And so we begin...

Today begins our art/visual/creative journal journey. Before we really get into this I need to make a few statements to help set the tone and outline some goals.

I create journals all the time. Have bunches of them around here, but this one is going to be different. This one will actually contain more than just pretty backgrounds. This journal is going to include entries (gasp!). And I will be opening these entries up for everyone to read. Now, granted, there probably won't be any shocking revelations, my life is pretty boring, but they (the entries) will be there... so go easy on them.

While you are invited to share this journey with me, by either creating your own journal or just satisfying your voyeuristic tendencies by visiting mine, the real goal of this project is to encourage you to create. Doesn't matter what you create, just create.

And remember, being creative doesn't just apply to making stuff, it applies to life... As my Grandmother used to say, "the devil is often in the details". And, while she often said that with negative intention, while she was complaining about some rounded applique seam she was adding to a quilt, there is another perspective that can be used with a more encouraging intent. Sometimes it really is the small bits of creativity we add to our lives that can bring about a more "satisfied" sense of "being".

I have a fascination of sorts, about human beings and what makes us... "us". One of our most unique qualities we have is our ability to artistically create with purpose. There is a great deal of debate about whether or not we have a "need" to create, or if we all of us have the "ability" to be creative. Personally, I think we all desire to express ourselves in some creative way. Me... I have no choice, trying to live without creating would be akin to trying to live without breathing. It's a balm to my soul. I'm sure it sounds silly to some, but it's a spark that my Creator put into my very being, it is a part of who I am. So to me that debate about whether we are or are not creative makes no sense, I just cannot see the other side of that argument no matter how hard I try.

Now, as I have said, this is going to be a long running tutorial. It will be punctuated by other things because I tend to be come bored when working on one thing for very long. I will be adding a page to the blog that will carry all of the posts, in the order they are posted, for easy reference. Please take a second to consider... while I hope this will be a very detailed and helpful experience, don't believe you have to make yours (if you do make one) just like I do. What you should do is check it out, see how I do it, take it, tweak it, and make it all yours. While it may be said that imitation is a most sincere form of flattery, all it really is is taking claim to something that you really had no hand in. Use the techniques to create your own, something that is exclusively and wonderfully yours. And remember, ALWAYS honor the copyright of others.

So, here we go...

I'm starting with the supply list. The list is long, and not everything will be used, and things will be added as we go... I just don't want to miss something along the way. As I give you this list of supplies, you will find a definite lack of brand names (even though sometimes you will see brands in the photos), and even specific color names. That isn't to keep you from creating with what I use, that is to encourage you to use what you prefer.

2012 Creative.visual.art journal supplies:

"junk"... junk mail, flyers, wrapping papers, news papers, catalogs, etc.
*Don't look at them as a "whole" object to use... consider words, numbers, etc.

Old book pages
*I love old book pages (bet you guys hadn't caught on to that yet huh?), the more worn the better. Pick pages that have a great "feel", whatever that is to you. You'll know when you've found the right ones for you.

Cardboard
*Think along the lines of cereal boxes and things like that. (This is one of the most likely not to be used... I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.)

Watercolour paper
*I'll be using weights between 90 and 140 pounds, all are cold pressed.

Scraps of cloth
*Whatever you like, I'm thinking muslin may find a place in mine.

Images
*Ah... images. What would an art journal be without them? This is often where folks lose sight of that whole copyright thing. Use images that appeal to you. If you use photos you have taken I highly recommend that you make copies of them to use. If you use images you find online... I really recommend that you search for those in the public domain (that means they are copyright free). Two very good resources that come to mind are Graphics Fairy and Wikimedia Commons.

And here's the really fun stuff...

"Stuff"
*Paints... acrylic, watercolour, gouche, milk.
Pastels
*soft and oil based
Colored pencils
Watercolour pencils
Pens
*I use only permanent pens when possible... although, in this one I may use some white gel pens.

Other stuff:
*glues, gel mediums, Mod Podge, hole punches, scissors, pokey stick tool (aka the every so useful bamboo skewer), erasers (to carve small stamps into), rubber stamps, soda bottle lids, bubble wrap, brayer, mesh or netting, any other thing you can think of that can leave an imprint.

Possible add ins:

Beads, wire, buttons, charms, found objects, polymer clay items, paper clips, staples, thread (probably will be sewing on several of the pages), pretty much anything is game in this category

AND... (and this is the tricky part)... ideas.

Also, if you'd like, you can buy a plain journal (or cheap composition book) to use as your "base". I am not good at coloring in the lines, so I definitely am not good at composing in the pages, so I will be building mine from scratch. I don't plan on making it more than probably 20 pages long (that gives me 40 total pages to work with when you consider front and back), although, who knows how big or small it will end up? My pages will not all be the same size. While that may drive some folks crazy, that sort of wonkiness is good for me. You do what is good for you.

Now, to facilitate always having these things in one place, since I am the queen of having crap everywhere, I am also putting my stuff in a bin to keep it all in one place. Whether or not that is necessary is completely up to you and how well organized you are. Organization just doesn't happen to be one of my strengths.

So... tomorrow... starting a page...