Sunday, March 22, 2015

Art Journaling: Finding my Groove

"Our Time Together"
"My Garden of Life"
Most of the way through my month-long exploration of art journaling and what it means to me, I think I have hit my stride and found my style. . . well, actually, two styles. 
I love mixed media collage style art journaling for the way it allows me to play with my supplies and work out my feelings (like in the top page, which I made shortly after hearing that Paul had received good news on his most recent cancer check-up). 
I also really like pages where I make simple drawings that can be used as the backdrop for lists about things percolating in my head (like the second page where each leaf details one of the ingredients to success in my life).
There's still one area I want to explore: faces. I really appreciated everyone's feedback to my post with some initial thoughts about art journaling. My main take away from reading those is that I want my art journals to be fun and not hard work. When I look at pages where I try to incorporate more involved drawing in my art journals, they seem tortured and I realize they were not very fun to create (even if I did feel some accomplishment in their completion). I'm still on the fence about faces. I really want to draw faces in my art journals, and I want to get to the point where they are fun and easy. I feel like I can get there, but I still need practice which might be more work than fun. So, I will delve into faces a bit more between now and the end of the month. But I will also be creating pages in these two styles which feel really right to me just now.

7 comments:

alexa said...

I can see how both of these offer you a vehicle for different sorts of expression, Rinda - and your exploring and thinking this month seems to be making things clearer for you as regards art journalling. I am sure that I have seen a class somewhere on drawing/painting faces recently ... Off to hunt!

Karen said...

Both of these pages are wonderful; you've definitely found your groove. I think there's a class on drawing faces on Craftsy, if you're interested. If you sign up for their emails, you can almost always find what you want on sale eventually.

Sian said...

I think one of the real benefits of taking the month to concentrate on one thing is that you find your groove simply because you are making a lot of pieces. It's fun to watch!

Cheri said...

Couldn't agree more - art journaling should be FUN and if it isn't then I can't see the point in it. Both of these pages are so you!

Abi said...

I love what you create Rinda. I think the process is fascinating and it is so fun to see how your imagination and creativity and ideas all work together.

BJ said...

Oh you have found your groove alright, super art journalling. Love your plant. I think Art journalling is so personal and the style will always be your very own no matter what you try. Keep doing what you are doing it is fantastic.

Anonymous said...

I love how you've found your style while concentrating on your art journaling in March. BTW, I really like that first one and the reason for it.