As a mixed-media artist I often hear other artists tell stories about how they worked so hard on a piece only to have their spouse/friend/gift recipient/total stranger gaze upong their efforts and say, "But what's it for?" And, I have to admit, I have always kind of felt that way about art journaling.
Okay, okay, don't throw rocks at me. I'm being honest here. Don't get me wrong, I've been a journal keeper for more years than I can count. But I don't go back and read what I've written. I don't typically share the stuff with anyone else. The process of writing alone is the benefit for me. Besides, I tend to create personal artwork on canvases (and am not always sure what the purpose of that is either outside of the creation for my own fulfillment).
But, art journaling intrigues me. I love the idea of books upon books filled with paint and marks and thoughts that are companions to your every day story. I don't know that I would ever want to look back at them. That sounds a little itchy to me. It would be the process of making them that would (hopefully) turn me on.
So as the new year is quickly skidding up against the door, I've bought a big 9" x 12" journal and am ready to get to work.
It opens flat and has great, thick paper just waiting to be attacked. This morning I am turning up the music, lighting the candles, and setting about prepping the pages, because this weekend I'm going to gather with this gorgeous girl and some fabulous artists to spend a day at the beach painting, writing, eating, laughing (hopefully dancing), and journaling 2011 in with a love-fest journal jam. My BFF Pilar is car trekking up the coast with me. We have new music all ready for the ride. We're bringing food, paints, and our wild, exhuberant selves. It is so utterly invigorating to be so excited to begin again.
devour the white!
I know a lot of you create art journals. I'd love to hear why you do it and what the process is for you. Fill me in on "what it's for." I look forward to hearing from you and sharing more about this new to me process. xoxo!
You and Pilar-drive safe and behave! Oh..and have fun...too much.
Posted by: Laura Bray | January 11, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Art journaling is for me and me alone. Sure, I hope that someday my boy will hold onto them and treasure them, but really, it's for ME.
Art journaling keeps me sane, happy and as an artist, it pushes me. It's my safe place not only to document my life and musings but also to explore, expand and push me artistically. It's my place to ask, "what if?". It's my place to try supplies and new ideas out.
It's also my place to document how I've grown and changed as both an artist and human being. It's so many of the above and so much more...
Posted by: kelly | January 12, 2011 at 11:41 AM
I consider myself a visual artist. I write little in my journal. It is for me. To express myself after almost 50 years of NEVER expressing myself artistically. I have had several friends say "what is it for?" One friend finally said, after seeing my 11.5"x16.5" moleskine almost filled, "OH!!! I get it now... when this is done(full) it will be PRICELESS!!!"
Posted by: Brian Kasstle | January 13, 2011 at 04:08 AM
great honest post!
what i have heard in my side is:
"that's where she practices"
and perhaps it is, too
when asked: yes it is my playground
and you can rarely read what i wrote so anyone is welcome to "read me"
Posted by: carmen | January 13, 2011 at 09:17 AM
I don't even know anymore. At first I think it was just to join in on the bandwagon and be part of something. But those kinds of things don't hold my attention this long.
I think I do it because I miss the teen years where all I COULD do was sit in my room and draw in a sketchbook. It was more fun back then, competing with a best friend. Then we stopped and then started some years of making nothing.
I would start new sketchbooks, but I would try to fill them with official drawings that didn't really mean anything, or still life sketches that don't bring me any joy to make.
When I started art journaling, I really got into it. I did it every day. I only now realize that this was what my old sketchbooks were really about. Not practicing techniques or worrying about what other people would think... art journals are okay to keep private (not that I would hide them).
I looked back at my old sketchbooks wondering if I should toss them, but they were, in themselves, art journals. They didn't tell my story but I could remember making each one and how much fun we had doing it.
So maybe I'm ready to transition back, I don't know.
Posted by: melle | January 13, 2011 at 09:18 AM
I haven't read anyone else's answers so I can just answer from MY gut. Why do I art journal? One of the biggest things for me is creating art with so little investment...it's just paper, nothing that can't be replaced easily and cheaply. I get to play with techniques that I might use in creating my bigger art in a random, fluid and organic kind of way.
It's also a way for me to keep a journal, something I've always wanted to do but never could seem to keep with it, in a way that keeps me interested and 'into it.'
And now, 3 years after starting my art journaling journey, I can't imagine not having one or two (or five) art journals going all the time. Somewhere I can spill my paint and spill my guts, all wrapped up into one.
Those are but a couple of reasons I art journal...and I imagine I always will.
Peace & Love,
~Barb~
Posted by: Barb | January 13, 2011 at 09:50 PM
I've just discovered a word for what my daughter has been doing since she was tiny. Ever since she was a little girl she has kept a diary and dressed it with photos, drawings, pieces of material, everything and I have always told her it was a piece of art and that she should keep them . I reckon she will love them when she is older. Jackie/Irish heart. www.irishheart.com
Posted by: jackie | January 17, 2011 at 07:56 AM
I do junk mail art journals. I create the books out of old junkmail and then fill the pages with quotes, entries, magazine photos, drawings, etc. I do go back and look at them often. They remind me of where I have been and where I hope to be. Also, the quotes are often very inspirational for me. I tried doing the art journal the "traditional" way but it just didn't work. Making the journal myself, recycling something that was junk into something meaningful to me is so much more fulfilling.
Olwyn
http://dieadjustormigrate.typepad.com
Posted by: Olwyn Hughes | January 17, 2011 at 12:27 PM