Art journaling is a powerful way to help you achieve success as an artist. It can help you capture information, ideas and inspiration. Personally, I keep 5 different kinds of art journals but really, I could combine them into one. Here are some ideas of things you can do with art journals.
Paste cut outs of inspiring images, words or color themes you want to use as reference in the future. This can be from magazines, photos you took, advertisements, images you printed out from your computer. You might also want to use these elements in your art.
Another way to use your journal is to capture ideas for specific themes and subject matter you want to use in my art. Before I began making my The Anointed One assemblage, I took time to brainstorm and write down words, phrases and ideas of what I could use in my art. My list looked something like this: Jesus, scroll with scripture, blind eyes, broken heart, captives breaking free, gospel (good news), broken rope or chain (to represent freedom), the spirit of the Lord etc. I also make some sketches of my art and what the finished piece might look like.
Ideas can come from anywhere. I was at a garage sale and saw a plastic toy tiger. That gave me an idea for a jungle theme. “The Anointed One,” was inspired one day as I was reading Luke 4: 18 during family devotions. I was inspired to make The Common Loon assemblage while my son and I were reading in his science book and ran across a photo of a loon. Many times I’ll get ideas while I’m in the shower or as I’m drinking my tea in the morning, before I’m fully awake.
Writing down specific things will make sure that you don’t forget any of the details when you get ready to make your art. I try to capture the ideas as soon as soon as they float into my brain and build on them later.
Click here to read part two of How to Keep an Art Journal.