Art Journaling & Mixed Media Art
by Aisling D'Art
Would you like to sketch in your art journal or scrapbook, but need some ideas? This short (under two minutes) video is in German – with subtitles in English – and it may give you a fresh outlook.
Mr. Scheinberger talks about sketching art materials that may be at your elbow, but changing their size or proportions. In other words, make the everyday into something different.
https://youtu.be/Au9vpEaAjYc
I kind of love these.
Here’s a thorough, 10-minute tutorial.
And here’s his webpage with lots more info about his daily monsters projects: Stefan G. Bucher’s Daily Monsters Project.
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 a walk, or sketch what’s outside your window.
The full video is about six minutes long, but I’ve set this to start at the four-minute mark. At that point, she’s done a light pencil sketch and has started using a marker over it, for her final lines. That’s what interested me the most: how she completed her sketch as a finished art journaling page.
Full video link: https://youtu.be/EfzEjku3ev8
The pen she’s using for the final, darker lines is a special Sailor Fude pen you can find at Amazon.
Maybe drawing isn’t what you had in mind, but you’re still intrigued by landscapes.
If you’d like to create fine art abstract landscapes in your artists journal, I think Cathy Mevik’s demo will inspire you. If you’re not a painter, don’t let this scare you; I think anyone can create landscapes like these.
The video a little over 11 minutes long, but – for those who’d love to paint like this – it’s time well spent.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/HCYfAHVePMo
At the other extreme, here’s what James Gulliver Hancock draws. It’s a two-minute video, and he explains why he draws buildings, and what he learns as he draws them.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/360r-iyK_Eg
Also, I kind of love that one of his books – with buildings and maps – became an interactive exhibit. This half-minute video is worth seeing:
Video URL: https://youtu.be/DwETY_OK86w
If you’d like to explore making maps, this book looks fascinating. As soon as I saw this review video, I ordered the book. (The video is eight minutes long, but you’ll get the general idea in the first two or three minutes.)
Video URL: https://youtu.be/eKVdfRl05S0
I thought it was okay, but I’ll admit it didn’t inspire me as much as I’d hoped. Here’s the Amazon link, anyway. Use the “look inside” to decide if it’s your kind of book: The Art of Map Illustration
If drawing and painting aren’t your strong suit, don’t despair. You can still bring maps and architectural designs to your journaling.
Here’s a landscape-y, map-y kind of art journaling demo. It’s by Carolyn Dube, and she uses a stencil, some acrylic paint, and a pen. The video is about four minutes long, and – once you get the idea – you can fast-forward through it to see how she completes it.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/ZUXK1HkFhiI
The stencil is by Maria McGuire for StencilGirl, and you can find a similar stencil by her – and other StencilGirl artists – at Amazon.
And finally, for oh-my-goodness inspiration…
At first, Blythe Scott’s work may look like modern landscapes but, close-up, you’ll see mixed media elements. She’s using some materials that never crossed my mind, and they could go into a mixed media artists journals, too.
This five-minute video includes breathtaking outdoor scenes, how her art is inspired, and some great insights about studio work, using drawing, painting, and mixed media elements.
https://youtu.be/p5_oOuzpAUQ
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.
https://youtu.be/csHRD6eHYcw
A five-minute video about journaling your breakfast…
https://youtu.be/KPYmVBTrpK0
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.)
https://youtu.be/KJGwANFqaYc
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.)
https://youtu.be/mBW2Gxgdgm0?t=236
Collage… it’s about layers, right…? Sometimes just a few. Sometimes a lot.
They can be layers of paint, crayon, colored pencil, stickers, paper, fabric, glitter, and…
Well, you get the idea.
Some artists – including me – use lots & lots of layers in our art journals and other mixed media art.
Here’s some inspiration that may spark fresh ideas.
This first video is by Samie Harding.
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.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/FA3revJTO6A
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.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/SICVXhn0V-A
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.)
Video URL: https://youtu.be/SRk2cn5rTJA
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.
Video URL https://youtu.be/bR0abMN3T0I
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.
Does your art journal begin with a background? Do those colors and mood spark your creativity? Ooh, take a look at what others are doing…
For many of us, background colors and textures inform everything else we do with the page.
These artists videos are short and fun and… wow!
The first is by Purdy Creative Things. I love the variety she achieves, so quickly and with such simple techniques.
Next, this 8-minute video by Mercurial Milk presents some juicy colors and varied ideas, with useful tips for five different art journaling backgrounds.
The next video is by Maremi’s Small Art, and she shows how to create a textured, magical art background. This video is nearly 10 minutes long, but worth watching, even if you skip ahead as you understand each step.
The next video is by that same artist. It includes several one-minute background techniques. All of them are simple and use just a few colors and tools.
The video is about 7 1/2 minutes long, if you watch it all the way through. The techniques are repetitive, but each background is unique. I think the variety will inspire you to try some of her ideas, yourself.
And, in Mark Montano‘s video – about 4 1/2 minutes long – he assembles completed artist’s journals pages.
I’m including this video because many of his techniques are fast and easy ways to create vivid, unique journal page background, too.
After watching these, I’m ready to work on my journal. I hope you’re excited about these materials and techniques, too.
Art journaling with magazine images can be relaxing and fun, and make a statement at the same time.
It’s something anyone can do, with no art training at all.
Since the 1990s, that was one of my missions: To show people – especially women – that they could express themselves in art, no matter what.
Initially, I focused on torn-paper collages, because they were easy and were supposed to look a little “messy.”
Also, some of the words & slogans in magazine advertisements… wow! They can be great lines to include in your artist’s journal.
If you’re art journaling with magazine photos and text here are some videos that may inspire you.
First, a short video of Kelly Kilmer flipping through some of her artist’s journals. She uses lots of magazine images in her work, but also pens, paint and other fine art supplies.
Not seeing that video? It's at https://youtu.be/gVfe1wlwbd0 where you can find more of Kelly's art journaling videos, too.
In the next video, you’ll see how pitje4life adds magazine images – one over another – in her journal. (This starts part-way through the video, where she’s actually putting the images on the page.)
I don’t recommend using white glue to attach paper, because you risk it bubbling the paper, even after it’s dry. But… I’ll talk about that, later. First, the video:
Link: https://youtu.be/uo0Wsf2kaqc
Instead of white glue, I recommend something like Golden acrylic medium (Soft Gel, Gloss). I apply it gently with a sponge brush. Then I place the paper where I want it to stay. After that, I leave it as it is.
Do not smooth it, or you’ll stretch the damp paper and it will stay bubbled after it dries.
(I learned that technique from collage artist Claudine Hellmuth, when we both taught at Artfest.)
Also – from my experience – I have better luck letting the collage air-dry, instead of applying heat. (Your mileage may vary.)
Or, you could try gluesticks, as Jenn does in the following video. It’s about 10 minutes long, and she shows you exactly how her two-page collage came together. It’s from the “One Magazine Challenge.”
Her YouTube channel is Art Therapy with Jenn. Video link: https://youtu.be/H6FFrTRLf84
And, if you’re wondering where artists find delightful and deliciously quirky images for these kinds of collages, here’s Colleen McCulla‘s seven-minute video explaining her resources.
Link: https://youtu.be/EfliO_D78QE
I hope those videos inspired you to create some magazine collages in your artist’s journals. (I can hardly wait to start a new journal, after seeing these.)
If you have any questions or tips, I hope you’ll leave a comment, below.
Artists’ journals can be as big – or small – as you like, especially if you make them by hand.
You can even start with a single sheet of paper and – in just a minute or two – fold it into a simple journal.
Here are some videos to inspire you.
First, here’s a video by Cathy Johnson. She’s probably best known for her watercolors and mixed media art. Here’s part of her longer video about folded-page journals.
To see the entire video from the beginning, visit https://youtu.be/CffQyRdTDUc
And, you can subscribe to Cathy’s YouTube channel … she’s posted many videos to inspire you!
Of course, you don’t have to stop with a single sheet of paper. For a larger journal – or a journal-inside-a-journal – you could add more (and larger) sheets of paper.
LK Ludwig – part of the original artists’ journals movement – filmed this several years ago. In less than a minute, you can see various ways she uses fold-out pages in one of her handmade journals.
I think those are brilliant folding ideas, to get the most from any artist’s journal.
Here’s the link to her YouTube channel: Lk Ludwig
But maybe you want something small, different, and a little quirky. The next couple of videos may inspire you.
This one is a journal-in-a-journal, best if you want to expand an existing journal. It’s from Paper Pixie, and it’s a fun idea.
You can watch this video and others at Paper Pixie's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrE5BOtFFlaurAulAU3C0Ig
This video is longer than the others – a little over six minutes – and filled with ideas. In some ways, it’s similar to Cathy’s video… but this is simpler. Also, unless you attach a couple of these – back to back – it produces an art journal with fewer pages.
I love this concept if you’re starting with scrapbooking paper, or sheets of paper ephemera.
It’s one of many projects Maremi features at her YouTube channel.
What are your favorite folded journal ideas? I hope you’ll share your thoughts in comments, below.
Altered books are a great way to create an art journal. It’s recycling, in a way, but with lots of added benefits.
Drink up these videos for ideas!
The next one is a lovely demonstration by Art by Silas. It shows how to create a mixed media artist’s journal. It includes torn paper collage – one of my favorite techniques. And it’s a good way for a beginner to get art journaling ideas. (The video is about five and a half minutes long.)
Here’s the video:
If you like this video, be sure to see Silas’ other videos at YouTube. She has a delightful sense of style.
The next video features a style almost 180-degree different from Silas’ style. Dana S’s altered book is somewhat dark, Steampunk-ish, and a bit Goth. I love the variety in it!
And here’s Karen Gaunt’s “lazy” tips to altered book art journaling. If you want to cover pages quickly, her tips can be very useful.
And finally, if you want to go extreme with your altered books, check this next clever concept… a book with added drawers!
