Art Journalling [a new practice]

Back over the summer, I realised how much I missed messing around in my art journals, just smooshing paint and painting for fun. 

I had also been following a few social accounts where people had started a daily practices of writing down affirmations for the day, gratitude lists, and daily mantras.

So I decided to start up my own practise of making art in my journal.

I realised early on that to be a realistic practice it couldn’t be a daily one. I wanted it to be fun, something I look forward to, not something that was a burden or a chore.

I took some time and decided on some rules:

  1. I had to do it at least three times a week. (exceptions to this were holidays, illness and just life crazies.) 
  2. I could only spend an hour max on a page and that is it done – no carry overs. (And sometimes it is only 15 minutes of playing depending on life and my energy levels) 
  3. I didn’t have to focus on a word, or a thought, but if one came through I had to write it down with the painting. 
  4. I could use any medium, style, techniques etc. 
  5. It didn’t matter if I hated the page – If I was sharing this practice on socials I had to be vulnerable and share the ugly with the good. 

Having these rules has given me a freedom I don’t think I have ever truely had in my art practice. 

It grounds me in a way that I never really expected and it definitely helps shut my inner bitch up, (I have always said art is my sanity!), but most surprisingly it frees up my creative flow and some amazing ideas have followed on from it. 

I have been sharing the pages over on my socials – sometimes with a lengthy description about the meaning behind it, sometimes with a few words but mostly with nothing more that a photo of the page.

And I love that people have really been connecting with them, with the thoughts that came from the page, from the feelings I was feeling when I painted them and the absolute randomness of some of the paintings.

So this is why I have been ditching you and I am sorry to say it will probably happen again. if there is a choice between writing and art I am going to say with 100% accuracy art will always win. 

What new practice have you added to 2021? You can see more of my art journalling practice here or  follow me on insta and facebook to see them as they are painted!