by Linda | Jun 11, 2015 | my creative journal
What is Art Journaling?
Art journaling is difficult to define because it can be so many different things. Although there might be trends and popular ways to approach art journaling, I believe there truly aren’t any rules at all.
In fact, the more I think about it, the more I broaden my definition. Art journaling is a record of your thoughts, emotions and experimentations over time in a book-ish form. There are those who have illustrated diaries, sketchbooks, travel journals, diet diaries, dream journals or simply to-do lists… but really they are all a type of art journal for that particular person.
Perhaps it is the word “art” that throws us all off. We think of “Art” with the capital A and suddenly a whole lot of expectations are thrown into the mix. Shouldn’t an art journal be beautiful? Don’t you need artistic skill to art journal? Well, I think our lives are most definitely our “Art” – so anything you create and record in your journal is valid. Perhaps we can think of it as the “Art of our lives.” It is different for everyone and the ultimately it is the process not the end result that is important.
For those that are into the planner craze, decorating their notebooks and filofaxes… I sort of think that is a form of art journaling as well. It’s creative playtime after all!
Art Journaling Is For Everyone
I think art journals are for everyone because it is a safe place to express yourself – in whatever way and with whatever medium you wish. The details of how don’t matter. It’s the process of creating that is magical, not the end result.
You might art journal to let it all out, writing out your emotions in raw form. You might art journal as a way to experiment and play with new ideas, techniques or supplies. You might want to document your life and your thoughts. You might just enjoy the creative fun and process of playing in your journal, creating something on the blank page. All of the above perhaps?
So really, anyone can art journal, there is no skill involved. You can have a whole journal filled with ink splatters and criss crossed lines. Or you can just collage magazine clippings. The process and motion of making marks… putting imagery together… that means something. The creative action helps you let out some energy, expressing your emotions in a different form. It’s healing and soothing and hopefully, really fun and enjoyable as well.
The action of creating feeds your soul and I think it makes us better and healthier in the end. That is why art journaling is for everyone. I think we all really need it as a part of our lives.
When I give myself some art journaling time, I’m usually in need of letting something out of my heart and soul. It might be serious and deep or it might be light and happy. Either way, my art journal is a safe haven for me to mull things over. I definitely need that space and time in my life.
Sharing Your Art Journal
These days we see a lot of folks sharing their art journals online for all the world to see. But I don’t think you ever have to share and more often than not, your art journal is more of a personal workbook than a finished piece for exhibition. We can easily be disillusioned by all that we see online, but remember that is only one facet of the person posting. It’s rarely ever the whole truth.
Don’t think you have to reproduce and mimic what you see. It can be fun to join in on the community, but I don’t think that is the core of what art journaling can do for you. It’s so personal and raw that it’s totally okay to keep it to yourself… at least most of it to yourself.
I often share the light and happy parts of my art journaling, not all the other stuff that is deeper, darker, too personal for a public audience. It’s an individual choice really.
Why Not?
I often wonder what stops people from joining in on the wonderful world of art journaling. Notions about what it has to be? There are no rules, just go for it. Fear of being judged? Don’t share. Don’t know how to get started? The easiest way is to use pen and paper and just write your stream of consciousness. Let it flow and slowly go from there. You’ll be surprised how easy it really is. No time? Don’t tell me you don’t spend countless minutes and hours waiting in line, shuffling from one thing to another or zoning out in front of the TV. Instead of letting those little bits of time slip through your fingers wasted, think of how you can take that time for yourself. It will only do your soul good.
Let’s Art Journal
If you would like to get started art journaling, I highly encourage you to do so with simple pen and paper. You don’t really need fancy supplies or an expensive journal. Once you get into it, you’ll naturally expand and explore all that it has to offer and perhaps the fun of getting more supplies as well.
If you want more guidance to start out, consider my Pensieri zine #1 – Art Journaling. It’s my most popular issue and guides you through while being a starter art journal itself!
Are you an art journaler? Want to join in on the creative fun?
by Linda | May 27, 2015 | my creative journal
While surfing the web last month, I came across Umbrella Prints and their 2015 trimmings challenge. They are an Australian textile company specializing in organic printed fabrics and the patterns were so darn cute, I couldn’t resist ordering a packet of fabric trimmings.
Although I’m not a quilter or sewer (I use my sewing machine for paper more than anything) I decided to give it a try anyway. There’s something about rolling up your sleeves and trying out a new crafty technique that brings excitement and creative energy!
My initial thought was to use the patterned fabric to create an illustrated scene, but I sort of wanted to sew rather than just cut and glue… so thought perhaps I could quilt pieces together randomly to use as a journal cover. It didn’t seem like that exciting of an idea however, so I thought a shape could be created by using cut paper to sort of frame over all the quilted pieces of fabric.
I had everything laid out on my table, but it took me a long while to actually get to sewing. I was sort of afraid to dive in, for fear of making a mistake. The days flew by and suddenly I found myself at the end of the line. Not only that, our second baby is arriving soon, so there’s no time like NOW to get going. So I dove in and just did my best. Even if it’s all a bit lumpy and imperfect, I love the mix of patterns and colors… so happy, cozy, cute and lovely.
I thought the finished piece would be larger, but that’s because I didn’t really think about all the sewing seams… oops! Talk about a newbie, right? I’ve actually taken a sewing class before, but I’m just not very good at it either way! Regardless, I forged ahead and will love my sewing, imperfection and all! I decided to use a classic heart shape for the frame on top. Basically, the idea is to create a wall hanging to put on my studio wallspace. After cutting the heart shape I realized most of the fabric was not showing up and it such a shame. So I got ambitious and starting to cut more areas out of the paper.
As I got into it, I just check going and kept cutting out more areas to reveal the pretty fabric pattern underneath. I got really ambitious, even though the whole time I was so worried that I would make a mistake! Props to all paper cutters out there, for sure. I was just cutting straight lines, but it was nerve wracking regardless. In fact the top and bottom bars were supposed to be multiple lines, but I was too hasty and cut through. However, I’m happy with how it turned out in the end… a very cool geometric kind of cut-out frame.
Here’s are some shots of a few details, imperfections and all. It’s not easy to cut paper precisely and I certain freehanded a lot of lines and corners.
The final product is pretty cute and I love that I have another crafty project to display in my studio. This year is all about making my workspace more happy, motivating and “me.”
Now I just need to decide on how to hang it… using a traditional frame, hanging from a dowel or clip or something else? There are so many creative ways to display work on walls, I want to explore my options…
Do you have any ideas on how to hang pieces on a wall? Did you participate in the Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge? Either way, you can always grab some bits of fabric and just play.
In fact, I didn’t want to throw away the tiny pieces of fabric trimmings I had left from the project, so I threw it into a page of my art journal to create a patterned background. Maximum use, no waste! Yay!
If you want to check out all the Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge entries, you can follow the Pinterest board here… can’t wait to see everyone’s creative work!
by Linda | May 24, 2015 | my creative journal
If you are new to the Midori Traveler’s Notebook and don’t know what it is… you may want to check out the Midori 101 video by TheResetGirl – it pretty much explains everything!
I should have watched the video myself before experimenting in making my own notebook which I blogged about – Make Your Own Midori (Fauxdori) Traveler’s Notebook – previously.
After fiddling around with my DIY notebook for awhile, I realized that I kept thinking that the elastic bands had to be more than the height of the insert you slip in, but that’s not entirely true. Technically the elastic can stretch out, but the key is to get the tension perfect, otherwise you start wrinkling up stuff.
Anyway, I decided to make another fauxdori from my DIY learnings… and yes, this means I’m building up a collection already, but each one is slightly differently since I’m actively experimenting with the little details.
I decided to reinforce the holes punched with eyelets – duh! Since I’m a scrapbooker I have lots of tools anyway, so why not use them? I also used a decorative one for the center hole, pretty darn cute, huh?
The funny thing is that I’m such a homebody and SAHM nowadays that I’m not really traveling much as compared to my 20s (I toured Europe and backpacked all over!). However, I’m making this fauxdori to be my in-the-purse notebook, so I have a pretty journal for when I am out and about. Waiting for the doctor, appointments and those kind of situations.
So the result is a roughly A5-sized fauxdori notebook cover with the regular midori sized inserts. I also added a paper pocket on the inside front cover and a back area for a quote to attach my pen holder elastic.
Slowly but surely, I’m customizing and getting the details down to create something I really like.
Yay for DIY, right? With just a little bit of effort you can really get crafty and create your own custom planners and notebooks, suited just for your use and taste. Are you getting crafty or into the whole planner world?
by Linda | May 19, 2015 | my creative journal
I’ve been taking it easy this month, waiting for our 2nd baby to arrive (any day now!) but still keeping myself creatively active via Instagram. It’s probably because Instagram is so easy to update on a day-to-day basis. I joined in on the #The100DayProject challenge all about the process of making for 100 days in a row. You pick your own challenge and get to it for a 100 days, posting your progress. I kept it simple by challenging myself to create a simple sketch every single day and it’s working because I’m still going at it 40 days later. Pretty cool!
Even though I know that when the baby arrives, I might run into a time crunch, it’s worth incorporating a creative routine into my day, no matter how small or quick. It’s proof that it doesn’t take a lot of time to inject a bit of creative mojo into our busy schedules. It always seems like such trivial progress, but when you look back you realize how much you have accomplished. It’s never too late to join in or start your own initiative or challenge, so I say go for it!
by Linda | May 13, 2015 | my creative journal, Uncategorized
I’ve been looking into paper planners recently and kept seeing the mention of Midori journals and notebook inserts. Although it’s been around for a long time, I never actually understood what it was. The Midori Traveler’s Notebook is basically a leather cover with elastic bands inside that enable you to slip in and out saddle stitched inserts. This means that you can use the same journal cover over and over, just swapping out your notebook insert inside.
Of course, the original brand name is Japanese and not the cheapest on the block. People have copied the idea and often go DIY, calling them fauxdori. Although the Midori was originally intended for travelers who would swap out inserts for every trip, nowadays people use the same idea for all kinds of purposes. Everyday sketchbook artists, planner addicts, list makers, diary writers, bullet list journalers – you name it! The system is so flexible, it’s just a great way to keep a perpetual journal for any topic or hobby.
I decided to jump on the bandwagon and try my hand at making a Midori (fauxdori) Notebook. There are lots of tutorials out there and definitely some variation in regards to sizes and how the elastic band is bound into the cover. But ultimately, all you need is durable material for your cover, the elastic band material and some basic bookbinding tools. All the other details are sort of up to your preference.
After rummaging in my stash, I decided to use the dark blue leather for my first fauxdori notebook. Unfortunately, the leather is not a very thick and quite floppy. I know that not everyone has access to leather, but you can definitely consider any kind of material that will hold up to be a cover. Whenever I want to strength my cover material, I just cut a piece of cardstock to size and glue it to my leather. Besides adding strength, it’s a nice way to add a pop of color and design to the inside of your journals.
Since I live in Italy and we use A4 paper, I decided to size my notebook accordingly. You can see a bunch of note system page sizes here and decide what you want to go with. Depending how thick and expansive you want the notebook to be, you’ll have to calculate enough width for the spine area. I would have preferred to make mine wider, but I’m limited by the size of the patterned paper that is 30 centimeters wide.
I cut my paper to size first, then glued it to my leather with standard white glue. After everything dried completely, I trimmed my leather to size and made some measurements to punch the holes for the elastic band. I ended up purchasing some colored elastic that you usually see with these types of notebooks – but I didn’t realize 3mm is actually really thick. I think it’s too big because I had to punch really large holes to get it to fit through.
I punched a hole in the middle of the spine for the wrap around part of the elastic. You might have seen that some journals have the closure cord separate and knotted on the back, but I don’t like the idea of having a bump under the writing area of the notebook pages. Now comes the part that tripped me up a bit in the process. I realized that the cover has to be much larger than your notebook insert size from top and bottom, because you have to punch holes for the elastic and the notebook has to slip in. How close did I really want to punch these holes to the edge of the cover? Especially since my cord is so thick, I was risking weakening the whole cover structure and possible tearing through use.
In fact, with all the wrangling I ripped the paper lining at the bottom of the cover as shown in the picture above. Below you can see a view of the finished cover from the outside.
In the end, it wasn’t a total loss, because I just had to cut my notebook insert paper down a 1cm to fit into the cover. I suppose it’s not too shabby for my first try.
Of course, from the hands-on experience I immediately wanted to make another fauxdori with a few improvements. Instead of punching holes in the cover to string the elastic through – reducing the size of the insert that can slip in, I wanted to try wrapping the elastic over the top and bottom of the cover. Of course, it depends on you having a strong enough cover material to withstand that pressure, so this second attempt uses a heavier weight black leather.
I also added a little strip of leather with the wrap around part of the elastic, so the pressure wouldn’t rough up the notebook papers on contact, when closing it up.
Obviously, all this has to be tested with tried and true usage, to see what really happens. I ended up with two fauxdori covers to test out… perhaps will carry it around in my purse to see how the wear and tear goes.
Coming from a bookbinding perspective, I know there are lots of variations possible in terms of where to punch the holes and how many strands of elastic to include, depending how expansive you want your notebook to be. I’m thinking of horizontal row of holes and needing more width for the cover in general. Or maybe even using slits instead of holes.
Lots to consider and think about… not to mention real-world testing.
Well, since I have a whole lot of material available, I will be making more of these to try out some variations in construction and sizes for different purposes. I’m thinking that personally I would definitely use this system for notebooks in my purse, because it’s usually quick notes and things I jot down, not necessarily to be kept forever. It seems the kind of usage that makes sense for something that can be perpetually swapped out.
Have you tried to make a fauxdori? Did you run into any issues or would you opt for traditionally binding a journal?
by Linda | Apr 27, 2015 | my creative journal
Losing Steam
Some days you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and feel like blah. Perhaps you are physically tired, anxious, uncertain, generally out of sorts… all of the above?
It can be a struggle to get out of bed and start your day. You feel like you have so much to do, but you can’t get yourself to be productive.
Are you losing steam? Losing motivation? Is this failure? Are you giving up on your dreams?
Doubts immediately swirl in – what you are doing with your life and if it’s worth it or going anywhere at all. The inner critic starts to take over…
I know the feeling and I know how unhelpful it can be to wallow in all of those depressing thoughts. This kind of dip is inevitable, because we all have these kind of downer days. The question is, how do we snap ourselves out of it?
Get Back On Track
The trick is to have an arsenal of tools that will snap you back into positivity and action. We will all have different options that will work for us, so it’s important to explore and identify your unique triggers. Here are some ideas:
- Re-energize: What activities actually build up your energy level? Usually surfing the internet is draining and not at all restful even if it seems like a zombie mode of intaking inspiration. Perhaps it’s better to get outside? Get some exercise? Go to a bustling cafe and grab your favorite drink? Take a hot shower? What does it for you? What helps you to snap out of lethargy?
- Self-care and love: You might just need some pampering and self-love. Does that mean a spa day or scenic drive? A red velvet cupcake or a steamy cappuccino while reading your a book quietly? We all need downtime and some TLC. Have you been neglecting yourself?
- Revisit your mission: Whether it’s the mission statement for your business or your life mission statement, it’s a good idea to regularly revisit the core “why” – the guiding light that defines all we do. Many people have a favorite quote or a poster stuck on their wall as a reminder of what drives us to do what we do, day-to-day.
- Friends and loved ones: I think we often forget that as humans we are social animals and sometimes it could be that isolation is contributing to our downward spiral. It’s important to interact and be social. Oftentimes, friends and loved ones will help trigger your usual self and get you back on track. They will provide you with unconditional love and support… so use it! Maybe you just need a hug?
Remember that we all have bad days, when everything just seems off. Help yourself by taking note of what helps you get out of that darkness and always know that tomorrow is another day!
What methods do you use to help you get back on track when losing steam?
by Linda | Apr 20, 2015 | my creative journal
In talking to many creatives online, I’ve realized that so many of us are blocked and stuck in paralysis. We have dreams and goals, but feel that it’s too far fetched, too difficult or too late to start working towards them.
I want to help us break through the false impression that success only happens with massive action and investment (whether it’s time and/or money).
I’m certainly not against the times in our lives when a major change certainly can kick us into action… but on a day-to-day basis, experience tells me that just 10 minutes a day can lead to success.
We often underestimate the power of incremental change and progress. Consider that 10 minutes a day is over 60 hours of time in a year. That’s like spending more than a month of business work hours – straight – on one project… and that is a substantial amount of time for many types of projects.
When I became a mom, I had to learn the hard way to make use of all the little bits of in-between time I had available to me. The luxury of giant blocks of free time are rare! And if you think about it, the availability of little chunks of time is much greater in our lives today. Waiting in lines, the transition times between errands and tasks, the few minutes before your day starts or day ends… lots of little pockets of time. It makes so much sense to learn to make use of them, rather than just letting them pass you by.
To give you some examples of how 10 minutes a day can lead to success for various projects and goals, consider this:
- Daily doodle/drawing/pattern/collage projects even with a quick 10 minutes means you will have 365 entries at the end of a year. Even if you skip days you would have still accomplished a lot. That is why I love 100 day challenges or daily routines of that sort. It’s a great way to develop a creative practice routine.
- Daily exercise like a set of crunches, lunges or stretching poses. It always seems like nothing, but if you actually take action for 10 minutes a day, you’ll be surprised how much more fit you’ll be after a year of practice. Again, even if you skip a few days, the results are still better than doing nothing. This kind of practice can be as simple as a 10 minute walk around your work building at lunchtime!
- Meditation for 10 minutes a day. It’s a great way to give yourself that calming, centering time. You’ll be surprised how this simple practice might change the way you feel the rest of the day! Not to mention, it helps when you are going through a difficult situation – deep breaths, right?
You might agree with the fact that daily routines are great, but perhaps have trouble keeping up. So how do you set yourself up for success when it comes to nurturing a daily routine?
- First you have to set up the goal or activity you are wanting to accomplish. Keep it simple and realistically possible for a short period of time.
- Then you have to simply make it easy for you to jump in and spend those 10 minutes of time when it comes along. Like having your sketchbook always ready and available. Or memorizing those exercises you want to do, so you can break them out anytime anywhere.
- The point is to set yourself up for success and just keep moving forward day by day, chipping away at it.
- Finally, don’t let a missed day trip you up. Think of every single day as a new start. Doing something sometimes, is better than nothing all the time.
Daily routines work for so many creatives and if you ask anyone who has achieved any kind of success, they will inevitably tell you it’s the slow and steady work of chipping away at the task.
If you need a bit of motivation, think of declaring your intentions in public or getting a partner or buddy who wants to do this routine with you. Accountability works and community motivates! Generally you can also keep your eye on the prize and visualize all that you will accomplish by the end of the year.
I’ve embarked on the #100DayProject, posting my simple pencil sketches on Instagram daily. It’s a small creative exercise, but it’s about keeping my drawing muscles flexed and turns out to be a fountain for inspiration. A simple creative play exercise can turn into a full-fledged idea and project!
Are you ready for creative success?
by Linda | Apr 13, 2015 | my creative journal
I believe that we all have great ideas and it’s exciting when passion for the idea drives us to take action and put ourselves out there. We all know it’s scary, but creatives do this kind of thing every single day. Unfortunately, not every launch or effort is accepted with open arms. Especially in the beginning of our creative businesses, crickets chirping might be a pretty common situation.
We’ve all experienced a disappointing situation in our creative careers – perhaps it’s something we have to get used especially when it comes to new and innovative ideas. But the question is how do we move past this common bump in the road?
I’ve tried many different creative experiments in the last 10 years of working online in one way or another. And yes, I certainly know the sting of disappointment. However, I’ve learned from experience that although it’s important to acknowledge my feelings at the moment, it’s essential for me to take a deep breath, step back and ultimately reframe my perspective – in order to move forward.
Too often, we get stuck on factors that we have no control over and it leads us to doubt our talents, our creativity and our efforts. Ultimately, that is the road to death for many great ideas… because more often than not, you just give up after the initial try.
I’ve learned that you need to concentrate on what you can control. Remember that it took Edison a 1,000 failed attempts before he invented the light bulb. He kept going. What would our lives be like today if he had just given up?
Are you getting no response to the artwork you put out there? Having trouble selling your goods at shows and markets? Results not as stellar as expected for your latest launch?
Acknowledge that there is a problem to face. Yes, you are disappointed, so there’s room to grow, right? Now let’s step back and concentrate on what can be done to alter the results.
Give it time
As amazing and viral as the internet might be, everything takes time. Beginners often think that success can be overnight and don’t realize that there’s usually a long history of blood, sweat and tears behind the scenes. Ask yourself if you have given your project adequate time to grow?
Get more eyes
It’s easy to think that all eyes are on us whenever we put ourselves out there. Those feelings of vulnerability are on high, especially when it comes to creative businesses and our personal talents. But the reality is that no one is really looking or paying attention most of the time. We are all so busy with our own lives, don’t think that posting something online means that everyone in the world has seen it. This is why marketing is so important. If no one sees your amazing idea, how can they ever appreciate it? Ask yourself if perhaps you just need to work on getting more eyes on your project.
Edit, alter, curate
When you do have an audience, listen to them and remember that there’s always room for improvement. Nothing is perfect and revisions are inevitable. In fact, they only make the end product better over time. Make a list and start working on it. How can you make your product or service even better?
The lesson here is to realize that there’s always something you can do to move forward and past disappointments. You DO have control to change the situation and improve your results. Just change your perspective and work your way towards success. It might be a bumpy path, but you can and will move steadily along if you keep at it. So get to it!
The fastest way to succeed is to double your failure rate.
– Thomas Watson Sr.
by Linda | Apr 10, 2015 | my creative journal
Did you know that I’m posting on Instagram pretty regularly these days? I suppose it’s an easy way to share, almost like microblogging that is totally visual. I’m finding it super inspiring and a fun way to share given all the challenges and hashtags to explore. Here are a few of my recent favorite snapshots…
Are you riding the Instagram wave?
by Linda | Mar 30, 2015 | my creative journal
At some point in every artist’s journey, you start wondering about protecting your artwork from copycats and dive into the world of copyrights. Unfortunately, it’s a huge black hole of a topic with lots of misconceptions and confusion. Not to mention the laws are changing with the times and when it comes to the digital world, everything is still in flux, it seems.
You might know or assume that all artwork is automatically copyrighted at the moment of its completion. It is true and you don’t have to formally register to be able to slap on a watermark copyright symbol. But The caveat is that if the work is infringed upon, without formal registration before the infringement you aren’t entitled to certain fees and you have to prove all sorts of things – often attorneys won’t even accept cases because the chances are so low that you would get anything out of it. There are lots of details to consider, but the point is that without formal copyright registrations you are making it easy for bad people to steal and take advantage of your work.
Obviously, certain types of work are more likely to be targeted than others depending on your style and craft. I just think it’s important to understand at least the basics and make an informed decision on how you want to deal with copyrights in regards to your body of creative work.
I just listened to the U.S. Copyright Office Art Licensing Ask Call led by Tara Reed and it really helped to clarify many of the misconceptions regarding copyrighting artwork. A definite must listen for all artists in my book, but especially if you are a visual artist looking to put your work out into the world.
Although we cannot all become experts on this topic, I think it’s important to include copyright registration in your creative workflow, to make sure you have covered your bases. As always, having things planned out ahead of time will save you time, money and lots of headaches.
Finally, you can refer to the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices that is mentioned in the call. There’s so much information in there, just takes a bit of time to read through and ultimately you should use it as a reference for whatever questions you might have.
Hopefully, these resources will help you get a bit clarity regarding copyrighting your artwork. Do you copyright your artwork regularly?
