Art journaling

People have kept art journals for centuries.

The benefit of art journaling is that it is essentially a source of understanding in how to visually recognise and honour true self-expression. Many people keep written journals, but there are some who refrain from doing so as they find it too difficult to articulate in words how they are actually feeling. They may also have a fear of someone else finding their private documentation and coming across one’s innermost thoughts and feelings. Art journaling affords the creator a means in which to record with images, because what one person creates with visual interpretation another may construe in a completely different manner. As such, the art journaling process becomes a ‘safe’ form of recording emotions.

The journal itself can be a simple book, blank or lined, where one can illustrate, paint, collage, cut out, paste in, provide pockets for keepsakes or cover up private words. It provides a safe haven to get the chaos that is in the mind out onto paper, where at any time it can be looked at, meditated upon or revised accordingly. There is no right or wrong way of creating a journal. Whilst it is not produced to be critiqued, one may invite someone to look at the finished image and enter into a discussion thereafter, only if it is considered therapeutic to do so at that time. It therefore becomes an informed invitation, which is very powerful in a healing capacity.

It is not necessary to go out and purchase an expensive book in order for it to become a journal. The beauty of journaling is ‘anything goes’. One can create their own journal, up-cycle an old book, atlas, music manuscript or simply use a bunch of paper lunch bags folded in the middle bound with string! I find using the latter as a wonderful introduction to journaling as it provides lovely little ‘pockets’ at the open ends to store those special memories such as cinema tickets, love notes, intentions or other personal keepsakes that can be easily accessed.

I run many courses on how to art journal across all age groups and professional sectors and these are a few of the more commonly asked questions I come across.

“What Exactly Is Art Journaling?”

Art journaling is simply collating images and words that enable self-expression. There is nothing more to it than that really!! It is not some complex, time-consuming activity. One can do it daily or on an ad hoc basis whatever the creator feels is right for him or her.

“Do I Have To Be An Artist To Keep A Journal?”

One may have a preconceived idea of what an artist actually is. We are all, in truth, artists in some form and as the creating of a journal is about self-expression, who better than oneself to express in a creative manner and to record accordingly? As I mentioned earlier, there is no right or wrong way, it is simply YOUR way. If the creator has a lack of confidence with drawing or painting, they can then cut out images or words from a magazine or newspaper that resonate with how they are feeling at that particular moment in time. I would suggest using a journal that can fit easily into a handbag or top pocket. That way, when the mood or situation presents when one wants to record, it is easily accessible (just remember to always have a pen to hand too!!)

“Is Art Journaling Really Therapeutic Or Just The Latest ‘Fad’?”

People have kept art journals for centuries. We have all heard of the adage, ‘an image speaks a thousand words’, so by selecting an image, cutting and pasting it into one’s journal can become the trigger to recognise and explore those feelings further. A few choice words that then ‘pop’ into one’s head can be written alongside the image to help articulate how one is truly feeling. If the artist doesn’t want someone else to see those words, they can be then covered up or scribbled out, but I do encourage GET THEM OUT OF YOUR HEAD AND ON TO PAPER. Leonardo da Vinci kept many art journals and often used images and mirror writing as his own form of a secret coding structure. We can all find our own way of privately logging emotions, fears, hopes and dreams. Finding our own method of recording is where the act of the art journaling process really becomes therapeutic. Do not underestimate the power of meeting those feelings, owning and documenting them. Remember the images can be revisited and revised at any stage. One can recreate a memory, an intention or even a dream in a way that makes sense to that person. It is a wonderful way of reclaiming a past event and sometimes altering it to become a more manageable experience in the here and now. It provides self-healing as an avenue to nurture the soul. It can be extremely emotive, not necessarily always negatively, but in a way that can prove a positive medium to record an exciting or loving moment in time.

“Will It Cost Me A Lot Of Money To Keep An Art Journal?”

Absolutely not! In fact one might find one becomes a bit like a magpie. I am often to be found smoothing out sweet wrappers and tucking them into my pocket or purse for later use. I forage for feathers that can be then used to stick in to a page to represent a friend or love lost, a deceased relative, or as a reference to the angels. Bits of string can help to link images together. Ripped out pages of an old book, reclaimed stamps, tin foil, dried foliage, photographs, tape, ink stamps, paint and ribbon are all examples of how I use materials that can help me to transcend barriers where words and my own artistic capabilities fail my knowledge of how to express myself fully. Alternatively, some people may just use an old book and a black marker and fill the entire journal with their own images or scribbles. They may rip out, cut and fold certain sections to create a sense of meaning and order to their emotions. Indeed one can even revisit an old written journal, which holds memories that may need to be re-addressed with images to help make sense of their feelings recorded at that time.

“Why Should I Keep A Visual Journal? What’s In It For Me?”

Some of my worst creative journaling mistakes have proven the best ways of expressing how I’m truly feeling. This is actually how the subconscious works at it’s best. It is a fantastic opportunity to explore the use of different art materials, techniques and to gain confidence in finding what works in an expressive capacity, if one is willing to experiment. It is a superb way of getting one’s thoughts and feelings onto paper, to document moods, intentions, dreams and indeed life itself. It can be enjoyable, meditative, emotive and, may prove a safe and private way to explore what ‘works’ and ‘what doesn’t’. It really is creative freedom personified. Thus the very act of creating becomes one of the most rewarding forms of art making there is.

“How Do I Actually Go About Starting To Art Journal?”

There are so many examples of how to art journal to be found on line and indeed many of my own students report that following my urge for them to explore ‘How To Art Journal’ on You-tube, they become excited at the variety of ways it can be accessed and adapted. It really is a ‘free for all’ process!!

“What Do I Do When I Finish A Journal?”

That is entirely up to the creator. Some like to keep the journals to meditate on, refer to, revise or simply reference personal progress at a later date. They may end up with numerous journals on their shelves. Others, I know, keep just one journal and then use a medium called ‘Gesso’ or other materials that cover up previous work to simply start all over again, keeping to a single, continual journal. They may photograph previous work before starting again. It is a personal decision. As with the actual creating of one’s journal, it is important to recognise that there is no right or wrong way to keep, alter or dispose of it. It is a personal choice to be made by the authors themselves.

It is essential to let go of the ‘inner critic’ and just enjoy the process of the art making itself. Just begin and find out for yourself how therapeutic art journaling can actually be for YOU.