Art Journal Pages

Some thoughts from the bookThe Artist's Way...something all artists need to remindthemselves of...

I have noticed some blogspromoting the idea that an art journalis an "illustrated diary" and that it's notjust about art...for me that is not so.My art journal is more about art thanit is about my daily life, but I do put inwhatever strikes my fancy...swatches, sketches,quotes, whimsy, magazine clippings,collage, ideas for art...I think my art journal can be whatever I likeand whatever inspires me.Adapt the ideas that you like and ignorethe ones you don't...it's your journaland you should follow yourown muse!

Art Journal Page

Art journal pagemagazine images, acrylic,watercolor, pen, Sharpie marker,on recycled cardboard

Beauty is in Yourself

Art Journal page:Craft acrylic on cardboard,magazine images,black Pigma Micron pen,white Uni-Ball Signo pen.Excerpt from poem Beauty by E-Yeh-Sure

Mini Collage

Mini-collage, 3" x 5", spiral bound index card"Savor Moments" 2009Dianne Bishop Careyscrapbook papers, acrylic-painted cardstock, watercolor,hand-written words.

THE PROCESS-- Mixed Media Collage

MATERIALS:Recycled cardboardGessoArtist's chalk pastels"Suave" max hold hairspray (or any inexpensive brand)Scissors, glue, Sharpie markerPapers, paint, fabric, ephemeraHole punch, if desiredRecycle cereal box or other cardboard for substrate.Cut to size & shape desired. Apply gesso, 1-2 coats.Apply chalk pastels in desired colors."Fix" with inexpensive hairspray. (This isto help prevent smearing of the chalk)

Choose scraps of fabric, paper, painted papersto include in the composition.Color contrast was a main considerationfor this piece. Lay out without gluingand try several compositions.Cut, tear, and overlap shapes.

Begin gluing shapes after experimenting withcolor contrast, overlap, and how your eyeis guided through the page.In the western world, our eye is usuallytrained to "read" the composition from(upper) left to right, top to bottom.Try to guide the eye through the pageby the balance and movementof shapes, colors, space & contrast.

I usually repeat some colors and shapesthroughout the surface, often usingsomething an odd number of times,as in 3 times, or 5 times...but it's not an absolute...My process is intuitive.

"Connected" - Pink & Blue CollageOften, it is difficult to know when the composition is finished!Some artists suggest that the artworkis never "done" it just stops in an interesting place...I added layers of undulating linesto suggest "strata" with an extra-fine point Sharpie marker.I used a hole punch to punch holes in this pieceto put into a "ring binder art journal."Ingrid has been recycling cardboardto create stunning journal pages ina recycled ring binder. She has inspired meto create my own version.Please visit Ingrid's blog to see herbeautifully executed journals!

Mini Collages

3"x5" collages on spiral bound index cardsusing acrylic, pen, scrapbook papers,cardstock stamped withhand-carved stamps,vintage music,paper towel & watercolors.

Open Your Eyes

--3"x5" collage in spiral index card book--using acrylics, paper towels, pen, & magazine clippings***Circumstances recently forced me to lookat my world and the people I cherishwith new eyes...a quick collage to rememberhow precious life is...in hopes that I willbe reminded not totake for granted all that Ihold dear...

Altered Book Spread

I've been working on an altered book that has a different technique featured each month. I also focused on the holiday or season for that month. Past blog posts have shown July, August and September. This is the process for December's spread. I started by painting the pages with acrylics-in dark maroons & reds. Over the dark under painting I applied white, light green and pink by drybrushing, scrubbing, and blending with my fingers. I used a paper napkin to remove some of the paint

when it obscured the dark color underneath.









Acrylic paint that had been thinned with water was used to write words & create "swirls..."









Here is the spread with final collage elements added. I still have a few pages to fill at the end of the book, and the front & back covers to complete.

Blue Girls

More Art Journal pages...or, using up the two colors of blue paint left on the palette...attempting to fill the space with interesting brushstrokes and shapes with no prior planning as to the composition...I always seem to fall back on the female faces...ever since I was a teenager I've done these...I am not sure these pages are finished yet...I think that it needs some other papers of similar color collaged onto it...enjoyed just slapping the paint on there and creating the suggestion of faces with just a few brushstrokes.And would you call this blue, periwinkle, purple...or even "purplewinkle?"

Orange Journal Page

Here is a recently completed art journal page, resulting from the Make It Monday challenge on Go Make Something. Orange was the challenge...anything orange...the color of autumn, sunshine, goldfish, calendulas... The background is craft acrylic paint with ink drawing and hand-carved stamping added. The drawing is actually black ball-point pen.Lisa Vollrath offered to feature an artist who participated in the GMS challenges in August, and I won! Thanks Lisa. I often need some help with inspiration to get some art started and GMS helps with that. My winning Gypsy ATC can be seen here ( in an older post).