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 think that the reason I've been so slow to share these pages (from way back in February) is that I don't like them very much.
I struggle with the balance between being 100% honest with you and protecting myself by not posting work I don't like. But I know that only showing success can be toxic and make other people have unrealistic expectations of themselves.
So, here are a whole bunch of pages that I don't really like. But that's okay. Every page I *don't* like has something that I *do* like. I choose to focus on those parts, build on those parts, and leave the rest behind!
For each of these pages I'm sharing a bit about what I like and what I don't — this process of analyzing your own work is deeply important, in my opinion. It's what leads to improvement.
I like this scalloped edge. I always like non-square pages.
I think I like the idea of these collaged bits more than the actual look of them. I basically cleaned up my desk by gluing all my leftover bits to this page. But they're not cohesive and it all looks really messy.
I do not like her face. The shadowing and shading isn't logical. I also think the hair color is wrong — it blends with the face color too much. I do like the red line I drew around the figure.
I do like this messy tulip pattern very much.
Another messy collage of papers. I do like the Thermofax print (black printing) in the center, but it just all looks messy.
Analysis: When creating this page I went out of my way to let all that collaged garbage stay — instead of painting over it. I think that was a mistake. Proof to myself, once again, that sometimes you have to be brave and cover up what you think is cool in order to get to something really cool. Also: hair and skin that match are a mistake (in life and art).
I had some leftover molding paste and so I tiled this spread using my Flower Tangle stencil.
I like the overall pattern. I don't like the molding paste in my art journal — just impossible to write over. I don't like the colors I chose — too many colors. I also think that I gave up before I got the colors "right" (a.k.a. to my liking).
Analysis: Keep going until you like it! If you don't like it, it's not done. If I were to do it again, I would limit the palette. I think you lose the beautiful pattern in too many colors. Simple black and white would be great.
I loooove these tags. I don't love this whole spread, but the tags are great.
I like this cut page, but I don't like how it doesn't stand out. I wish I had painted it black or something that would really stand out.
More art leftovers. This heart is a leftover from another project. It features my Writer's Block Art Foamie.
Here's a method for sewing in your art journal: sew on a separate piece of paper and then glue it into your journal!
I like these colors and I like the uneven page edge.
Analysis: I think my dislike for this spread comes down to a lack of cohesiveness. I like all the elements — for the most part — as individual pieces, but they don't meld together. Something for me to work on: doing a better job at melding things together.
These are the back endpapers for my journal:
I looooove this big hand carved stamp. I find the background a bit busy, but the stamp is fab!
The uneven page edge is still great. It makes me happy.
Lots of great odds and ends, but again they don't hang together. Nevertheless, I love that scribbled tag and I love the hand carved and printed flowers.
Analysis: Not to sound like a broken record, but there is a real lack of cohesiveness here. I am not always good at providing "white space" or resting space and I need to work on that.
And finally, here is the back of the journal:
No complaints on this one. I like it!
So there you have it! A peek into my brain and how I handle those pages I don't love. I don't get down on myself. I don't let it stop me from creating. Instead, I try to analyze why I'm unhappy with the page and form a concrete lesson to take away for the future!
Thanks for stopping by!
Very interesting. I would love a post with suggestions on how to achieve cohesiveness.
Very interesting. I would love a post with suggestions on how to achieve cohesiveness.
Very interesting. I would love a post with suggestions on how to achieve cohesiveness.
Very interesting. I would love a post with suggestions on how to achieve cohesiveness.
Very interesting. I would love a post with suggestions on how to achieve cohesiveness.
Very interesting. I would love a post with suggestions on how to achieve cohesiveness.
Very interesting. I would love a post with suggestions on how to achieve cohesiveness.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on your dislikes. As with anything, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example, I was immediately drawn to the blue flowers and then the woman in the one image. I love that her hair and face kind of blend together because it draws me my eye to her features and further into her soul.
I also like the reaction that I had to the “collaged bits” in the other image. Immediately it struck me as “angry”, but then I found my eye moving all around the page and that’s what good composition does – moves your eye around the page and I found it more intriguing than angry.
For what it’s worth! Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on your dislikes. As with anything, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example, I was immediately drawn to the blue flowers and then the woman in the one image. I love that her hair and face kind of blend together because it draws me my eye to her features and further into her soul.
I also like the reaction that I had to the “collaged bits” in the other image. Immediately it struck me as “angry”, but then I found my eye moving all around the page and that’s what good composition does – moves your eye around the page and I found it more intriguing than angry.
For what it’s worth! Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on your dislikes. As with anything, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example, I was immediately drawn to the blue flowers and then the woman in the one image. I love that her hair and face kind of blend together because it draws me my eye to her features and further into her soul.
I also like the reaction that I had to the “collaged bits” in the other image. Immediately it struck me as “angry”, but then I found my eye moving all around the page and that’s what good composition does – moves your eye around the page and I found it more intriguing than angry.
For what it’s worth! Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on your dislikes. As with anything, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example, I was immediately drawn to the blue flowers and then the woman in the one image. I love that her hair and face kind of blend together because it draws me my eye to her features and further into her soul.
I also like the reaction that I had to the “collaged bits” in the other image. Immediately it struck me as “angry”, but then I found my eye moving all around the page and that’s what good composition does – moves your eye around the page and I found it more intriguing than angry.
For what it’s worth! Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on your dislikes. As with anything, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example, I was immediately drawn to the blue flowers and then the woman in the one image. I love that her hair and face kind of blend together because it draws me my eye to her features and further into her soul.
I also like the reaction that I had to the “collaged bits” in the other image. Immediately it struck me as “angry”, but then I found my eye moving all around the page and that’s what good composition does – moves your eye around the page and I found it more intriguing than angry.
For what it’s worth! Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on your dislikes. As with anything, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example, I was immediately drawn to the blue flowers and then the woman in the one image. I love that her hair and face kind of blend together because it draws me my eye to her features and further into her soul.
I also like the reaction that I had to the “collaged bits” in the other image. Immediately it struck me as “angry”, but then I found my eye moving all around the page and that’s what good composition does – moves your eye around the page and I found it more intriguing than angry.
For what it’s worth! Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on your dislikes. As with anything, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For example, I was immediately drawn to the blue flowers and then the woman in the one image. I love that her hair and face kind of blend together because it draws me my eye to her features and further into her soul.
I also like the reaction that I had to the “collaged bits” in the other image. Immediately it struck me as “angry”, but then I found my eye moving all around the page and that’s what good composition does – moves your eye around the page and I found it more intriguing than angry.
For what it’s worth! Thanks again for sharing!
I liked the face. It is such a “Julie Face.”
The molding paste page really ‘struck’ me…it draws me in…it makes me stare and
wonder.The tag are GREAT, just the way they are. the blue background draws them out
Center Stage.
Thanks for sharing…good or bad!!!
I liked the face. It is such a “Julie Face.”
The molding paste page really ‘struck’ me…it draws me in…it makes me stare and
wonder.The tag are GREAT, just the way they are. the blue background draws them out
Center Stage.
Thanks for sharing…good or bad!!!
I liked the face. It is such a “Julie Face.”
The molding paste page really ‘struck’ me…it draws me in…it makes me stare and
wonder.The tag are GREAT, just the way they are. the blue background draws them out
Center Stage.
Thanks for sharing…good or bad!!!
I liked the face. It is such a “Julie Face.”
The molding paste page really ‘struck’ me…it draws me in…it makes me stare and
wonder.The tag are GREAT, just the way they are. the blue background draws them out
Center Stage.
Thanks for sharing…good or bad!!!
I liked the face. It is such a “Julie Face.”
The molding paste page really ‘struck’ me…it draws me in…it makes me stare and
wonder.The tag are GREAT, just the way they are. the blue background draws them out
Center Stage.
Thanks for sharing…good or bad!!!
I liked the face. It is such a “Julie Face.”
The molding paste page really ‘struck’ me…it draws me in…it makes me stare and
wonder.The tag are GREAT, just the way they are. the blue background draws them out
Center Stage.
Thanks for sharing…good or bad!!!
I liked the face. It is such a “Julie Face.”
The molding paste page really ‘struck’ me…it draws me in…it makes me stare and
wonder.The tag are GREAT, just the way they are. the blue background draws them out
Center Stage.
Thanks for sharing…good or bad!!!
Thank you for being so authentic and sharing. I actually liked a lot of the pages you did not, but I could understand why you said what you said about them. I really love the face with the beautiful tulip dress. I think you are a bit more hypercritical with that one since you make a zillion faces and this one may not come together the way you intended. I am not sure if it was you who said the importance of finding what works and your like on a page. I now look at my pages and try to think what parts appeal to me that I would like to explore further. Thanks so much for sharing. Always a delight to see your journal pages!!
Thank you for being so authentic and sharing. I actually liked a lot of the pages you did not, but I could understand why you said what you said about them. I really love the face with the beautiful tulip dress. I think you are a bit more hypercritical with that one since you make a zillion faces and this one may not come together the way you intended. I am not sure if it was you who said the importance of finding what works and your like on a page. I now look at my pages and try to think what parts appeal to me that I would like to explore further. Thanks so much for sharing. Always a delight to see your journal pages!!
Thank you for being so authentic and sharing. I actually liked a lot of the pages you did not, but I could understand why you said what you said about them. I really love the face with the beautiful tulip dress. I think you are a bit more hypercritical with that one since you make a zillion faces and this one may not come together the way you intended. I am not sure if it was you who said the importance of finding what works and your like on a page. I now look at my pages and try to think what parts appeal to me that I would like to explore further. Thanks so much for sharing. Always a delight to see your journal pages!!
Thank you for being so authentic and sharing. I actually liked a lot of the pages you did not, but I could understand why you said what you said about them. I really love the face with the beautiful tulip dress. I think you are a bit more hypercritical with that one since you make a zillion faces and this one may not come together the way you intended. I am not sure if it was you who said the importance of finding what works and your like on a page. I now look at my pages and try to think what parts appeal to me that I would like to explore further. Thanks so much for sharing. Always a delight to see your journal pages!!
Thank you for being so authentic and sharing. I actually liked a lot of the pages you did not, but I could understand why you said what you said about them. I really love the face with the beautiful tulip dress. I think you are a bit more hypercritical with that one since you make a zillion faces and this one may not come together the way you intended. I am not sure if it was you who said the importance of finding what works and your like on a page. I now look at my pages and try to think what parts appeal to me that I would like to explore further. Thanks so much for sharing. Always a delight to see your journal pages!!
Thank you for being so authentic and sharing. I actually liked a lot of the pages you did not, but I could understand why you said what you said about them. I really love the face with the beautiful tulip dress. I think you are a bit more hypercritical with that one since you make a zillion faces and this one may not come together the way you intended. I am not sure if it was you who said the importance of finding what works and your like on a page. I now look at my pages and try to think what parts appeal to me that I would like to explore further. Thanks so much for sharing. Always a delight to see your journal pages!!
Thank you for being so authentic and sharing. I actually liked a lot of the pages you did not, but I could understand why you said what you said about them. I really love the face with the beautiful tulip dress. I think you are a bit more hypercritical with that one since you make a zillion faces and this one may not come together the way you intended. I am not sure if it was you who said the importance of finding what works and your like on a page. I now look at my pages and try to think what parts appeal to me that I would like to explore further. Thanks so much for sharing. Always a delight to see your journal pages!!
I appreciate the fact that you shared pages that you don’t like. It’s so easy to share what you do like and let everyone think that you don’t struggle. I really appreciate your vulnerability! Thanks
I appreciate the fact that you shared pages that you don’t like. It’s so easy to share what you do like and let everyone think that you don’t struggle. I really appreciate your vulnerability! Thanks
I appreciate the fact that you shared pages that you don’t like. It’s so easy to share what you do like and let everyone think that you don’t struggle. I really appreciate your vulnerability! Thanks
I appreciate the fact that you shared pages that you don’t like. It’s so easy to share what you do like and let everyone think that you don’t struggle. I really appreciate your vulnerability! Thanks
I appreciate the fact that you shared pages that you don’t like. It’s so easy to share what you do like and let everyone think that you don’t struggle. I really appreciate your vulnerability! Thanks
I appreciate the fact that you shared pages that you don’t like. It’s so easy to share what you do like and let everyone think that you don’t struggle. I really appreciate your vulnerability! Thanks
I appreciate the fact that you shared pages that you don’t like. It’s so easy to share what you do like and let everyone think that you don’t struggle. I really appreciate your vulnerability! Thanks
First, I love that you have never portrayed yourself as the “perfect” anything and have always let us see the great, the good, the bad and the ugly!! It is what I believe has kept me interested in and following you for as many years as I have. I love all your analysis of yourself or I should say your work which sometimes can feel like the same thing. As I looked across the pages I had a hard time finding a strong focal point which is usually very evident in your work. I think the first page spread you showed had an attempted focal but as you mentioned the colors used on the woman were more subdued. The red outline was great but not your normal Julie black. Finally the flowers which you like really stand out in color and contrast which has your eye drawn in but yet doesn’t seem like the main player. I hope saying this was okay — I’m not being critical and certainly am by no means an art critic but those were observations I made that seemed to mesh with what you said but also offer an alternate perspective. Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from you!!!
First, I love that you have never portrayed yourself as the “perfect” anything and have always let us see the great, the good, the bad and the ugly!! It is what I believe has kept me interested in and following you for as many years as I have. I love all your analysis of yourself or I should say your work which sometimes can feel like the same thing. As I looked across the pages I had a hard time finding a strong focal point which is usually very evident in your work. I think the first page spread you showed had an attempted focal but as you mentioned the colors used on the woman were more subdued. The red outline was great but not your normal Julie black. Finally the flowers which you like really stand out in color and contrast which has your eye drawn in but yet doesn’t seem like the main player. I hope saying this was okay — I’m not being critical and certainly am by no means an art critic but those were observations I made that seemed to mesh with what you said but also offer an alternate perspective. Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from you!!!
First, I love that you have never portrayed yourself as the “perfect” anything and have always let us see the great, the good, the bad and the ugly!! It is what I believe has kept me interested in and following you for as many years as I have. I love all your analysis of yourself or I should say your work which sometimes can feel like the same thing. As I looked across the pages I had a hard time finding a strong focal point which is usually very evident in your work. I think the first page spread you showed had an attempted focal but as you mentioned the colors used on the woman were more subdued. The red outline was great but not your normal Julie black. Finally the flowers which you like really stand out in color and contrast which has your eye drawn in but yet doesn’t seem like the main player. I hope saying this was okay — I’m not being critical and certainly am by no means an art critic but those were observations I made that seemed to mesh with what you said but also offer an alternate perspective. Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from you!!!
First, I love that you have never portrayed yourself as the “perfect” anything and have always let us see the great, the good, the bad and the ugly!! It is what I believe has kept me interested in and following you for as many years as I have. I love all your analysis of yourself or I should say your work which sometimes can feel like the same thing. As I looked across the pages I had a hard time finding a strong focal point which is usually very evident in your work. I think the first page spread you showed had an attempted focal but as you mentioned the colors used on the woman were more subdued. The red outline was great but not your normal Julie black. Finally the flowers which you like really stand out in color and contrast which has your eye drawn in but yet doesn’t seem like the main player. I hope saying this was okay — I’m not being critical and certainly am by no means an art critic but those were observations I made that seemed to mesh with what you said but also offer an alternate perspective. Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from you!!!
First, I love that you have never portrayed yourself as the “perfect” anything and have always let us see the great, the good, the bad and the ugly!! It is what I believe has kept me interested in and following you for as many years as I have. I love all your analysis of yourself or I should say your work which sometimes can feel like the same thing. As I looked across the pages I had a hard time finding a strong focal point which is usually very evident in your work. I think the first page spread you showed had an attempted focal but as you mentioned the colors used on the woman were more subdued. The red outline was great but not your normal Julie black. Finally the flowers which you like really stand out in color and contrast which has your eye drawn in but yet doesn’t seem like the main player. I hope saying this was okay — I’m not being critical and certainly am by no means an art critic but those were observations I made that seemed to mesh with what you said but also offer an alternate perspective. Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from you!!!
First, I love that you have never portrayed yourself as the “perfect” anything and have always let us see the great, the good, the bad and the ugly!! It is what I believe has kept me interested in and following you for as many years as I have. I love all your analysis of yourself or I should say your work which sometimes can feel like the same thing. As I looked across the pages I had a hard time finding a strong focal point which is usually very evident in your work. I think the first page spread you showed had an attempted focal but as you mentioned the colors used on the woman were more subdued. The red outline was great but not your normal Julie black. Finally the flowers which you like really stand out in color and contrast which has your eye drawn in but yet doesn’t seem like the main player. I hope saying this was okay — I’m not being critical and certainly am by no means an art critic but those were observations I made that seemed to mesh with what you said but also offer an alternate perspective. Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from you!!!
First, I love that you have never portrayed yourself as the “perfect” anything and have always let us see the great, the good, the bad and the ugly!! It is what I believe has kept me interested in and following you for as many years as I have. I love all your analysis of yourself or I should say your work which sometimes can feel like the same thing. As I looked across the pages I had a hard time finding a strong focal point which is usually very evident in your work. I think the first page spread you showed had an attempted focal but as you mentioned the colors used on the woman were more subdued. The red outline was great but not your normal Julie black. Finally the flowers which you like really stand out in color and contrast which has your eye drawn in but yet doesn’t seem like the main player. I hope saying this was okay — I’m not being critical and certainly am by no means an art critic but those were observations I made that seemed to mesh with what you said but also offer an alternate perspective. Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from you!!!
as everyone said, I am really thankful to you to share so much : likes, don’t likes and analysis. Our feeling in front of a piece of your art may not be the same as yours, but what you explain after is always food for thought … having discovered your work was really the best thing that could happen to my very academic way of seing things ! you give us so much freedom !
as everyone said, I am really thankful to you to share so much : likes, don’t likes and analysis. Our feeling in front of a piece of your art may not be the same as yours, but what you explain after is always food for thought … having discovered your work was really the best thing that could happen to my very academic way of seing things ! you give us so much freedom !
as everyone said, I am really thankful to you to share so much : likes, don’t likes and analysis. Our feeling in front of a piece of your art may not be the same as yours, but what you explain after is always food for thought … having discovered your work was really the best thing that could happen to my very academic way of seing things ! you give us so much freedom !
as everyone said, I am really thankful to you to share so much : likes, don’t likes and analysis. Our feeling in front of a piece of your art may not be the same as yours, but what you explain after is always food for thought … having discovered your work was really the best thing that could happen to my very academic way of seing things ! you give us so much freedom !
as everyone said, I am really thankful to you to share so much : likes, don’t likes and analysis. Our feeling in front of a piece of your art may not be the same as yours, but what you explain after is always food for thought … having discovered your work was really the best thing that could happen to my very academic way of seing things ! you give us so much freedom !
as everyone said, I am really thankful to you to share so much : likes, don’t likes and analysis. Our feeling in front of a piece of your art may not be the same as yours, but what you explain after is always food for thought … having discovered your work was really the best thing that could happen to my very academic way of seing things ! you give us so much freedom !
as everyone said, I am really thankful to you to share so much : likes, don’t likes and analysis. Our feeling in front of a piece of your art may not be the same as yours, but what you explain after is always food for thought … having discovered your work was really the best thing that could happen to my very academic way of seing things ! you give us so much freedom !