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Maps, cityscapes, landscapes… they’re not just for travel journals. There are many ways you can include them in your personal art journals, too. First, here’s Brie Hatton demonstrating urban sketching in her art journal. For many people, this is the easiest way to draw and paint local scenery in a journal. You can go for … Continue reading "Mixed Media Ideas for Art Maps and Landscapes"

When I first saw this concept in the movie, Crimson Peak, I didn’t think fore-edge book art was anything mainstream… ever. Now, I’ve learned that it’s a legitimate book art. (How did I never hear of this, before?) It’s something I’m considering including in my altered books art, and perhaps other projects. Another example, from … Continue reading "Fore-Edge Book Art – Historical Examples"

Are you art journaling with mixed media and ephemera? Do you struggle to collect and organize collage photos, papers and ephemera? Here’s the system that works well for me. It might help you, too. Art journaling – and mixed-media collages – can require lots of images. And, to remain “in flow” as you’re creating a … Continue reading "How to Organize Images for Your Mixed Media Collages"

  A composition book art journal is any journal that’s kept in a composition book. Those are generally school-type, saddle-sewn (along the crease) notebooks with cardboard covers… similar to exam/test booklets, but a little more permanent. Composition books are inexpensive, so many people like them especially for informal journaling. It feels less intimidating to use a … Continue reading "Composition Book Artists Journals"

You can sew embellishments onto your paper journal pages. You can use any page in a book like fabric (to sew on, for example) by using iron-on interfacing on the back side of the page. Yes, just iron it on, the same as you would iron interfacing onto fabric. It won’t always stick 100%, but … Continue reading "Sewing Onto Your Journal Pages"

Paintbrushes are important for many artists.  I have lots of them for all purposes. I use bristle-style brushes for my oil and acrylic painting. Also, I’ll use soft, hair-type brushes when I’m painting with watercolors. However, for me, one-inch foam brushes are most useful for art journaling. How I use foam brushes When I’m creating … Continue reading "Foam Brush Notes"

After arriving in Tennessee from Arkansas, it was time to continue Alley’s journey. During the final phase of Alley’s adventures, she reached Winchester, Tennessee.  That part of her trip inspired the next two pages in this round robin artists’ journal. This transformed this journal into a true mixed-media artists’ journal, as Alley included actual cotton … Continue reading "Alley Hauldren’s Journey to Winchester, TN"

After Arkansas, Alley and her husband were on their way to Tennessee.  The map in this collage shows the route that she and her husband took as they headed toward Memphis. Paper ephemera illustrates their journey. Here are her journal pages, larger: Click here to see the last two pages of Alley’s section in this … Continue reading "Alley Hauldren’s Third Journal Pages"

From Texas, Alley’s adventures continued through Arkansas.  That part of her journey was documented on the next two pages in the round robin journal from the Yahoo Group, Artists’ Journals. Here are those pages, larger: Click here to follow Alley’s next step of the journey, as she and her husband drove from Arkansas toward Memphis, … Continue reading "Alley Hauldren’s Second Pages"

After I finished a quick pair of collage pages, Alley Hauldren from Texas took this round robin journal on an adventure, driving from Dallas (TX) to Winchester (TN). Here’s her first two-page addition to this journal: Here they are, larger. Her next two pages cover the second segment of her vacation. Click here to see … Continue reading "Round Robin Journal #2b – Alley’s Art"

Last Spring, two round robin journals were launched through the ArtistsJournals group at Yahoo Groups.  The first one — Round Robin #1 (aka RR #1) — returned to me first.  It’s pages have been scanned and posted. Round Robin Journal #2 had a slightly rockier start.  The first person I sent it to… she kept … Continue reading "Round Robin #2b – First pages"

These are the final scans from the American participants in the round robin (RR) journal #1 that began at ArtistsJournals in April 2010. The first are 10 pages by Linda Giese: The next journal pages are by Iris Gonyea: (The text on that collage says, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” — Albert Einstein.) Now, … Continue reading "RR Journal #1 – Final American Scans"