Ciao ciao everyone! This lovely Tuesday I invite you to art journal with me… yup! Let’s start a journal together and really experience the freedom of expression that art journaling can bring. I’ve been thinking about sharing my art journaling for a while and was really inspired to start this week because I finally received my Art Saves canvas panel in the mail and want to use it for the cover of a new journal.
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out crescendoh.com to read all about how Art Saves from the life stories of real-world artists. In fact, I will also be a guest curator in May – sharing my story, art photos and fabulous links to artsy crafty goodness. Previously I never shared my art journaling because it was very personal and not something I wanted others to see. However, the process helped me to turn my focus around and what was once a way to vent and release all the bad things has now become a place for play and happy experimentation. My art journaling is still personal, but much more positive and so I am now ready to share it. I’m taking a fashion catalogue shown above that seriously has really nice sparkly thick paper. It’s really perfect as a base for my journal and you’ll be surprised what you can find around the house that can become an art journal. Having pages that are NOT blank also helps you beat the blank page fear as well! First thing I like to do is decorate my cover, so here goes…
I sketched out a little happy drawing on watercolor paper first…
Then I slapped on my blue watercolor for the background…
Then coloring in my drawing, one color at a time and letting it dry in between. (I cheated with a heat gun to dry the paper!) As you can see, I am not a trained watercolorist at all – I’m really messy because I’m impatient at times, but try my best to color in the lines and just fill in the colors I like.
Even though the watercoloring might be messy, I try to neaten it up by adding black outlining to my drawing…pretty cute, huh? You can see above how I plan to attach everything to the cover of my journal.
I’m not really done with the image yet though…I like to look at it from afar and add details with colored pencils and my latest craze – Copic twinkling like stars pens! Can’t resist some sparkly-ness and I guess it’s influence from Italy, because a lot of designs and clothing here have that added bling bling.
Above you can see how I went crazy with the sparkly pens and thickening the lines to add definition to the drawing. I couldn’t help but add hearts hanging from the top in silver pen too…
Glue everything down securely and tah-dah! A finished art journal cover…yay! Now you are going to do yours, right? Or perhaps you already have an art journal and just want to play along with a happy image? Go ahead and share in the comments section as I always like to see what folks come up with. Until next week for another art journal with me post!
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To receive this super cute motivational poster as a printable PDF, 
16 Comments
I love how your illustration came out – very adorable! =) You may have convinced me to make one of my own… hehe…
Thanks Steph! I’m glad – we can totally recycle things into journals…I’ve noticed the catalogues here in Italy for fashion are really well made with top notch products, but they get chucked every season!
i am so happy to find you! from la to the tuscan hills! what a dream come true. a few years ago my hubby & i traveled to italy & it was an incredible trip! went to rome, florence, san giminano,& vignale…so my imagination soars in thinking of you! &!!! love your creativity & play with different art mediums…this journal cover is delightful & enchanting! happy day of colors dancing on the page & on the tuscan hills to you.
Thanks for stopping by, Rachel! It is definitely beautiful here in Italy and I am soooo happy to have made the leap in my life… there are ups and downs as with any place, but I love it! Thanks for your kind comments on my journal cover and hope you will check back as I continue weekly, sharing my art journaling on Tuesdays!
Hi Linda,
This is absolutely adorable!! I will look forward to you upcoming pages…and I guess i need to get me some Copic twinking pens!!! Thanks for your comment today!! Love your blog!
Thanks for stopping by Martha! Oh the pens are lovely, especially in the colors you like to use…extra little sparkle sparkle!
Hi!
Thank you for stopping by my blog, and your very nice comments! It’s so nice to meet you and see your wonderful artwork!
Wow! Italy… Someday I will make it there. It’s been a dream for a very long time.
Have a great week!
Deb
Hi Deb – thanks for dropping by my blog as well…it’s always nice to meet fellow creatives!
What a great beginning! Reminds me of this quote I am writing from today… from Julia Cameron…”For today, all you need is the grace to begin beginning.”
Ooo, cool, will check it out. Thanks for visiting my blog!
Thanks for stopping by my blog Linda! You have a very happy space over here in blog land! I read that you are in Tuscany! That is incredible…I think one of my dreams too is to spend time living in Italy….I spent a semester in Florence when I was in college…and dream of going back! It’s inspiring that you took that “plunge”!!!
And thank you for stopping by! I’m glad you feel this is a happy place…it is my positive digital space to share my work. Living here in Tuscany is exciting definitely! I guess the touristy rose-colored eyes never wore off for me?! I think it is totally possible to realize your dreams and live in Italy or anywhere! You just have to follow your passions!
Hi Linda,
I’ve just found your blog from Kim (Queen of Arts). I really like your art and especially your latest journal. I’ll be back to see more!
Oh how wonderful, thank you for stopping by, I really appreciate it!
Linda,
YEY!
This is truly inspiring, what you have created!
I love your complete outcome, and I think you are excellent in your watercolour, very unique to you.
Thank you so much…oh, I am still such a beginner at watercolor but it’s sort of nice to discover something new each time!
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[...] of creating and the reasons why I do what I do. Whether I’m taking photo, altering them, doodling, painting, creating digital graphics or randomly making whatever I feel like at the moment…it’s [...]