Today’s post is all about why I art journal. Be sure to share why YOU art journal (or why you don’t) in the comments. I’d love to know!
Every Friday on this blog we talk about art journaling and my belief that every artist should have a daily art journal practice — even if it’s just for 10 minutes a day. It has been transformative for me and I hope it will be for you too!
Hello 2012!
Well, it’s the first Art Journal Every Day post of a brand new year and I’m sure you’re already overcommitted with resolutions and year-long projects and lots of big plans. And so I have some awesomely good news for you: you don’t actually have to art journal every day to be a part of Art Journal Every Day.
Counterintuitive, isn’t it?
And yet, it’s totally true. This weekend I sat and reviewed my 2010 daily art journal and it was a lovely experience.
So many memories held in the pages. And the memories weren’t even in the writing. I remember each of the paintings and the doodles and the pretty postcards I taped in the back. There were photos and newspaper clippings and inky messes throughout that each brought back a flood of memories. And although there are more days missing from that journal than days represented, it still holds a year full of memories, changes, growth, and artful expression.
An Interesting Question
Recently someone posted a question on one of my art journaling YouTube videos and I thought it was rather an appropriate place to begin our year of art journaling together:
Can I ask you a question? I don’t get this, I love art and the creation of art. I have times in my life I feel inspired to make things. I have my own channel here also, but I don’t get the art journaling thing. What is it for? Is it to let out random free form art? Does it help artist’s block? (I feel that often, like my flow is stuck) I like to make cards and scrapbook pages, but feel like they have a reason.
What an interesting question. Let’s pull it apart.
What is the Purpose of Art Journaling?
What is it for?
I’m sure that my answer is not everybody else’s answer, but for me:
- I art journal as a way of experimenting with ideas and techniques.
- I art journal as a method of memory keeping.
- I art journal to express my feelings.
- I art journal to process my feelings.
- I art journal to make pretty art.
- I art journal to use up leftover supplies.
- I art journal to allow myself to fail.
- I art journal to use up all of my bad ideas.
- I art journal to learn about myself.
Is it to let out random free form art?
Yes.
Does it help artist’s block?
Yes.
Does Art Journaling Have to Have a Purpose?
I like to make cards and scrapbook pages, but feel like they have a reason.
I’m going to make a huge assumption here (and you know what they say about assumptions, don’t you?): I believe that this commenter is giving away her cards and making her scrapbook pages for her family. And that gives them purpose because they’re “for someone.”
Please don’t ever forget that you are someone too.
And making something just for you should be reason enough to create.
If no one ever sees my art journal but me, that’s fine. Because the most important reason why I art journal is because I enjoy it.
Final Thought
So if you’re up for a little bit of “you” time every day (or every other day, or simply when you can) I hope you’ll join us for Art Journal Every Day this year. Making art is a wonderful self-care habit to develop.
Thanks for stopping by!
I love the idea of a linky weekly list. I will be able to do that.
I Art Journal so that my soul knows I am listening.
hi Julie…THIS was the BEST post ever!…:) tfs cuz it really spoke to me..
Whoops! Sorry, Julie, didn’t read the new info closely until after I’d done my link… old habits and all! Will do it right next week! Happy art journaling!
For me I love the idea of having a place were my art doesn’t have to be “prefect” but can be an experiment. Thanks for introducing the art journal idea to me in the past and for continuing to offer ideas and inspiration Julie.
Julie, this post is so awesome, it really spoke to me! I had to write about it on my blog, directing people here! http://creativelenna.blogspot.com/2012/01/art-journal-every-day-with-julie-balzer.html
What a great post and not forget to mention, what a great comments on your post!
And by the way…/ last but not least… my cards and scrapbooking pages are so much better, since I am doing the art journalling stuf. In my art journal I do the things I like… and made myself sure that there are no mistakes. I like what I do, it is my very own work. When I started showing my AJ pages to some people, they loved what I did in my art journal, although I thought it wasn’t that perfect at all. But my confidence for my very own ideas became bigger and bigger. And you can see that in all the things I love to do: card making, scrapping, crafting etc.
I would also like to use your article in one of my blogposts Julie. I write in the Dutch language, but I will refer to your original article and blog afcourse!
Bye from the netherlands,
Deezy
This reminds me of a question a friend of mine asked me after leafing through one of my art journals: “It is pretty, but what do you do with it?” I was so perplexed I am sure I forgot to shut my mouth… 🙂 Your answers above all could have been mine.
Angelika
Julie, you are so inspiring. I love your down to earth style of writing and the experiences that you share. I very much appreciate all that you do to encourage people to creat no matter what the outcome. Thanks so much.
So Smart! I am so excited! I will have a post ready by tomorrow and will post!
XOXO!
I must have come across this post at this time for a reason… I ask those questions (weeeell, some of them),
I need to think on your valuable words for a while and see what comes out on the page… very much food for thought, thanks so much
Love the reason “Use up all of my bad ideas.” Even in my private journal I tend to not do something because it might be a bad idea.
I also love the new linky idea. I never participated because of the commitment/failure aspect.
I will definitely be participating now.
Julie, I’ve said this before but I want you to know that you have opened up a whole new world for me. I felt like the commentor too – everything I made was for someone else. I’ve even had a hard time art journaling now because my 4 yr old thinks we should share my book with him (i.e. let him paint and draw even though he has his own art supplies). But I see more and more how this is for me. I don’t feel guilty creating something for me anymore. Just by ‘finding’ you (not that you were lost 🙂 ) I have found so much. I am grateful. Especially for you taking the time to explain and break down her question. You are a beautiful teacher. Thank you also for introducing us to Nat’s challenge. That has helped a lot too. I know this is long but I want you to know that you have helped my soul’s voice become louder and more beautiful. Thank you!!
As I was waiting for my new journal to arrive I have been journaling on scrap paper and collecting things to paste in. Now to prep the first pages and see what comes of it! Hooray for AJED!
I love your answers to those questions. I’ve struggled with the same questions, the “what’s the purpose?”, but you’ve hit the nail on the head, so to speak, with how you answered that question. I actually do have a couple new pages done! I just need to photograph them and share!
Wow Julie, you really caught my attention with this perfectly composed post. I’m looking forward to more journaling and will share once I get some pics and editing done.
Great post – all of the above AND it allows me to make lots of art and keep the pieces in “collections.” If I had a mansion I still wouldn’t have wall space for all the pieces I make and fit into my little books. And like you were saying, a stream of daily art really allows me to look back at the way we were…Thanks
I think this is such a great idea! I like that it is a celebration of art journals & not a to-do but a glad-I-did-it!
I love this new format where all the pages are on your post. It’s like Mary Green does her monthly challenges. And I’m in for this year. The glad-I-did-it comment by Carolyn says it perfectly.
Thanks, Julie. I really needed to hear your answers to that question. I get too caught up in needing a purpose to create for others. I’m a good enough reason! Thanks for reminding me.
Sorry, I posted my link twice because I thought it hadn’t worked the first time
Love your post today. I wonder lots of times about making things just for me. Especially being older and not in such good health. Sometimes I feel such despair thinking of my creations ending up as landfill when I am gone. But unless I change into Pollard or Picasso that’s where most of it will go. Once I got past that (most days anyway), I feel freer to take time to experiment and play just for me. If I can eventually use what I learned in one of my handmade books, that’s a bonus. From reading the other posts, I think lots of us get stuck in the same place. How can I make this just for me. No other purpose. Thanks as always for sharing that it’s okay, in fact necessary, for our sanity and souls.
I am so sorry. I made a typo in my link and cannot remove it. Are you able to remove it or tell me how. It is tutto a posto–the link takes you no where because I typed b l o g s t p o p instead of blogspot. I am not experienced enough at this technical stuff to figure it out myself. if you remove both I can re-do the correct one again.
Again, I am so sorry. Thank you.
I really love what you say here…don’t forget that you are “someone” too, and there is enough reason to art journal if it’s “just” for yourself. That’s a great reminder for us art journalers out there. I like your new idea for posting links directly to spreads too…thanks for that!
This is a great post! I my crafting hasn’t been very innovative the last few months because my daughter is 2 and interacting more, napping less. By the end of the day I am so tired all I want to do is read. I am joining Project 365 because I’m primarily a photographer but I believe it’s good to do art journaling to explore what works as far as graphic design ideas. Even though everything I make is primarily for me I still feel it needs to be “perfect” because it’s going up on a blog where “everyone can see it”. The journaling as a first draft is a GREAT idea. It’s also good to be reminded of it now that I have to change my work habits.
Sheryl: I deleted your entries, so go ahead and put a new one up. Thanks!
Well said, Julie! I often find myself ignoring my journal in order to work on pieces that have a “reason.” I’ll be sure to remember your words the next time I push my journal aside!