Artists' Journal Workshop: My big fat black journal

Thought this might be of interest... again ;D. I posted this in 2011 and it is on the very topic under discussion now. I wanted to repost the whole thing, but I can't figure out how to do that on Blogger!

If you missed it then, here's another look!
Artists' Journal Workshop: My big fat black journal: I’ve long been a fan of the kind of beautiful illustrated journal that Kate Johnson and others, like Roz Stendahl, Pam Johnson Brickell, a...

Journal Pages Don't Have to be Precious!

A page of squiggles--I usually try to make a note of just WHAT I'm testing, because I forget rather too quickly...the guy at the bottom was sketched with my Namiki Falcon, though, I think...

Aquacolor tests...

Playing with paint...

Ink testing in my journal...

People sometimes tell me they're afraid of ruining a journal page...but really, you CAN'T, at least in my opinion, because it's your journal.  It's a learning experience.  Share it or not, it's your choice.

Your journal doesn't have to full of beautifully designed pages, with arrangements worthy of publication and calligraphy worth of Denis Brown.  

It can be a place to play, to explore, to test--materials, techniques, or yourself!  I do a lot of that, testing out a new pen, seeing how transparent my watercolor are...it can be a recognizable image, or just lines and spirals.

I often fill whole pages with tests from various inks or pens...at the top of the page I threw in pencils for good measure.  (And as noted that page would be a LOT more useful if I'd written down what I was using!)

Some of us have a fear of white paper, but I love this E.B.White quote from late in his life: "Even now, this late in the day, a blank sheet of paper holds the greatest excitement there is for me--more promising than a silver cloud, and prettier than a red wagon." 

If the first page of a new journal intimidates you, skip it!  Start working several pages in and come back to it.  Or use that page for a traditional beginning--a favorite quote, a hand-drawn map, a list of intentions or goals, or a sketch of your current watercolor or sketch kit, as Liz Steel and Vicky Williamson often do!

Whatever you do, relax, trust yourself, enjoy your journal, and have fun.

Does your imagination take you interesting places?

 

Mine does...or maybe it's not imagination, just looking with fresh eyes.  I often see tree people (or animals, or Green Men) in the woods or elsewhere...how about you?

My wooden fence has eyes...my textured wall has a very cranky female in it...

Are we programmed to anthropomorphize? And do you record it in your journal, like I do?

New Workshop from Pam Johnson Brickell!

HI all!  I've added Pam's workshop to our page on Classes and Workshops in the tab at the top of the page, but I wanted to make sure you didn't miss it!  (And contributors, if you've got a new workshop, do let me know so I can add it!)

Illustrated Nature Journaling: Creating a Sense of Place

with

Pam Johnson Brickell

February 15 & 16 • 10:00 am – 3:30 pm • BYO Lunch

Coastal Art Supply

812 Port Republic Street • Beaufort, SC • 843-524-2787

Fee: $175

$75 deposit

Min/Max 5/8

Join Pam for classroom instruction in watercolor and pen sketching along with hand-lettering.  Put techniques learned into practice with plein air sketching around Port Royal’s Cypress Wetlands Trail.  Gain observation and eye/hand coordination skills, learn about nature and most of all, discover the joy of capturing the area, you choose to call home, in your heart and journal!  

Pam, a SC Master Naturalist, has an international following of her illustrated journals and is a contributing artist in Cathy Johnson's Artist Journal Workshop book, is a co-author of the book's companion blog, and an invited contributor of Johnson's Sketching in Nature blog.

 

Weather will dictate plein air sketching times.  Plan A: classroom sessions from 10 – noon daily, then we’ll drive to the town of Port Royal for afternoon sketching along the Cypress Wetlands Trail.  The trail is a half a mile in length and consists of pathways and boardwalks that are easily navigated and can be somewhat sheltered from the wind. 

Do dress accordingly.  Bring your sketchbooks and either a travel watercolor set or watercolor pencils, waterbrush(es), Micron pen, pencil and eraser.

We will eat lunch as we wrap up our classroom session.  Please BYO lunch/drink so we can be efficient with our time.  It will take 20 minutes or so to drive to Port Royal. 

Making the Best of Things

Recently, I needed to use a walker for a while, and drew it--you may have seen those posts!  Then I graduated back to my collection of canes.  They're so cool and idiosyncratic, I just had to draw them.

These were with my old standby Micron Pigma, done in the little journal Roz Stendahl made with Arches Text Wove paper...fun!

Some are mainstays, like the T-shaped one and the more iconic cane 2nd from left, and some are just too fun, like the one on the right.  Some mean a lot to me, since my husband either gave them to me or MADE them for me.

But right now I'm grateful I don't need to use them.

Thought you might like to see my show!

It will be up till the 13th, it's been SUCH a wild month that time's just flown by...just NOW got the video uploaded...

Lee reminded me in the comments that I didn't put the name of the gallery in the text, ooops!  It's the Artisan Gallery and Heirloom Photography, in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, a lovely place.

frustration

frustration, a photo by vickylw on Flickr.

I had an appointment with a doctor Tuesday to discuss the results of x-rays and MRI on my hip and back --- only to find out that the MRI department had imaged my hip but not my back, even though both were ordered. So a pointless appointment and once more being stuffed like a sausage in the tube . . .

I was determined not to sketch more waiting rooms, but drew this decoration as I waited out of sheer frustration. His goofy grin helped me calm down and even laugh about the mistake. Good use of an art journal.