Are you looking for easy, clever ways to add more excitement to your art journaling?
The answer may be: RESIST!
In art journaling, “resist” is a way to keep paint – and some other products – from sticking to the page. Other terms for this include: mask, masking fluid, and frisket. (You’ll see many different products at Amazon.com.)
Some resist techniques are simple, like using a white crayon on a white page. Watercolors, acrylic paint, most (not all) rubber stamp inks, and so on… they usually won’t stick to any area where the crayon wax is.
One short video showed one way to use white crayon as a resist. (The video was made private, so I can’t link to it. Just know that there maybe more videos about using crayons as paint resist elements.)
Here’s another short video with some good suggestions if you’re using a white crayon as a way to keep part of your page white:
Remember that once the wax crayon has been applied, that area on your artist’s journal page won’t accept water-based media, ever. Even if you try to wipe the crayon lines off… the paint (or rubber stamp ink, etc.) probably won’t stick.
White Glue Mask/Resist
In this video, you’ll see one of Traci Bautista’s products mentioned. It’s a decoupage product, Collage Pauge, that can be uses as a resist. However, as the video explains, you can use white glue for the same purpose.
Alcohol Resist
Other resists aren’t necessarily as waterproof as crayon. Alcohol is an example. Though it can be 100% resistant to water-based pigment, sometimes it isn’t. Also, it can be harder to control than white glue, white crayon, or products designed for use as resists, masks, and friskets.
Embossing Resist (with Heat)
If you have embossing supplies, this is an innovative way to use them in your art journal, as a resist.
Resist with Adhesive Letters or Decorations
This is a fun, kind of reverse-resist approach to art journaling. First, you paint a colorful layer. Then, you add the adhesive-backed letters or shapes. (I’d use inexpensive letters, and don’t push them down too firmly.) Then you paint over the whole thing with white (or a color), and then you peel off the letters/shapes you’d stuck onto the page.
I think these ideas are kind of wonderful. I already knew a few, but – watching these videos – I’m inspired to revisit them, and try the new resist techniques, too.
Sometimes, we can find inspiration in old, vintage, and antique books.
That’s especially true about old diaries. They may not be art journaling examples, but you’ll see fascinating ways people have documented their daily lives, sometimes just with words, and sometimes with illustrations.
This 25-minute video shows a variety of old-fashioned diaries. Delicious inspiration!
She’s still a great inspiration, whether you’re a beginner or a long-time fan of art journaling and scrapbooking.
If you’re not familiar with Keri’s art & philosophy, this video may be a good place to start. It’s about 3 minutes long.
https://youtu.be/EQpoDWSHby0
If you like her message, you’ll find more,related videos at YouTube.
Also, even if you don’t speak Spanish, this 3-minute video is fascinating. Multiple artists demonstrate how they “wrecked” a Wreck This Journal (Destroza Este Diario). They’re some intriguing art journaling examples.
Would you like to sketch in your art journal or scrapbook, but need art journaling ideas?
This short (under two minutes) video is in German – with subtitles in English. (You’ll understand it, even without the sound on.)
This unique idea may give you a fresh outlook, and ideas of what to draw in an art journal. He also uses visual layering techniques to lend a sense of depth to some of his art journal illustrations.
Mr. Scheinberger talks about sketching with art materials that may be at your elbow, and using them as subject, but changing their size or proportions.
In other words, make the everyday into something different with art journaling.
Are you looking for drawing and painting ideas? Want to know what to draw in your art journal?
Here’s one very cute approach to art. Thanks to Jane Davenport, it can be easy, too.
Jane Davenport has inspired many people to create elegant and charming illustrations in their art journals. She’s made this easy with how-to books, as well as innovative art supplies.
Here’s her story, in her own words.
I bought one of her books, Beautiful Faces, because I felt like I was getting into a rut with my usual illustration techniques. (Generally, no one is likely to call my journals “cute,” but sometimes I’m aiming for pretty… and needed some insights. Jane’s book definitely helped.)
Examples: What to draw in your art journal, and how to embellish it
Next, in this demo, she shows how to use her die-cut embellishments.
Notice the art she’s starting with. It includes “mark making,” stencils, sketches, and more.
Also, her art journaling examples suggest great layering techniques for art journaling. (I might use them in some Goth- and Steampunk-style art journals, too. Purples, metallics, and so on…)
Even more ideas for what to draw in your art journal
Next, here’s Tamara Laporte (Willowing Arts) demonstrating some of Jane’s art supplies.
She starts with a blank page, then sketches in pencil, and then… well, you’ll see. (I’ve started the video at the 23-minute point. If you want to see the full unboxing, start from the beginning.)
Those ideas may be all you need to start experimenting with new drawing, painting, and mixed-media techniques, right away.
But, no matter what your art journaling style, when you’re deciding what to draw – especially in your art journals – I think you’ll find those videos (and products) inspiring.
How I’m adding drawing and painting to my art journals
Personally, I’m experimenting with magazine photos, pasting them (with Yes!Paste) onto a painted page, sealing them with gel medium, and then drawing & painting over them.
This involves layers. (If I’m going to use lots of layers or thick paint, I’ll prime the page with gesso, first.)
My art journaling isn’t necessarily sweet or romantic, but these techniques & materials can work for both “cute” and extreme artists’ journals, too.
This 12-minute video is from Danny Gregory’s Sketchbook Club, showing the progress of “Moonlight Chronicles” art with Dan Price. I think it’s a wonderfully inspiring example of how you can share your art journaling with others.
https://youtu.be/B_J3Re04cHg
Here’s a 35-minute video showing where Dan Price lives and works, in an underground, kind of Hobbit-ish home.
Need a quick jolt of inspiration for your art journaling? These brief videos can help… a lot!
Danny Gregory is an icon of art journaling. His artists journals were among the first to go viral, starting with his art journaling website and his books, including The Creative License – Giving Yourself Permission to Be the Artist You Truly Are.
Danny’s art is diverse. Watching these videos, I was inspired to break out my pens & paints, and start randomly journaling my day.
Here’s a brief (less than one-minute) video noting how drawing makes you see better. I like that he’s not super-finicky about things being perfect. Everything is suggested, and gives you a sense of what he’s drawing. It’s not intended to mimic a photograph.
And – also from Danny Gregory’s YouTube channel, here’s a brilliant, short video about learning to watercolor in three minutes. This demo is by Felix Scheinberger and I picked up some really useful tips. (I’m not so sure about using a lighter to dry the art faster, but – other than that – I’m ready to try some of his ideas.)
If you’d like to see how Danny Gregory uses pencil + watercolor in a journal – following Felix’s tips – the last couple of minutes of this next video add more insights about this technique. That’s why it starts around the 3:56 mark.
(The full video is worth your time, but I’m mindful of friends who want to get to the art instruction, ASAP. So, if you want more insights, just pause that video & start it from the very beginning.)
In the next video, artist Robert Burridge – in a “BobBlast” – shares how he layers his collages. His video is three minutes long and filled with ideas for using paper elements, gel medium*, paint, and stencils.
Anne Bagby created some amazing mixed media work, including art journals. Her layered collages and journals have an extraordinary depth. In many of them, her use of cut paper unifies her designs. This five-minute video shows how she used quilting supplies to cut paper strips for a crisp, even effect.
To learn more about Anne’s techniques – with lots of photos from her gallery work – this 17-minute video is inspiring. It’s sort-of an illustrated podcast. (Don’t be put off by the opening. The video is filled with photos of her mixed media art. Absolutely astonishing. I kind of drooled over my keyboard, watching it.)
And, finally, here is an intriguing video by collage artist Michael Madzo. He’s working with his own paintings, paper elements, and gel medium, he’s also using sewing to bring added depth and meaning to his work. Though many artists don’t work with their own fine art paintings, Madzo’s techniques and concepts might spark some of your own collage ideas. The video is about five minutes long.
Finding and curating these videos, I found myself being tremendously inspired to revisit some of my own past paintings (ones that I wasn’t happy with) and see if some of these materials & techniques might bring new life and fresh energy to them.
Also, I’ll admit that I’m looking at some framed canvas images – posters, sort of – that we’d bought at IKEA, just to decorate the walls, short term. They might make wonderful starting points for mixed media embellishments.
* I used to use gel medium throughout my art journals, too. Now, I use it to seal my art journaling pages, before painting them.
Otherwise, I’m using Yes!Paste since it’s less likely to bubble and warp the layers I add. It’s also repositionable, far better than gel medium.
Gel medium still has a use in art journaling, for sealing pages and canvases. This can be useful before painting or stamping over them. Otherwise, I rely on Yes!Paste. (If you’ve found a better product, let me know in comments, below.)
Ready to travel… or just dreaming of it? A travel journal can be an adventure, even when you’re at home. Get inspired, here…
I fell in love with these videos, talking about travel journaling ideas. I think you will, too. The first one is 10 minutes – longer than I usually feature, here – but it’s loaded with fresh ideas.
Here’s another short (five minute) video about assembling a travel diary or journal. It’s clean, simple, and something you can create on-the-road, or after you get home.
This next video – also about five minutes long – shows how to create a travel journal before your trip. As she works, she talks about her plans to tour London. As you’ll see, she’s very organized, and leaves space to expand her journaling as she travels. I’m impressed.
This is another travel journal flip-through. It’s a basic design, but may give you ideas of things to save (and add) as you travel. I’m not sure you need to watch all five minutes of it, because you’ll get the idea fairly quickly. But, I like this because it’s a realistic travel journal… the kind that anyone can create and enjoy.
Here’s a 35-minute video showing where Dan Price lives and works, in an underground, kind of Hobbit-ish home.
