In my last post I wrote about Dawn Sokol’s  on-line class called 12.31 Art Journal.  I’ve made a lot of progress the past two days.  Today I finished up the canvas cover for the journal.

This was created on a piece of green duck canvas about 10 inches by 13 inches (I wanted to use up what I already had on hand).  I covered it with a coat of gesso, let that dry overnight and then painted the whole piece using three shades of pink that I mixed.   (I used Claudine Hellmuth’s Studio acrylics because they have a hint of gloss to them when dried).  Once the pink background dried I then sketched the scene of three snowy hills with Christmas trees.  I applied dots of white paint to simulate snow and them smeared them to look like it was really storming and windy as the snow was falling.  I used my sewing machine with a heavy-duty (#18) needle and sewed a zig zag stitch to hem all of the sides.  The finished size is 9 inches tall by 12 inches wide.  When I fold the cover in half, the page size will be 6 inches by 9 inches – a perfect size to carry with me.  I had planned to add some 3-D embellishments but decided to leave it as is (at least for now).  Another tradition has begun.

Tomorrow I will be collecting the pages to make signatures and then sewing them into the  journal.  Stay tuned for more.

I hope to have some graffiti covers and papers to show you soon from Mary Ann Moss’  –  Stencilry class.  Check out her blog – Dispatch from LA - very cool.

Merry Christmas.  Keep it simple and start some new traditions.

This is my journal page for Thanksgiving. I took a few minutes today to express some gratitude for all the good things in my life. It was simple to do. First, I did some journal spilling with a pencil on some watercolor paper. I love the idea of starting any journal page with a stream of consciousness “spill” about anything that is on my mind on the whole journal page. If you write something that is too private for other eyes, you can cover it up as much as you want, or completely paint over it with gesso. Even if you cover it up, it is still always there:) Plus, it’s just a great way to get started …. journal about anything that’s on your mind. Here, I wrote about all the things I had to be thankful for and then covered it over with some random watercolor paints.

watercolor over writing

Then I just drew in some happy doodles that were inspired by the colors and shapes of the watercolor spill, and then added a few collage elements. I hope it looks as happy as I felt while making it. Happy Thanksgiving!

Today’s art journal page was inspired by Jamie Ridler and a feature on her blog called “Wishcasting Wednesdays.” Today’s wish prompt was “What step do you wish to take?” My step …. trust.

A journaling idea I have grown to really love is from Diana Trout’s art journaling book called Journal Spilling. On this page, I first just wrote in black pen on a blank watercolor paper – a bunch of my thoughts about trust. I wrote reasons I don’t trust, reasons I should trust, times that I have trusted, what would happen if I did trust, etc. It’s all basically stream of consciousness writing – quickly and without much real thinking about it. (Very therapeutic:) Then, I covered the writing with watercolor, some acrylic white paint for the writing and gel pens for the doodles and trusted that it would look cool.

I wish to step into trust ….

Today’s art journal page is not meant to be as depressing as it seems:) I wasn’t really giving it much thought at first …. I just knew I wanted to do a collage page in black and white using a picture of an angel I’d saved from a calendar years ago. First, I painted the page with black watercolor over some masking fluid stamped and brushed on:

journal page prep

I found and pasted on other black and white collage elements that appealed to me and then looked for the words that I thought fit the piece. I love Vanity Fair magazine, because I love Vanity Fair magazine and because it has great obscure and dramatic lines to use in collage. I almost never go looking for specific comments or subject matter to put on my journal pages. (I recommend “O” magazine when looking for more uplifting and positive comments/words). I just look through a magazine or book and see what jumps out at me. The dramatic phrase about “slipping off the mortal coil” appealed to me because it was SO dramatic! I picked out other words I wanted to use and then decided this journal page was intended to encourage me to lighten-up and stop being so dramatic about things that have disappointed and discouraged me lately.

So don’t let “not having an idea about what to journal about” stop you from journaling. Just paste down some paper scraps/pictures or paint an image. Then your page will take on a life of it’s own and tell you what you need to listen to, pay attention to or give voice to.

Now, I’m going to “lighten-up” and spend some time on the cheerful task of painting a sunflower. Whitney Ferre’s Creatively Fit Marathon “mile 17.”

art journal page #2

I created this art journal page using the paper weaving project from Whitney Ferre’s book The Artist Within – A Guide to Becoming Creatively Fit as seen in the previous post on my blog. I created what I thought was a really pretty paper weaving and put it in my art journal. I accidently painted over it with white gesso instead of a clear medium …. oops!

I was pretty disappointed that I had done that but I believe all art can be recycled so I decided to use it as a background for a journal page. So using pencil, crayon, acrylic paints, some leftover pieces of the original paper weaving and some other collage elements that expressed my feelings today, I created another self-portrait collage page. (I use the term “self portrait” loosely … as I don’t really look anything like her … but I’ve been using her as an avatar for self-expression lately:)

art journal page

close-up of art journal page

art journal page #2

So, when you have a “Now What?” moment, don’t forget that you can always recycle something you think you’ve ruined or think you don’t like anymore into something you can love again!

close-up of paper weaving

While waiting for “mile 17″ to show up in my email, I was so inspired by Whitney Ferre’s new art journal video that I decided to jump ahead in the book, The Artist Within – A Guide to Becoming Creatively Fit, and do some paper weaving today. This is a fun and easy creativity workout that gives impressive results. Whitney’s book leads us into paper weaving by discussing the design element of “contrast.”

Here are a couple examples of what I did:

First you take two pieces of paper and do two contrasting color designs (here using oil pastels and watercolor). Then you just cut them into strips and weave them together, just like in grade school.

decorated papers for paper weaving

example of a paper weaving

I was in kind of a funk today and felt the need to do some therapeutic “journal spilling” and created two more pages and wove my words together.

word weaving

Besides being fun to do and pretty to make, paper weavings are a work of art on their own or can be set aside and incorporated into other projects. Here’s one I pasted in my journal and am going to use it for a muted (but interesting) background for a new journal page in the near future.

more paper weaving

Here’s a preview of the journal page created from that:

art journal page using paper weaving

“Mile 17″ in Whitney’s Creatively Fit Marathon showed up this afternoon, and wouldn’t you know …. it’s all about the design element “contrast!”

Click here to learn more about Whitney Ferre, her book, videos, blog and other inspiration!

As an artist and art journaler, I am always on the lookout for high-quality, convenient journals I can use for making art. For basic doodling with pencil I can use anything, but when making art, I need a journal that can handle marker, watercolor, charcoal, ink, colored pencils, as well as pencil and pen.

The cover is made from thick, textured cardboard that begs to be embellished with metallic markers and collage. It opens flat and would be an excellent choice for creating an art or travel journal.

When I received a package of journals to review from Karen at Exaclair, there was an Exacompta Sketchbook in the box. It appeared innocuous enough with its textured black cover, but the silver edged pages, cloth spine and the silver embossed cover intrigued me and urged me to explore the paper within. Was it as nice on the inside as the outside?

The pages have silver edges that sparkle against the black background and add a sense of elegance. You would never guess that the sketchbook retails for about $12.00.

The Paper

According to Exaclair, the Exacompta Sketchbook contains heavy weight 100g paper that is ideal for use with a fountain pen, calligraphy nib, rollerball or felt-tip pen. The cream-colored paper is pH neutral, made up of 25% cotton, and has a bit of texture to it. The cotton fibers and a water mark can be seen when held up to the light and the sketchbooks are sewn and bound, meaning the books open flat while pages won’t become loose and fall out with use. I didn’t use a calligraphy nib or fountain pen in this review, but I did used a very wet Tombow roll pen, markers, charcoal and watercolor. I was pleased with the results, the paper performed beautifully.

The paper color is soft ivory in color, which is easy on the eyes and the perfect backdrop for pencils and charcoal. It is fairly thick, but it is not near as thick as Moleskine Sketch paper. Rather than being smooth, the paper is slightly textured with a laid finish.  If you look closely, you’ll find the texture is more pronounced on the front side of the page than the back, making the vertical pattern more visible on some pages and the horizontal texture more visible on the others. If you want a consistent paper texture on a 2-page illustration, you will need to use the center of one of the paper signatures where the 2 pages are from a single side of the sheet, thus having the same texture all across.

This charcoal rendering of the wolf was done across 2-pages. The left page is the backside of the paper and is smoother than the right, front side. On the left, the vertical texture in the paper is evident while on the right, the horizontal textures are more prominent. While some of you might find the paper's texture and pattern distracting, I like it and think it adds some vertical energy to the rendering.

Charcoal
Charcoal is my favorite medium for this paper. It goes on smoothly and does a good job of picking up the paper’s texture. The charcoal stick makes a lovely, rough sound as it leaves a mark that really adds to the sketching experience. The deep color contrasts well with the paper and it is very satisfying pressing the color onto this paper. The texture can be enhanced by blending or rubbing the charcoal into the crevices and wiping the surface free of the excess powder. For areas that need to be to be dark black, extra pressure will push the charcoal down into all of the nooks and crannies.

In this close up image, you can see the horizontal texture of the paper on the right page. On the left page, the vertical texture is more visible.

Ink and Markers
I also used ink and marker on the paper to see how well these mediums performed, and like most other journals from Exaclair, the paper performed beautifully. The ink from my Tombow Ultra Roll Pen went on smoothly without skips. This is a wet pen and yet there was no bleedthrough and only a minimal amount of showthrough. I was surprised to find that the raised lines created by pen pressure were more visible than the ink on the backside of the page. I was pleased to use a paper that handled ink so gracefully, and was thrilled to know I can use both sides of the paper for my work.

The results of the marker test were similar to the ink test in that there was no bleedthrough and very little showthrough. The color appeared rich and saturated and the surface remained intact and unblemished. I was able to use multiple layers of color without the surface of the paper turning to mush.

Watercolor Paint
Then came the real challenge; wet, sloppy watercolor. So many have sketchbooks failed this test so I was interested to see how well the paper performed with this medium. The first light layers of wash went on with minor buckling, but the paper produced colors similar in brightness and clarity to watercolor paper. After the paint dried, the paper flattened a bit, but there was still some buckling and cupping. Unlike some coated sketchbook papers, there was no beading up or resistance. Each subsequent layer went on like the first and I was able to apply multiple light layers to achieve a reasonable depth of color, but the more layers I applied, the less stable the paper became. After completing the yellow areas, I managed to remove some of the surface of the paper, creating some small lumps of colored paper.

The watercolors were bright and lively on this paper, but I don’t plan on using watercolors with this paper for anything other than quick color sketches or for testing certain effects. The paper buckles less than most, but it is still enough to make using watercolors a less-than-rewarding endeavor.

Watercolors are clear and bright on the paper, but the paper buckled from the wet medium. While it was less than expected, I wouldn't recommend it for anything other than light, quick watercolor sketches. In the areas that received the most wet paint, the surface started to break apart resulting in some lumpiness on the page.

Final Impressions
I love this sketchbook. The paper is exquisite and it is a good value if you are inclined to bargain shop. The street price is about $12 although you can purchase it online with a Madeira leatherette cover for about $20.

This would be an excellent sketchbook to use for art journaling. It handles a variety of mediums, lies flat when opened and is big enough to comfortably draw in and small enough to transport. The cardboard cover can be easily customized with paints, collage, metallic pens, fabric giving you limitless options for creating a journal as unique.

Pros

• Superb, Clairfontaine paper
• Excellent choice for art journaling
• Handles a variety of mediums well, especially wet pens
• No bleedthrough and minimal show through, so you can use both sides of the paper
• Colorful ribbon bookmark for easy page retrieval
• 200 pages of high-quality paper for just $12
• Opens flat
• Cardboard cover can be easily customized

Cons

• Paper buckles when using watercolor paint
• Hard to find in stores

Exacompta Sketchbook “Livres d’Or” Sketchbook Specifications:

• 10 signatures of 20 pages
• 100 gsm which is roughly a 65 lb. paper.
• Multicolor ribbon.
• Black cover & silver edge
• Cloth binding to match cover
• Textured hardboard covers
• Sewn binding

According to Karen at Exaclair, this Sketch Book is going to get more of a prominent spot in Exaclair’s 2010 catalog. The paper comes from the same mill in the Netherlands that produces Clairefontaine’s fine art paper – http://jherbin.com/schut_mill.shtml. Thank you, Karen, for supplying me with this great little sketchbook to review. I really enjoyed it!

Have you used this sketchbook? If so, leave me a comment and let me know what you think about it!

Exacompta Sketchbook

journal page #1

While waiting for “mile 17″ inspiration to show up in my email, I decided to create my first page in my new art journal. I got the basic idea from an exercise in a great art journaling book by Diana Trout called Journal Spilling. Check it out! She’s got some beautiful and fun ideas using mixed media techniques for “free expression.” I expressed some free, sentimental feelings that have been on my mind today and created this page. Ingredients include: crayon, watercolor, acrylic paints, distressed inks, collage elements and a piece of my soul ….

close-up of journal page #1

For more journaling inspiration check out superstar artist, Connie Hozvicka at Dirty Footprints Studio for lots of “juicy” inspiration and direction, including great video instructions! Another inspirational resource is Leah Piken Kolidas at Creative Every Day. AND if you haven’t seen it yet, also check out Whitney Ferre’s new art journal video.

Christmas is my very favorite time of year.  I am already counting the days until I hang the Christmas lights outside, set up the tree, hang the Advent calendar and make dozens and dozens of cookies for family and friends.  I’ve started a Christmas journal, a new tradition, to celebrate every day of the season.  Dawn Sokol at d’blogala has just started her on-line class entitled 12.31 Art Journal Project.  Take a look – it’s not too late to sign up and start your own tradition.

I’ve also been following Roben-Marie Smith and her fabulous Mail Art creations.  I am so inspired by her use of scraps and bright colors.  Take a few minutes and watch her videos – you too will be searching for manila folders and brightly colored paper scraps.  Wouldn’t it be fabulous to receive a Christmas card or ATC in one of these envelopes!  Enjoy.

Keep it simple.

Well, today I did feel better, and I did go back and finish this image, as I saw it in my mind’s eye.   I like this picture very much, as well, it tells a story.  But the other picture, well, it IS a story, and they are both wonderful parts of the (w)hole that is me!  This was done in graphite, colored pencil, pens, and markers.  I feel glad about both of them!

journal cover

Created this cover today for my new art journal .  Have been wanting to experiment with more collage, watercolor and other mixed media!  Can’t wait to fill it with lots of beautiful pages! But first, I must get back to the marathon!

A month or so ago, I started a personal art journal. I didn’t have a plan, I thought I would just start drawing, go with the flow and see what happened. The result was the beginnings of an abundance journal.

The first pages in my personal abundance journal was done in pen and ink, acrylic paint, and rubber stamps impressed into thick layers of gel medium.

I started with a pen and ink illustration of curly, swirling, lines as the base image. In the photo, it is just barely visible through the sun’s rays and golden paint. This image was the inspiration for the entire journal, but the process of discovering this unfolded slowly. The organic shape of the lines reminded me of a flowing river and the circular shape of the curls reminded me of coins. I kept these images in mind as I layered on the paints and gel medium.

Because water was used to thin the acrylic paint, the color is translucent and the original line drawing of the swirls is visible. The coins were created by pressing a rubber stamp of a coin image into wet gel medium. Once the gel medium dried, diluted ink was rubbed into the depressions left by the stamp and the raised areas were wiped clean. This resulted in an antique look on the coins and surrounding area. The sun's rays were created with water-soluble pastels applied after the background was finished and then the entire spread was sprayed with a protective coat of acrylic spray.

The acrylic paints were thinned with water to keep the color translucent. By applying multiple thin layers the color was constructed slowly, adding depth and dimension to the background while allowing the pen and ink illustration to show through. In the golden-orange areas, thin layers of metallic gold acrylic were applied to add some shine that would relate to the coins I imagined earlier. Multiple washes of the metallic paint created a luminous effect that is soft and beautiful. More layers of gold made the paint more reflective, but by adding subtle, watery layers of the metallic paint over other areas of color added subtle movement to these areas.

The red background was created using watercolor. I avoided adding too much yellow to the red because I wanted it to contrast with the gold tones. The coins were created with a rubber stamp and black and red inks. Kanji character was stamped using black ink and the light areas near the top of the character were filled in using ink and a brush to define the edges.

In the left corner, the red background was created with multiple layers of red watercolor paint along with black to add some much-needed intensity and contrast to the image. I resisted the urge to add too much yellow to the red because I wanted it to contrast with the golds and make it pop. Shading was done with purples and blacks to enhance the dark areas. The coin images you see on this part of the illustration were done by using a rubber stamp with black and red inks. The Kanji character was done with a rubber stamp and black ink the light areas near the top of the character were filled in with a brush to define it.

At this point, the background was finished but it needed a focal point. A sun seemed to be the perfect choice and reinforced the circular imagery in the line illustration and coins. Because I wanted the sun to be opaque to cover the intense background, I chose vivid, water-soluble pastels. The bright color struck a nice balance to the background and the swirling rays added the concept of swirling water that I was looking for.

Once I felt the illustration was finished, I sealed it using a clear acrylic spray to protect it an to give the entire image an even sheen.

Material Used

• Red and yellow acrylic paint
• Metallic gold and silver metallic acrylic paint
• Watercolor paint
• Pen and ink
• Rubber stamp of coin
• Red and black ink pad
• Gel medium
• Water soluble pastels
• Acrylic sealant

I love the start of each month and looking forward at what I want to do and reflecting back on the previous month. I enjoy documenting life in several ways and looking back; also looking forward by planning future goals. I keep journals to track my life through lists and drawing; also electronically in excel spreadsheets and through my blog. Today, I’ve just started a new journal and made a double spread in my journal to show the month of October. I like to fill the squares with doodles, words, a few lines about things I’ve done, appointments and weather symbols etc. I much prefer to make my own calendars than to buy them. I like to make them colourful. Why not give it a try for October too? If you need some inspiration, have a look at Tracy’s calendar pages.

I make tabs for my journals too. I like tabs : ) It makes it easier to find each month. This month my tab is pink to reflect breast cancer awareness month. Next month will be orange for Bonfire and I’ve chosen red for a Christmas December.

If you’d like to join in Craft Saturday; add a comment and share any links you have. Feel free to display the “Craft Saturday” button on your blog to spread the word. : ) Enjoy your weekend. Hope it is full of fun!

We are all experiencing the same challenges no matter what library we work in . . . more teens using the library and less money in our budgets.  Here are some quick, easy and cheap programming ideas:

Art Journals – put those donated readers digests and text books to good use.  Put out the old books, magazines, sharpies, markers, paints, glitter and glue and let teens go to town.  See if you can get a local hobby store to donate scrap booking paper (they can’t sell it if there is a rip or someone has stepped on it) or have staff members bring in scraps of wrapping paper.  The possibilities are endless.  You can see examples of art journals on flickr for inspiration.

Art Journal books:
Alter This!: Radical Ideas for Transforming Books Into Artby Alena Hennessy
1,000 Artist Journal Pages: Personal Pages and Inspirations by Dawn DeVries Sokol
The Complete Guide to Altered Imagery: For Collage, Altered Books, Artists Journals, and More by Karen Michel
Journal Revolution: Rise Up and Create! Art Journals, Personal Manifestos and Other Artistic Insurrections by Linda Woods

Quick and dirty – take the same basic concept and make it a little easier. Do a single collage (use big pages from text books or encyclopedias) and use them to create an art instillation in your teen space!

Create Your Own Video Games and More – Scratch is a “new programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art — and share your creations on the web.”  It was created by MIT and is a wonderful opportunity to take all of the teens you see afterschool everyday and get them to come in and create a game (or story or art piece) of their own.

Quick and Dirty – Not enough computers to do a gaming program and the high school doesn’t have room for you in their lab? Have the teens create their own board games.  Have them available to patrons to use or let other teens vote on their favorites.

Book and a Movie – So many of our favorite books have been adapted for the silver screen that it is the perfect opportunity to compare and contrast.  Most libraries have the abilities to show movies so why not make the most of it?  Show the movie, have a compare/contrast book discussion or book vs. movie trivia contest.  Pop some popcorn if you have it and let the screening begin!

Mia Cabana of West Springfield Public Library had the wonderful idea to create a movie “prize pack” that consisted of a pack of microwaveable popcorn, a blank ”Movies I Want To See” list that we laminated with some magnet tape stuck on the back so it could be used as a dry-erase board, and a dry erase marker. Bundled together with some clever packaging it looked more exciting.

Quick and Dirty – Twilight, Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia. . . there are a lot of book discussions and trivia questions already floating around on the internet to make the most of your precious time.

Use ‘Em If You’ve Got ‘Em- Is someone on staff a photography enthusiast? A knitting nut?  A video game addict? A health guru?  Use the skills of the people that are already in your library to help you develop a program that you don’t have the skills to create on your own.  They probably have the materials and the know-how to create a program that you could never afford on your own.

Quick and Dirty – When was the last time you used your juggling skills or slight of hand tricks?  Remember that box of yarn, cassette tapes or baby food jars

What programs are you running on a shoestring?

Here’s the link for the buy a friend a book week running 1st – 7th October. It runs four times each year. I know it is probably a bit of a commercial thing, but I think it is a great idea. I think it is a good excuse to buy your friend a lovely book that they can enjoy. Have you bought any new books recently? What would be your top book as a gift?

If you have any books to share come along to Woollywotnots book club and share your books on the forum.

Here’s four from Woollywotnots bookclub for the month of  October. Grab a book, any book and come along and join us for a good chat : )

If the four recommendations don’t grab you, then you can browse through my bookshelf for more ideas. Click the woollywotnots logo below to view:

I’ve chosen to read Artists’ Journal and Sketchbooks by Lynne Perella. Looks great, so really looking forward to this.

WOW!  What a fabulous weekend spent at Art On A Lark taking Kelly Kilmer classes.   

The first class on Saturday morning was the Triptych Book.  A beautiful three panel handmade book with four signatures.  Kelly walked us through the process of collaging the covers and spines, then showed us how to create the individual signatures and sew them in using a very special design.   Below is the inside of the book.

Below are the covers.

Once completed we learned  different techniques for collaging and painting.  

The afternoon class was the Mementos Book.  This is a 9 inch by 9 inch journal with pockets on the inside.  Below is my unfinished cover.  Notice all of the tapes?  This is just a very small sample of all of the beautiful deco tapes Kelly brought to share with the students.

Below is the inside cover, notice the pocket on the left?  The right side is the first page of the signature with layered paint and stenciling.

I attended the Sunday afternoon class called Swatches.  These are hand sewn journals using recycled materials and are PERFECT as a take along project.  Below is the first journal (cover and some of the inside pages).  These pages were  created in the class using Kelly’s techniques.

I have to say that this was the best art weekend I have had in a long time.  If Kelly comes to teach in your area, sign up and take her classes.  She is a wonderful, patient and fun teacher!  You too will become hooked on her techniques and style.

Have an artful day!

I am in the beginning stages of a new journal. I started it with no intent or theme, but as it has progressed, the journal has become one about the eternal flow of abundance. While some of the artwork has been more abstract this one manifested as a gently flowing stream.

Flowing stream illustrated in a Moleskine Watercolor notebookfor an art journal on abundance.

I used a Moleskine Watercolor journal because the wide format seemed appropriate for the subject matter. The elongated shape is more interesting than a traditional rectangle and it inspired me to see things differently than usual.

This illustration is on the reverse side of a page with acrylic paints and sealant, so I had little, if any issues with buckling. I was so pleased with how the paper performed on the page that backed up to the page with acrylics, that I am considering painting every other 2-page spread with acrylic so my watercolor pages stay flat.

Karen Doherty of Exaclair, Inc. in New York was kind enough to send me four journals for review. They have websites at Exaclair and Quo Vadis. They were four nice-looking, thick journals. All are about 8.5 inches tall and 5.5 inches wide. They varied from 3/4 inches thick to 3/8 inches thick.

Left to right: Rhodia, Exacompta, Clairefontaine (unlined), Clairefontaine (lined)

I tested the pages by writing on each page with a fountain pen, a thin Sharpie (the one guaranteed not to bleed through), and a Sharpie fine-point permanent marker. I also used Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils and water to test each journal. People use journals differently, and it’s good to know how each one will stand up to the use you will purchase it for.

The orange Rhodia journal (far left, the color is tangerine, not as pale as shown) has a leather-like cover. It has a comfy, cushy feel.

It has a ribbon marker and an elastic closure, a great feature if you toss your journal into a bag.The paper is lined in light blue and the Rhodia logo is on the bottom of reach right-hand page. Paper is 90g/m, 96 pages. The book is made for writing, not drawing, and doesn’t easily open perfectly flat. The pages are ultra-smooth, almost slick, which comes from hot calendering, or passing them through big, hot rollers under pressure to finish them.  Writing on the page is comfortable, although the fountain pen takes a while to dry. That makes it better for right-handed people than left-handed.

Rhodia pages are ultra-smooth

Neither of the writing pens soaked through, although you can clearly see the writing from the reverse side of the page. I wouldn’t write on both sides of the pages with a fountain pen. The Sharpie permanent marker did soak through, and left spots on the next page as well. The watercolor pencils went down well, and when I painted over them, the water didn’t soak in quickly. It did not cockle (wrinkle or buckle) the page seriously after a day, although it did at first.  When dry, the back of the page was very slightly buckled, but not enough to cause a problem. Surprisingly, once the water dried, the watercolor pencil strokes were still visible, it didn’t blend well.

The Exacompta had 100 pages of 100g/m paper. It’s a heavier paper, slightly ivory, with a laid finish. It looks mould-made, a watermark you can see on each page. The book itself has a sturdy paper cover and the page-edges are silver. It came with a removable leather-like protective cover with “Sketch Book” stamped on it discreetly. When the book is closed it looks expensive, with the silver edged paper. It has a ribbon marker, no elastic closure.

Heavier Exacompta paper is perfect for watercolor and ink

The Exacompta lies flat when open, making it an idea sketchbook. The writing inks did not soak through, so you can write or sketch on both sides of the page. The watercolor pencils blended well, with no buckling on either side of the page once dry. The Sharpie permanent marker did soak through in spots, but left no marks on any other pages.

The two Clairefontaines were very different, which is sure to please a wider variety of customers. Both are stitch-bound and lie flat when opened. The multi-colored cover one is unlined, with smooth,  bright white pages. These pages are also calendared, which gives the paper a smooth finish, without a “tooth.” (Tooth creates a slight drag for pencils, and is generally preferred by artists.) The paper is lighter in weight, I’d guess it at 90g/m. The fountain pen takes about 45 seconds to become smear-proof, although the Sharpie writing pen dries faster. The Sharpie permanent marker soaks through and leaves some marks on the third page as well. If you use pen and ink or watercolor, you won’t want to work on both sides of the pages, although there is no visible buckle to the paper when dried.

Clairefontaine Red-cover journal can handle watercolor

The Clairfontaine red-cover uses lined paper. The paper is white, and again, I’d guess 90g/m. It has a slight drag on pens, which is vital for “fast writing,” a Natalie Goldberg term that I use to describe a journal that’s comfortable to write in. I believe this is the journal used by Julia Child when she was in Paris at the Cordon Bleu. A fountain pen dries quickly, and with the flat-lying book, this can be used by either right- or left-handed people. The Sharpie permanent bleeds through and marks on the third page. The water color blends well, and there is no buckle on either side of the page when dry. A good journal for writers who may occasionally sketch.

Necessary disclosures: I paid for none of these journals, they were donated. I will pass them on to people who take my journaling classes and can’t afford a good journal.

Of the four journals, I liked the Exacompa the best. And not because of the lovely silver gilt-edged pages, but because of the weight and tooth of the papers. I have a strong preference for unlined, heavy-weight pages. And I have a strong aesthetic preference for mould-made papers. My journals have to stand up to some abuse–heavy use, being carried in a purse or backpack. they also have to stand up to fountain pens, watercolor pencils and Pitt Pens–permanent markers that generally don’t bleed through heavier papers.

—Quinn McDonald is a life- and certified creativity coach. She teaches people how to write and give presentations. She also  manages four journals that travel the world.

What are you reading? Bring your book along with a cuppa and pop along to the Woollywotnots Book Club to share discussions on books. This month, I’ve been reading Note to Self by Samara O’Shea

It took me a while to settle into this book, but I’m glad I persevered. It is a short, personal and honest look at journaling and did make me think about journaling very differently.  I really like the ideas presented, for example, Samara O’Shea says that journaling can be whatever we want it to be – pages of lists, achievements, pages to explore ideas, discuss mistakes, evaluate where you are now, set goals etc. She also makes the point that you don’t have to write every day, you don’t have to write every month, if you’re a  write once a year kind of journalist, then go for it! There are no rules, though we often set them, when it comes to keeping a journal.  The author says you have to dismiss everything you think a journal should be and allow it to be whatever you want it to be. A journal is the one place where no one can judge including yourself.

The book is divided into novel sections:

• In the beginning
• Romance on the record
• Hearts that hurt
• The spirit is willing
• Sense of Self
• While you were sleeping
• A day in the life
• All the news that’s fit to blog
• Crimes of Passion
• A dream deferred
• Intimate details  

The book gives tips about how to explore a subject in your journal and provides lots of examples from the author’s own journal.  Samara also shares ideas on what to write about if there is nothing pressing on your mind, for example, you could describe people in your life, the room you are sitting in, what you want to learn or change about yourself, describe aspects of your life that you like or dislike etc.

One idea I liked most was how the author described the way in which past journals represent your ‘prior self’. Keeping a journal is a good way to keep a manifestation of your teenage self, your college / uni days self, newly married self etc.

All in all, I really enjoyed this short book. I developed a habit of reading a section of the book each day and then putting pen to paper. The book inspires you to put more of yourself onto paper. Definitely a book I will revisit and dip in and out of every so often.

Last spring I took an online class from mixed media artist Julie Prichard.   The class featured her techniques for using acrylic paints and mediums to create a layered, distressed look.   It was a fantastic class, and a lot of fun to do.  Julie’s videos show what she’s doing step by step, and she is always available in the forums for questions.   So I’ve been looking forward to her new classes on art journalling.  In the first class she shows how to make three different journals.  The second class focuses on art journalling techniques.

If you’re interested in book binding or art journalling, I highly recommend the classes, which you can sign up for by going to her blog.  The students are also very active and helpful, and their work along with Julie’s videos are so inspiring.

In my creative space today are all my favourite art materials that I like to use.

Here are my top recommendations for building up your artist toolbox. Go for quality over quantity and build up your toolbox over time. I have found there is a big difference in the quality of art materials and how long they last, for example, I bought these berol felt tip pens in my first year of university and they are still as bright and vivid as ever over ten years later! Cheaper paints and gesso need more coats and therefore, run out sooner and take longer in painting and the colours are not as vivid. Where to save money is on scrap ephemera in your art journalling and collage, use found objects in your art and scrap paper and cardstock.

A range of sketchbooks in various sizes. I love spiral bound sketch books, but the choice is yours.

A large easel if you have the space and also one for when you’re on the move. I like my tabletop easel that comes with me on holiday. It even came with its own little travel bag and I really like the design of it because it holds my paints, brushes and pallet inside and then opens up as an easel:

A selection of paints. I like acrylics for layering and they dry quickly and also painting a background colour in my journals. I also use acrylics to mix with clear gesso to make different  coloured gesso.

Matte Medium is great for thinning acrylics, as well as, a varnish.

My favourite kind of painting is in gouache. Again, I use Winsor and Newton.

I really like Caran d’Ache Neocolour II Artist Crayons. They provide lovely, vivid colour and are a mix between pastels and crayons. Use with water to create a watercolour effect.

A selection of paintbrushes and spatualas

 Derwent Fine Art Pencils are my favourite

A great selection of pens is a must for pen lovers! Plenty of bright and pastel colours for doodling, edging, outlining, lettering and labelling.

Micron05 pens; Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens; Sharpie Pens; Triplus fineliner assorted colour pens by Staedtler and Sakura Gelly roll pens

Gesso - read about Gesso here

Plaid Modge Podge seals and glues in one application – great for a finish on decoupage. Available in matt and gloss; and dries clear. Sparkle finish modge plodge adds a glistening effect to projects and outdoor mod podges is great for plant pots, sealing and protecting wood, slate , tin etc.

An xacto pen knife is a must for cutting out rubber stamps and making stencils and cutting out shapes

A good pen knife and scissors are essential kit items for cutting card and paper. I use Fiskars softtouch multipurpose scissors for fabric and have a pair in my knitting bag too. I think they are the best on the market.

Don’t forget an eraser and sharpener too.

The soul speaks in image. – Carl Jung

It could be just me. Sometimes you find what you are looking for.

If you’ve been around for a while, you know that I am interested in artist’s journals

They are basically handwritten journals, but with the wonderful upgrades of pictures and paint

Messier and free-r (is that a word?) than scrapbooks

Deeply and intensely personal

(this appeals to my inner snoop!)

But I am beginning to think that there is a cultural shift toward the visual going on

From predominantly valuing Left Brainers

to

a rise and possible equality for Right Brainers

a quick refresher for those easily confused by those left/right brained terms

(humour me I can never seem to sort them out appropriately.)

Quoted from: The Creative Entrepeneur, by Lisa Sonora Beam

The Left Brain:

• manifests conscious awareness
• likes concrete analysis
• deals with parts and specifics
• displays critical thinking based on logic
• has an external focus
• relies on linear, sequential, step by step thought patterns
• accomplishes one thing at a time
• has clear priorities and written lists
• focuses on details and facts
• focuses on what is ACTUALLY said (facts)
• understands verbal instructions both oral and written
• makes decisions based on facts
• focuses on mastering mechanics
• reads instruction manuals
• plans
• implements order, control
• is time bound
• is future oriented
• thinks convergently, systematically brings ideas together,generates conclusions and clear next steps.

The Right Brain

• manifests unconscious awareness
• learns by doing or seeing  a picture
• follows gut feeling/intuition
• makes decisions based on feelings
• deals with wholes, how parts work together
• is fluid
• is chaotic, unstructured
• is timeless
• uses fantasy and imagination
• has internal focus
• uses random, circular, simultaneous thought patterns
• dives in, figures out by doing
• skips around, is a multi-tasker
• impatient with how, needs to know why
• keeps an ongoing mental to-do list
• imagines the big picture
• focuses on HOW something is SAID (feelings)
• thinks divergently, uses mind maps, brainstorming, associative activities  that generate even more ideas

Now that we are clear on ideas and terms, let’s get back to me

at least the part where I see the rise of visual culture

This part doesn’t have anything to do with people reading pictures at their ATM’s

It has everything to do with how people are using images to clarify ideas and goals

Think about it . . .

Before the last two years had you ever heard of

Vision boards

mood boards

artist’s journals

altered books

creative visual business plans

Images help us clarify what we want “in the big picture”. Sometimes they come before words – you see something, you want it or what “it” represents and then you express that desire in words.

(It is all becoming clear now – that is why magazine ads switched from mostly text about a product to mostly images of the product! I knew it!)  

My personal philosophy about all these types of things is that they are Visual Planning, Visual Goal Setting.

So Why Use Visual Planning Methods?

if you’re a leftie, using your right side can

help you think about things in different ways

generate new ideas

 strengthen both hemispheres of your brain

My Foray into Visual Culture

I am an artist, so you’d think that a foray out into visual culture would be like stepping out into my back yard. But I have some daunting  and decidedly left-brained aspirations – namely to go to business school with a focus on marketing. Right now I’m reading everything I can and trying to teach myself the basics.

As part of this massive reading/teaching effort I’ve decided that I will read The Creative Entrepeneur by Lisa Sonora Beam. Ms. S.B. is an artist who went to business school, and her book convinces us righties that it is ok and even fun to swim in the leftie pool. It wasn’t a hard choice, really. I’d heard about it in some artsy circles, got my hands on a copy at the library, and was enthralled by the colourful, personal art. Easy sell.  But here’s the switch…

Instead of just reading and taking notes – I am going to ACTUALLY do the exercises as I go along.

This is a new adventure of left and right for me- and this whole idea of participating in the visual shift is a big change from the way that I normally do things.  But I think it is the pictures that make all this planning and forethought fun and accessible.

 So how is this moment in the sun for people like you?

Because no matter who you are or what side of the brain fence you are on the emphasis on the visual offers perspectives you may never have come across before. It offers a chance to challenge your thinking, and help you move a step towards the center, no matter where you see yourself on the left/right spectrum.

Gesso is essential for any artist’s toolbox. My favourite brands are Daler and Rowney and Winsor and Newton.

When it comes to art materials I always believe in quality over quantity.

Stick to good quality brands and they will last far longer and you’ll use less.

These brands of gesso need only one coat.

Gesso is a great primer for your canvas, sketch book or ATC etc.

Gesso strengthens paper

Gesso can be used like glue.

Gesso provides a smooth surface.

Use gesso to paint blocks as a background to art journal pages or ATCs.

Gesso prevents wrinkling.

Gesso absorbs paint and glue.

Gesso is great to add texture

Use gesso to white colour or black colour a page.

A dark priming brings the elements of your painting together and also saves time when painting.

Mix acrylic with clear gesso base to make your own coloured gesso.