I got the following comment on a recent post…
love
how you changed those flowers! I have a question about your creative
process, if you wouldn't mind answering it… do you plan your LOs, or
do they evolve as you're working?
I find "artsy" intimidating, because it feels like it just gets
thrown together, but how can such awesome work just "come together"
IYKWIM?
Cheers
cate
…and I wanted to take some time to answer it. I think that there probably are people out there who are capable of throwing together a bunch of stuff and having it come out as a beautiful creation. In fact, I have heard many scrappers say that they can't imagine spending more than an hour or two on a page.
I am not one of those people.
True. I am prolific. But, that's because I'm obsessed and spend a lot of time, every day, creating.
If you don't mind, I'd like to take you on a trip down memory lane. (There is a point, and an answer to Cate's question, so bear with me.)
10.03.05
One of my early layouts. This was in response to one of the effer dares.
You can see that I wanted to be a bit artsy. I cut all my journaling up into little pieces and was using unusual photos, but it just doesn't really work.
1.6.06
I remember thinking that I was soooooooo clever doing my journaling in those "u" shapes around the photos. And this was the beginning of a long phase in which I mixed and matched rub-ons, stamps, and my handwriting. And used a lot of vellum. Again, longing to be artsy and adding little creative touches where I could.
I was so incredibly proud after I finished this layout. But, I look at it now and see a thousand design issues.
7.23.06
At this point, I was avidly reading magazines and doing everything I could to make my pages look the ones from the magazines: clean, graphic, big photos, etc. And I was just starting to learn how to play in Photoshop.
Because I was trying to ape the layouts in magazines, I was beginning to understand graphic design a bit more. Most of my layouts from this period have a "simple" look, for lack of a better term. But, it wasn't conscious. I was throwing a bunch of stuff at the wall and seeing what stuck! Witness the next layout…
7.02.06
I'm still having lots of mis-steps when I try to go artsy. Check it out:
But, here's a re-do from 6.24.08:
It took me two years to make it from point A to point B. But, I digress.
9.26.07
This was a period of big change for me. I put together this very graphic, but kind of oddly hinged together layout in September of 2007. In theory, it should work. I was reading lots of books on design and thinking about putting together my pages in a much more methodical way. And I was sketching absolutely everything beforehand.
1.08.08
…and three months later, I had put this one together. I drew a sketch of it before I sat down to put scissors to paper, but I let myself think outside of the box a bit more.
6.22.08
I love this layout. And it is the beginning of my feeling comfortable combining strong design with artsy techniques. Paint is becoming a strong component in all of my work. I'm still sketching things out, but more often in my head than on paper.
3.2.09
And, here's a quick layout I did back in March. This is definitely where I'm at right now. Painted title, painted background, handwriting…yep.
More importantly, as random as it looks, I am now very aware of the design principles upon which it sits.
So, let's get back to the original question that started this ramble. Do I plan my layouts? Or do they just evolve?
Yes.
The answer is kind of "yes" to both questions.
I start with a photo, a technique, or a product that I'm dying to play with. I rarely make physical sketches these days. Though, I definitely make them in my head. Perhaps it's because I've been doing this for four years now, and I'm just building on everything I've learned over that time. And when I'm creating that mental sketch, I am 100% conscious of the basic design principles (contrast, emphasis, balance, unity, pattern, movement, and rhythm).
As I start to work, I'll often discover that whatever I had planned in my head just isn't going to work. The one thing that I have gotten very good at is letting go of the plan at that point. I look at the mistakes and disasters as opportunities. So, the layout just starts to evolve at that point.
Whenever I think I'm done with a layout, I will stand it up or hang it up next to my desk and look at it. Often, I will go and get a drink of water or walk away for ten minutes. When I come back, I stare at the layout and see if anything immediately jumps out at me as wrong or out of place. If it does, I'll fix it immediately. (I often paint over stuff or pull it right off the layout! I have been known to paint over an entire layout and start again.)
If everything looks fine, I look at the layout and ask myself whether it feels ordinary or extraordinary. I know it sounds obsessive and crazy, but if it feel ordinary, I feel compelled to add something or do something to take it to the next level.
Finally, I make sure that the first thing the eye goes to is the photo, that the journaling is legible, and that the design feels cohesive.
Now, those are the technical steps that go into my process, but as you can see from the brief history I've shared here, my layouts evolve as I do. My process evolves as I do. I think you have to go through all the steps, all the conscious learning, before you can just throw things at the paper and have it all work fabulously. Or at least I have to. I mean, who knows what might be next!?
Cate, I hope that answers your question!
Thanks for stopping by!
It’s super fun to see your progression Julie! So inspiring!
It’s super fun to see your progression Julie! So inspiring!
It’s super fun to see your progression Julie! So inspiring!
It’s super fun to see your progression Julie! So inspiring!
Thank you so much for explaining this so thoroughly. It’s great to see the evolution and I love where you are right now. It just wouldn’t be a lo of yours without paint. I love the last 2 lo’s so much. You are so creative and obsessive and that’s a good thing.
Thank you so much for explaining this so thoroughly. It’s great to see the evolution and I love where you are right now. It just wouldn’t be a lo of yours without paint. I love the last 2 lo’s so much. You are so creative and obsessive and that’s a good thing.
Thank you so much for explaining this so thoroughly. It’s great to see the evolution and I love where you are right now. It just wouldn’t be a lo of yours without paint. I love the last 2 lo’s so much. You are so creative and obsessive and that’s a good thing.
Thank you so much for explaining this so thoroughly. It’s great to see the evolution and I love where you are right now. It just wouldn’t be a lo of yours without paint. I love the last 2 lo’s so much. You are so creative and obsessive and that’s a good thing.
thanks for this post Julie. It’s interesting to see how you evolved!
thanks for this post Julie. It’s interesting to see how you evolved!
thanks for this post Julie. It’s interesting to see how you evolved!
thanks for this post Julie. It’s interesting to see how you evolved!
so cool to see how you and your art have changed!
so cool to see how you and your art have changed!
so cool to see how you and your art have changed!
so cool to see how you and your art have changed!
I can so relate. As you I read lot’s of design books and that is how it evolved 🙂 Love your wonderful post- great way to see the progress.
I can so relate. As you I read lot’s of design books and that is how it evolved 🙂 Love your wonderful post- great way to see the progress.
I can so relate. As you I read lot’s of design books and that is how it evolved 🙂 Love your wonderful post- great way to see the progress.
I can so relate. As you I read lot’s of design books and that is how it evolved 🙂 Love your wonderful post- great way to see the progress.
Thank you for sharing that! I guess I haven’t soaked up enough from the design books yet, but my obsession waxes and wanes at the moment… Love seeing how you’ve evolved over the years!
Thank you for sharing that! I guess I haven’t soaked up enough from the design books yet, but my obsession waxes and wanes at the moment… Love seeing how you’ve evolved over the years!
Thank you for sharing that! I guess I haven’t soaked up enough from the design books yet, but my obsession waxes and wanes at the moment… Love seeing how you’ve evolved over the years!
Thank you for sharing that! I guess I haven’t soaked up enough from the design books yet, but my obsession waxes and wanes at the moment… Love seeing how you’ve evolved over the years!
Thanks so much for putting this together — it’s amazing to see a creative evolution/revolution documented here!
Thanks so much for putting this together — it’s amazing to see a creative evolution/revolution documented here!
Thanks so much for putting this together — it’s amazing to see a creative evolution/revolution documented here!
Thanks so much for putting this together — it’s amazing to see a creative evolution/revolution documented here!
Thanks so much for sharing the evolution of your work, Julie!
Thanks so much for sharing the evolution of your work, Julie!
Thanks so much for sharing the evolution of your work, Julie!
Thanks so much for sharing the evolution of your work, Julie!
This is a fun post, I’ll have to do something like this for myself. It’s neat to see where we’ve been and where we’re going creatively.
This is a fun post, I’ll have to do something like this for myself. It’s neat to see where we’ve been and where we’re going creatively.
This is a fun post, I’ll have to do something like this for myself. It’s neat to see where we’ve been and where we’re going creatively.
This is a fun post, I’ll have to do something like this for myself. It’s neat to see where we’ve been and where we’re going creatively.
Great post thanks so much for sharing – it’s always fun to go back & look how styles change
Great post thanks so much for sharing – it’s always fun to go back & look how styles change
Great post thanks so much for sharing – it’s always fun to go back & look how styles change
Great post thanks so much for sharing – it’s always fun to go back & look how styles change
awesome post! i love how you share so willingly – i learn a lot from you. thanks!!
awesome post! i love how you share so willingly – i learn a lot from you. thanks!!
awesome post! i love how you share so willingly – i learn a lot from you. thanks!!
awesome post! i love how you share so willingly – i learn a lot from you. thanks!!
I love this post. It gives me the idea that there is freedom in the process. Even though you see problems in the design of your early efforts, they have so much validity as they point to where you are now. I sometimes get stuck on the “but it is not perfect or good enough” step and have a hard time going on. The freedom to be where I am today knowing that it is a step to tomorrow…..thanks again for so much info!!!
I love this post. It gives me the idea that there is freedom in the process. Even though you see problems in the design of your early efforts, they have so much validity as they point to where you are now. I sometimes get stuck on the “but it is not perfect or good enough” step and have a hard time going on. The freedom to be where I am today knowing that it is a step to tomorrow…..thanks again for so much info!!!
I love this post. It gives me the idea that there is freedom in the process. Even though you see problems in the design of your early efforts, they have so much validity as they point to where you are now. I sometimes get stuck on the “but it is not perfect or good enough” step and have a hard time going on. The freedom to be where I am today knowing that it is a step to tomorrow…..thanks again for so much info!!!
I love this post. It gives me the idea that there is freedom in the process. Even though you see problems in the design of your early efforts, they have so much validity as they point to where you are now. I sometimes get stuck on the “but it is not perfect or good enough” step and have a hard time going on. The freedom to be where I am today knowing that it is a step to tomorrow…..thanks again for so much info!!!
thanks for sharing!
thanks for sharing!
thanks for sharing!
thanks for sharing!
Wonderful post and I remember loving “my little eye” and starting to follow your art closely at that point. I love your style and it was fun to see the evolution!
Wonderful post and I remember loving “my little eye” and starting to follow your art closely at that point. I love your style and it was fun to see the evolution!
Wonderful post and I remember loving “my little eye” and starting to follow your art closely at that point. I love your style and it was fun to see the evolution!
Wonderful post and I remember loving “my little eye” and starting to follow your art closely at that point. I love your style and it was fun to see the evolution!
this was really cool – loved reading about your style and seeing the examples!
this was really cool – loved reading about your style and seeing the examples!
this was really cool – loved reading about your style and seeing the examples!
this was really cool – loved reading about your style and seeing the examples!
wow… what an evolution of style….. you amaze me!
wow… what an evolution of style….. you amaze me!
wow… what an evolution of style….. you amaze me!
wow… what an evolution of style….. you amaze me!