If you're new to Art Journal Every Day, all the posts can be found here. Please read this post first. There is a flickr group for sharing right here. Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day! No need to finish anything or even like it. Just play! You can join the linky list for September here.
Before I forget, I've been making promises about an online journaling class and now it's really coming. I swear. I'm working on the first few lessons now and hope to have it available for purchase soon...maybe. It's called "30 Days in Your Journal" and it's all about getting into the art journaling habit with short daily lessons and lots of painty techniques. I'll let you know more soon! Now onto today's topic...!
I know I've mentioned this before, but I use my art journal as a place to experiment. It's not just about creating a pretty picture for me, sometimes it's about trying out ideas or techniques for other projects.
Do these doodles look familiar?
They should! They were the inspiration for the "Wonky Circles" stencil that I designed!
It's the stencil that I used on yesterday's layout. I never intended those doodles to be the inspiration for a stencil design. I was just playing and painting. But my art journals often become a reference point for me.
I loved the way the multi-colored clouds turned out on this art journal background:
So I decided to make a layout using the same technique:
I loved the half-circle doodle on this art journal page...
...and so it got translated to a scrapbook page!
Not everything is a successful experiment, of course.
Hmmmm...I guess I'm not a natural born bird draw-er.
I disliked this doodle so much at the time that I covered it up:
Although, looking back I can't quite see what was quite so terrible about it.
But covering things I hate up, is something of a theme with me.
You can see some flower doodles that didn't work and got gently obscured with gesso.
The covering up helps me have the courage to try new things because I always figure, well I can just cover it up if I need to!
Here is a two-part butterfly stencil that I hand cut...
...I didn't think it was a successful experiment, but I didn't cover it up either.
And of course I love to use my art journal as a reference book for new ink colors...
...a place to test out stamps I've carved...
...or a place to experiment with a new set of watercolor paints!
There are so many ways you can treat your art journal as a useful tool rather than a sacred object. What do you think? Do you use your art journal as a place for experimentation?
Thanks for stopping by!
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P.S. If you've ordered stencils from me, thank you! And we're currently backordered on the Punchinella stencil. So if you've ordered that one, your order is being held until the stencils arrive! All other orders have shipped.
P.P.S. Just because I'm so darn proud of him: My husband has a new article up on Attorney At Work. I think he's a really good writer and makes even dry legal topics interesting and relevant to non-attorneys.
P.P.P.S. I will announce the Chevron and Herringbone stencil winners on Monday!
