When I first started Art Journaling in 2014. I was paralyzed in grief. A friend of mine suggested I start to journal. She explained the many good things that happen inside of you when you keep a journal. She told me that studies have shown that journaling lowers stress, improves your mind and even helps your body heal faster. Recording your life in a journal helps to slow down and experience the world around you in new and creative ways.
I took her advice and purchased two journals while traveling through Tennessee. I began writing. At first I just wrote what came to my mind. Then I started writing about my anger and soon I began writing about my memorable moments, even adding favorite recipes. And, it wasn't long before I began sketching and painting, gluing and collaging and experimenting with just about anything I could find to express my feelings onto the page.
I found that writing, drawing and painting tended to engage the right side of my brain. Combining all these techniques greatly enhanced my journaling experience. When I was journaling it amazed me at how I started to notice the small details that surrounded me. It allowed me to take a breather from life, as I lost track of time and noticed the little moments I might of otherwise overlooked. If you believe that art journaling is only for the artistically inclined you couldn't be more mistaken. An art journal is a record of your life. You can share it with family and friends or keep it to yourself.
Now, let loose! Experiment with combining art and words in your journal and you will create a special record that can guide and enrich your life in many ways.
Here we are, another Sunday! I don't know where the time goes but it does fly by awfully fast. And I do have something really fun to share today....
Last Monday, just this last one, my daughter Jenny and I spent the day together. She is an Assistant Principle in a local elementary school here in southwest Florida and she had the day of because of the holiday, Martin Luther King Day. We started the day off with a fantastic lunch at a place called Siam Hut just down the road from me. We have been going there for 25 years and they know us well. Then it was off to my favorite store, Hobby Lobby! Jenny was looking for supplies for a gift she is creating for a friend and I well, although I love the whole store I headed straight to the paint section. I was standing in front of the paint brushes contemplating which one{s} to buy. When a nice elderly man approached me and asked me "Are you an Artist?"
I went completely mute. I opened my mouth but nothing came out .... for a second or two and then, I stuttered out something like "well, ahhhhh, ohhhhhh, ahhhhh, and finally..... Yes I am!"
He then explained that he knew nothing about art or painting but it had been a life long dream of his to try. He recently retired from the service and moved here to be closer to family and he has the time now and the desire to paint. He then told me he wanted to paint "clouds"! So, now I have to act like an artist and obviously he is thinking of me as a Bob Ross artist! Whoa, the pressure is on..... He had no idea where to begin, he was holding a package of India Inks and that was totally not going to work. And he was staring at the oil paint section which was not going to work for him either, at least now. I explained briefly the mediums and why the ones he had in his hands were not the best choice. And we moved towards the acrylic paints. I could feel the sweat dripping down my back. I had never been asked that off the cuff and as bad as it sounds I still struggle with calling myself an artist? But that is for another blog another time.
So, as I was explaining a really nice lady says "can I interrupt?". (there is a God!) she says " I'm an art teacher and I can help also. Turns out she has been teaching at Ft Myers Alliance of the Arts for over 20 years. I must say it was so fun standing in the aisle, the two of us, ARTIST'S helping this gentlemen gather his supplies. Her husband was also there and I don't know if he is an artist but he shared a lot of his own knowledge.
The one piece of information I shared with him was to just relax and play. Go home, put on some music you like. grab a beverage open up your supplies and put each of the colors on the palette and play, swirl the paint, feel the paint, smell the paint, get lost in the paint, don't try to hard on creating a perfect painting you can always paint over it. I then explained about the information on You Tube, all the available videos and Terry shared her card with him. Hopefully he joined her class. I could tell she is a wonderful instructor and I looked at her website and she paints beautiful pieces. I've included her website and a sample of her work here as well. www.terrylynnfineart.com
THE MORAL OF THE STORY...
So many of you know my past with my art and creativity but what you may not know is that I have developed a fear. The fear of not knowing what I'm talking about and that leads to the fear of sharing my knowledge. As Elli of Milanart.com said when you're not sharing your knowledge you are being stingy. I was put on the spot and I found I quickly snapped out of the fear.
I learned two thing about myself that day. I learned "I AM AN ARTIST" and I do and can share what I know. What seemed like such a small question had such a big impact. I hope that nice man finds what he is looking for in creating. It really does change a persons life. I also gave him a card and I hope he reaches out for guidance I will be honored to create, share and inspire with him and to follow his progress as he opens up the possibility of becoming "AN ARTIST!"
I blew it! My three hour time limit. I got most of the cover Done in the three hours but not the rest.
it’s funny how I started out with a blank page, in my head and on the board. I had no idea what or where to start. I began just layering on handmade papers. I liked the moon that was on the album and thought I would leave that In. But in the end it got covered up. A favorite song of mine is from Sundays in the Park with George. called Putting it together. A line from the song that Barbara Streisand made popular was a visions just a vision if it’s only in your head. So that’s what inspired me to do a head with inspiration lines for me to follow popping out of my head. To help it go faster I made a photo copy of a picture of me and used carbon paper to draw in the eyes, face shape, lips, etc. then I painted it in adding more trim paper to look like confetti coming out of a popper. After that I went through the magazines and found some words a quotes. And here we are. I just played and let the creativity flow just doing what I felt drawn to do. I plan on finishing it this week. I’m thinking I may make a game board out of the middle and storing the pieces where the album itself is.
what did you all do this week? Please share and inspire us with your projects!
Vision Boards or Dream Boards are a manifestation of your goals and are used to motivate you to bring them to life. It's also one of the best ways to create "the law of attraction".
Creating a vision board is more than merely cutting out magazine pictures, creating a beautiful collage. It's a creative process and a powerful visualization tool that help you narrow down your desires, while setting clear goals and intentions. While you may want to drag out your vision board over a few weeks or days I don't recommend it with your first one. I suggest you set aside about 3 hours This will help your mind zero in on the things it wants as soon as it sees it. Create an environment to help your inspiration flourish. Light a candle, put on your favorite music, set out your supplies. Grab a favorite beverage, take a deep breath, relax and write out an intention. I can be put right on the board itself or you can journal it. If you write it on the board be sure to take a photo of it for reference later because the intention may get covered up.
Start with your magazines. I suggest going through each one twice. Whenever you see a photo or words that spark you, tear it out. Just rip out the whole page and once you have a pile of inspiration, Once you have a pile of inspiration, spend a few minutes focusing on photos and words that really call to you. If you come across ones that don't spark your original intention, ditch it. From the pile of keepers, start making smaller piles.
Putting it together.....
Take the time to arrange your images that you have selected on your board, without actually gluing them to it just yet. Now start asking your board questions. It may seem strange to you but your board will start to feel like a mirror, reflecting back to you what it wants. Ask your board how it feels, what images is it most calling out for, How is the board feel, how is it making you feel. You may feel some resistance in a part of your board. Lean into it and make tweaks. If you have any optional supplies you would like to add now is the time to include them. Maybe its some personal images or statements or it could be some fancy hand made papers or ephemera. The sky's the limit whatever you feel let it explore all the possibilities. When looking at your board and if you see what you want looking back at you. Glue everything down. You can always add or delete images and pieces if they no longer serve you or leave your board as it is. It can serve as a record keeper of your life. Keeping it where you can see it on a regular basis to keep you inspired and act on your goals.
And, if you don't meet every single goal on your board, you can always mark it as a work in progress and start a new board with new goals,
Supplies:
Scissors, tape, glue, magazines, your own photos, papers, personal items that spark and emotion or remind you of happy memories or relate to your goals. Words, letters, ticket stubs, receipts, recipes, brochures, ephemera, etc..
A couple things to consider. Do you like color or are you more monochrome? Do you have favorite colors you want to incorporate? Do you connect more with words or just photos or both. Do you want a full board with no background or a background? ( If you want a full board with lots pieces, place the larger pieces in the background.
Physical board can be anything. A foam board, canvas, wood board, a cereal box or other box can be left as is our cut out a piece. In the samples I used old record cases. I like to use those as while creating them they work as a sleave for supplies. I can also add and remove like a sort of time capsule you could say.
So, You've finished creating the most beautiful, inspiring and aesthetic Vision Board and now how do you use it?
First you will need to connect to your board. Connecting to your board will look and be different for every person. Connecting is very important and will optimize your visualization power. While you can still display your board as art on the wall, you will still need to create a connection in order for it to serve it's purpose.
Place your board where you can see it everyday, somewhere calm and a place you can relax in. If you enjoy music you can play some softly in the background. Light a candle. If you enjoy aromatherapy put that out. Now, sit back relax and while looking at the board think of happy memories, after a while start visualizing and achieving your goals and believing your visions are possible. That's it. Don't get overwhelmed, it takes practice and trial and error but soon you will receive the possibilities of your vision board. Studies have proven visualization impacts processes in the brain like motor control, perception, planning and memory. This enhances motivation, increases confidence and will improve performance. You cant get this wrong.
All you have to do is begin!
Happy Creating
-Kate
NEXT WEEK...... thoughts, tips and tricks from what I learned in creating my Vision Board!
