It's Time to Art Journal

Before we get started-just a couple of suggestions for those who are just starting out. 

• Skip the first page and come back to it later-when you are feeling more confident. 
• Consider writing your name and either your phone number or e-mail address inside the front cover in case you loose your journal. 
• Date your pages-That way you can see your progress!

Remember-Art Journaling does not have to be your best work! You decide who, if anyone, sees it.  It's perfectly okay to make mistakes or try something new and fail.  Jump in!  Play, experiment and practice.  Some pages will turn out better than others and that is perfectly okay!

Some ways to get started:

1.  Make a background by adding color-use ink or paint to get started.  Watercolors can provide a nice background too.  Work in layers using stencils and/or stamps.

Background done with Watercolors,
Chandelier image stamped.

Background created by spreading acrylic craft paint
with an old gift card.  Butterfly added with a stencil
and purple craft paint.  Believe is a rub-on.

2,  Draw something-maybe a face or a creature.  Color the image and then create a background.

I drew the girl and tree first
then added the background, border and title.

3.  Write about your day, your goals, an emotion, how something makes you feel (Remember there are ways to keep your writing private-some journalers write then paint over it or create hidden journaling using pockets or tags.

I wanted to write about my goals in her hair!

4.  Use a journaling prompt to get started or make a list.

I used a prompt about Love/Romance to start this page.

5. Focus on a future work or piece of art you would like to create-sketch it out, make some notes, and/or play with some color combinations.

I'd like to do a mixed media piece like this but I need
to make the little girl smaller or the dragon bigger,
and I think she should be holding the Lollipop stem.

6.  Focus on a specific technique, tool/supply, medium or theme you want to explore.

I had recently received Portfolio Oil Pastels
and just wanted to play with them!

Some other considerations:

Make Space

It's okay if you don't have the space to dedicate an entire room to you art; make space in your closet, create an Art Box for under the bed, use a rolling cart in the Dining Room or hidden boxes in the Living Room.  Create a little Art Corner or even a cart that you can bring out when it is time to work on your art.

I am fortunate to have a room to use as a studio.
I keep my most frequently used supplies on my "desk."

Currently, my "desk" is an old table with some cube drawers
from Michael's and a plastic set of drawers from Target.

Make Time

I have to be honest...this is the thing I myself often struggle with!  But it is important to make or find time to create.  Many recommend creating each day starting with just 10 minutes a day and slowly building up more time.  The best advise I have heard is to carve or block out time on your schedule regularly.  Actually put on your calender or in your planner.  Maybe every day isn't feasible but could you do it a few days a week.  I try to carry a journal or notebook with me everywhere-that way I can jot notes or even create a simple sketch while I am waiting at the doctor's office and so on. 

I am interested to hear how others find time to Art Journal or Create regularly.  Also, what kind of Art Space to you have?  Post your answers in the comments below!