Visual Journaling
Many people are afraid of the blank page. Have you ever hesitated to draw or write in a new journal or blank book for fear of ruining it? Well I am here to tell you to fear not! I’m going to show you several ways to tackle this problem but first I would like to suggest you do something I have been practicing for the past couple of years. I draw and journal on blank cardstock (the kind you get from office supply stores). You see this way if you don’t like what you’ve drawn you can always throw it out or cut out elements from your page to incorporate as a collage element in another piece. When you have several of these pages simply clip them together with a bull clip and voila! You have a Visual Journal. If you like you can make a cover from thick cardstock or matt board. This too can be embellished with collage, tissue paper or painted backgrounds. The following ideas can be incorporated into your Scrapbooking pages to make them truly unique and artful!
Here are 4 tips on getting started in your Visual Journal:
1. Painted backgrounds – You can prepare your backgrounds ahead of time by painting cardstock with acrylics, scraping paint on, splattering it, sponging color, using wallpaper that you have over-painted, stamping inks (from inkpads) or using a combination of techniques. Lay these backgrounds aside until you are ready to add borders and doodles.
2. Borders – Create your own fanciful borders ahead of time and make journaling easier. You can make checkerboard borders or scallops or columns. You are really only limited by your imagination. Check out what other artists have used as borders and put your own spin on things to create your own unique edges.
3. Lettering – Many people are afraid of lettering. They don’t like their handwriting and tend to want to use computer generated text. If you truly want to leave your stamp on your Journal Pages then give lettering a go. Simply create your own lettering like I have. I call it the “violette” font. Basically it was created out of desperation since I was unable to following Calligraphy how-to books. So sit with some blank papers and practice your own lettering. Look at the lettering styles of other Visual Journalers and notice how they are not perfect and yet exude the personality of the artist.
4. Doodling – When you are aimlessly talking on the phone or sitting in front of the TV have a blank pad with you so you can capture little doodles. This is a way to access your subconscious mind. You get out of your own way when your conscious mind is engaged. That is when the magic emerges. After a marathon phone session or zoning out in front of the TV survey your doodles. Are some of them salvageable? If so ink them in, color and then cut them out to use in your Visual Journals.
Now you know my 4 secrets to Visual Journaling. Take a border from your stash of pre-drawn borders, cut out and affix to your painted background. Find some doodles which may or may not relate to what you want to write about and glue to your page. Now with your newly practiced lettering add a story in a stream of consciousness fashion or simply incorporate a favorite quotation onto your cardstock.
Do you see how easy it is to put all of these elements together? By using this step by step formula you will banish your fear of the blank page forever!
Copyright 2008 Violette. Violette is a creativity catalyst, whimsical artist, designer and writer. Her work has been published in numerous magazine and is featured in the book Living the Creative Life. She now has her own book entitled Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash your Inner Eccentric to be released in April 2009. Violette has also appeared on TV numerous times with her magic cottage and Glittergirl van. Check out her website at http://www.violette.ca/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Violette_Clark
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