For 2018, I chose the word Explore. I’m not sure if this means I need to get out of my comfort zone, but I have somewhat interpreted it this way. I long to be an artist. I’ve tried many kinds of art, but this year I am trying art journaling.
In the fall I took a class about making your own books by sewing pages together. Using a discarded falling apart book, I took out the pages and sewed my own pages into it. I decided that this would be my art journal for 2018. I glued in a postcard from a postcard exchange that started me on a path of using color to define each month. The postcard was blue, so January was my blue month.
February became my red month. I am working in collage. Each month I will collage a heart map reflective of the month. My art journal is only for me. It only needs to please me. And it does.
On Saturday, there was a free open workshop at a local gallery. I decided to take my journal and work on some of the pages. This is a work in progress, but I am happy to be Exploring possibilities and expressing myself with creativity.
Margaret, I am always impressed by your quest to grow and explore. To me, you are a trailblazer, always trying new ways around literacy. I love your art journal and your passion.
Margaret, I love this glimpse into your art journal. I’m waiting for inspiration for “what” and “how” I’m going to use my hand made book from you. Right now it’s still a source of wonder that you made the book. Clever! That’s my word for you as you explore new territory!
One of the things I most enjoy about getting older is discovering new passions to explore. I love your art journal and the idea of using colors for each month, and am fascinated by the fact that you hand made your own book. So many layers to your creativity! Journal on!
Wow! Thank you for sharing your pieces of art. They are beautiful. And I love your idea about heart mapping each month. Must try!
I love this. Using a color a month to give yourself a bit of focus is a great idea. And hooray for trying new artistic things–and sharing them. You are amazing, Margaret!
Lovely collaging, journal, and the idea—enjoy your experimental journeys with it Margaret!
Thanks for sharing your collages journal. There is a serenity to work on something that pleases you and is just for you. If you don’t know Julie Fei-Fan Balzer,she is an artist who has amazing art journals, etc. I am on her mailing/blog list and get an inspirational email from her everyday. I don’t art journal, but I read her email everyday and feel creative. Keep exploring and creating!
I subscribe to a few inspirational emails as well. Thanks. I’ll check into this one.
Great way to find creative expression. I was introduced to “soul collage” by a friend in Lafayette. It is a similar idea — contemplative and revealing.
This whole post and process makes me so happy and inspired. Thank you, Margaret, for sharing it with us. You might want to check out Danny Gregory’s EVERYDAY MATTERS. xxoo
I love your challenge to yourself. It is so inspirational.
I agree with the others. This post is an inspiration to try something new. And I love the pictures of what you’ve been working on. I always like to take a peek into others notebooks
You are the living embodiment of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. You are “exploring” and taking chances and expressing the results in a most unique and beautiful way. I think you are really on to something here…. Keep going!
Barbara, I read her book years ago and have tried to keep to nurturing the artist within. It’s important to my soul.
You are a fearless explorer, Margaret! Your art journal is lovely and makes me want to start my own. Thank you for always inspiring me!
Margaret, I’m inspired by your slice and the peek into your art journal. I really want to do a nature journal. I take stabs at it from time to time, but it always gets crowded out. I hope you continue to share about your art journal in future posts.
Maybe a nature journal is something I should explore. I love nature but hate gardening, so maybe a nature journal would be better suited to me.
I cannot even believe your wrote the words, “I long to be an artist.” You, my friend, are an artist in its truest form. The magic you make with words, pictures, and needles (I can’t remember if it’s crochet or knitting), is beyond inspiring! I love how you are “exploring” with your OLW!
I love it. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us. I love my handmade journals too. They make me want to write…every year at school we would make at least one special book. They treasured them. xo
These are gorgeous! They make me want to add more to my writing…some art!
What a great idea, Margaret. I enjoy coming to your blog to get fresh ideas from your explorations.
[…] started an art journal in January (a slice about it here) and decided to select a color for each month (March is yellow) and to collage a heart map for each […]