Art Journal Every Day

Art Journal Every Day: Three Pages from the Road

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday

If you’re new to Art Journal Every Day, there is a short introduction here.  All of the previous posts can be found archived here.  Remember, it’s just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day!  No need to finish anything or even like it. If you’ve done some art journaling this week, use the hashtag #artjournaleveryday so that we can all take a peek.  Even if you’re not on social media, you can see everything (from twitter, pinterest, instagram, and facebook) that uses that hashtag here. 

I like taking my art journal with me.  And I hate taking my art journal with me.  Both statements are true.

There are definitely good and bad things about art journaling on the road.  On the positive side: limited supplies encourage creativity and oftentimes I have more time on the road to do highly detailed work than I do at home.  On the negative side: limited supplies — I want my stuff!

Here are three pages I made while on the road with limited supplies….

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday

This page is mostly marker. Permapaques are my go-to when traveling because they’re easy.

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday

My white pen of choice is the water-based Sharpie, because it’s so opaque and does a great job (as you can see in the polka dots above and the eyes below).

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday

I colored the blue dots after I got home and had access to paint.

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday

This is a page that I felt I had ruined.  I had access to some watercolor at one point during my trip and I went a little crazy with it in her face.  I liked the page a lot more before I added the color, but that’s all part of the learning process.  I noted it mentally and flipped the page.  Time to move on!

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday

Many, many, many of the pages in my art journal are built on top of the tags I use to experiment with (as in the elephant tag above).  That way all those little projects get used instead of getting lost.

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday

I’ve been experimenting a lot more with abstract — both in my art journal and on canvas.  I’ve also been trying to play with alternate color palettes — less primary.

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Art Journal Every Day #artjournal #artjournaleveryday

Sometimes I add text just to fill the leftover space on the page.  I just think of a few words that are running through my head at the moment and jot them down.  I like this idea because it’s like an abstracted form of journaling.  Just a few simple words to convey a host of thoughts.

Do you take your art journal on the road?  I hope so!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a mixed-media artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops, her online classroom www.balzerdesigns.com, and through monthly membership at www.MyArtPractice.com.

24 thoughts on “Art Journal Every Day: Three Pages from the Road

  • The idea of laying down words that end up in your head and will not leave is such a good idea !!
    Once they land on paper in your journal, they seem to leave my head……and my life continues on…….
    No need to ramble on and on……as just those few words are enough to get thoughts OUT of our heads.
    Julie, you always have great suggestions….each day, every day !!! and I thank you…..

    Reply
  • The idea of laying down words that end up in your head and will not leave is such a good idea !!
    Once they land on paper in your journal, they seem to leave my head……and my life continues on…….
    No need to ramble on and on……as just those few words are enough to get thoughts OUT of our heads.
    Julie, you always have great suggestions….each day, every day !!! and I thank you…..

    Reply
  • The idea of laying down words that end up in your head and will not leave is such a good idea !!
    Once they land on paper in your journal, they seem to leave my head……and my life continues on…….
    No need to ramble on and on……as just those few words are enough to get thoughts OUT of our heads.
    Julie, you always have great suggestions….each day, every day !!! and I thank you…..

    Reply
  • The idea of laying down words that end up in your head and will not leave is such a good idea !!
    Once they land on paper in your journal, they seem to leave my head……and my life continues on…….
    No need to ramble on and on……as just those few words are enough to get thoughts OUT of our heads.
    Julie, you always have great suggestions….each day, every day !!! and I thank you…..

    Reply
  • The idea of laying down words that end up in your head and will not leave is such a good idea !!
    Once they land on paper in your journal, they seem to leave my head……and my life continues on…….
    No need to ramble on and on……as just those few words are enough to get thoughts OUT of our heads.
    Julie, you always have great suggestions….each day, every day !!! and I thank you…..

    Reply
  • The idea of laying down words that end up in your head and will not leave is such a good idea !!
    Once they land on paper in your journal, they seem to leave my head……and my life continues on…….
    No need to ramble on and on……as just those few words are enough to get thoughts OUT of our heads.
    Julie, you always have great suggestions….each day, every day !!! and I thank you…..

    Reply
  • I actually find the face quite lovely, not ruined at all!!

    Reply
  • I actually find the face quite lovely, not ruined at all!!

    Reply
  • I actually find the face quite lovely, not ruined at all!!

    Reply
  • I actually find the face quite lovely, not ruined at all!!

    Reply
  • I actually find the face quite lovely, not ruined at all!!

    Reply
  • I actually find the face quite lovely, not ruined at all!!

    Reply
  • I always have a journal with me when I travel but only if by car. Otherwise, I make a smaller journal to take on vacations. Be present…..need to put that into my journal right now!

    Reply
  • I always have a journal with me when I travel but only if by car. Otherwise, I make a smaller journal to take on vacations. Be present…..need to put that into my journal right now!

    Reply
  • I always have a journal with me when I travel but only if by car. Otherwise, I make a smaller journal to take on vacations. Be present…..need to put that into my journal right now!

    Reply
  • I always have a journal with me when I travel but only if by car. Otherwise, I make a smaller journal to take on vacations. Be present…..need to put that into my journal right now!

    Reply
  • I always have a journal with me when I travel but only if by car. Otherwise, I make a smaller journal to take on vacations. Be present…..need to put that into my journal right now!

    Reply
  • I always have a journal with me when I travel but only if by car. Otherwise, I make a smaller journal to take on vacations. Be present…..need to put that into my journal right now!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *