create your own personal pages.
I used a variety of pencils including Prismacolor Premier colored pencils, Derwent Inktense and watercolor pencils, Derwent Tinted Charcoal pencils, and graphite pencils. You may use what you have on hand. And if you love the process, you may want to add to you supplies accordingly.
I hope you will join me. I think you will enjoy your journals all the more once you can creatively incorporate your pencils for a new look.
Wind and Honey Creations
4 comments:
Oh sweet Elizabeth, you are reminding me of something I truly must do more of! Oh there is so much fun to be had. LOVE YOUR WORK SO MUCH! Anita
I'm not a journal keeper,more of a doodler,no pressure,just fun. really the same thing I guess.
Love to try new things and just got a set of Gelatos, Faber Castell makes them.After trying them out they have to be the best and most fun thing I've run across in years!
Hugs
Sweet Elizabeth! How lovely to see your message! Thank you for coming to visit me. A whole week has escaped me and I have not prepared a new post! I found that for months, it seemed as if many bloggers were on break, but to see more friends posting, it is so nice. I best get a new idea drafted!
HAVE A CREATIVE DAY! Anita
o yes, I should really try art journaling too. Thank you for your beautiful and inspirational art! Funny to read you were so much caught up in the process of painting that it didn't really become what you first intented. But the result is gorgeous!
hugs, Wendy
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