30 Journals 30 Days: SARAH WHITMIRE

How long have you been Art Journaling?
I have been journaling since I got my very first diary as a little girl but didn’t start officially Art Journaling until the summer of 2008.


How has Art Journaling impacted, changed, or enhanced your life?
Wow, it would be easier to ask “How has it NOT impacted my life?” LOL! ☺ Art Journaling, and specifically Soul Journaling had allowed me to meet so many wonderful people and has opened up an entire new online world to me. It has changed the course of my whole career and helped me through some of the darkest times in my life, lifting me up and allowing me a safe place to express all of my hopes, dreams, and fears.



What are a few of your favorite Art Journaling materials to use?
I use tons of random things in my journals from everyday trash to fancy scrap booking materials, and I really like the contrast that those two elements bring. I am also a huge fan of Gesso! I buy it in giant tubs. I LOVE the texture and depth it gives my paper.



Who are some of your favorite Art Journalers?
My students! They are so creative and inspirational. Many of these women are just picking up a paint brush for the first time or are just starting to blossom into the artist of their dreams. It is such an amazing transformation to watch. Their art is raw and emotional and not yet influenced by outside sources or critics. Simply amazing!



What kind words of encouragement would you say to an Art Journal newbie?
Play. Experiment. Play some more. Don’t be afraid to make ugly journal pages. And you’re not alone! Join an online journaling community such as Soul Journaling to meet fellow journalers and get inspiration.



Where can we contact you...give us some link LOVE!
Caspiana is my gallery website of all of my mixed-media artwork and Soul Journaling is my Art Journaling website with links to our community, fun prompts, online classes, and more.

Videos Starring Sarah:

Short Bio:

My name is Sarah Whitmire and I am a mixed-media artist and instructor. I enjoy working in many mediums, including but not limited to encaustics, collage and acrylics. Though I live and work in a smallish town in northern Florida, I enjoy using the internet to reach a much larger audience. I currently teach online workshops through Joggles as well as through my own blog and Yahoo groups. I am also a Design Team member for Alpha Stamps which means I get to play with their awesome products on a daily basis.

My proudest achievement to date is the creation and founding of Soul Journaling, a series of guided mixed-media visual journaling workshops that has inspired a growing community of people from all walks of life and from all over the globe to come together through art and self-expression. My work has been featured in some of my favorite magazines; Somerset Studio, Somerset Studio Gallery, Somerset Home, Cloth Paper Scissors and Rubber Stamp Madness, and I am a member of several organizations, including the Gainesville Fine Art Association, the North Florida Craft Revolution and the Florida Etsy Street Team.

30 Journals 30 Days: TRACI BAUTISTA

How long have you been Art Journaling?
Since I was younger, I’ve always kept some kind of diary/journal. I remember back when I was second grade, I had a diary that had a lock on it. I would write about my life, what I wanted to be when I grew up and fill it up with pictures, poems and stories. I started making my own journals in 8th grade. Back then they were simple books made with brown paper bag pages with handmade paper covers tied together with tulle. My journals were my space to dream, play and write stories and what ever I wanted. Then in high school, I started working in sketchbooks where I would draw fashion designs and doodles. It wasn’t until college that I combined my art and journaling on a page. I studied architecture and graphic design and always carried around a sketchbook. So I would sketch, write notes and observations, sometimes adding in magazine clippings and collage images that were inspiration for my design projects. Also, I’ve always had some kind of notebook that I use as an idea book, a journal to write my business ideas, brainstorm projects and notes related to work. Along with an organizer/calendar that became somewhat of a journal, where I would write to do lists, daily activities, memories, appointments and sometimes taping in photos, receipts and maps.

(detail of paper bag journal made with recycled cardboard and pages from brown grocery bags that have been painted and collage before they were bound together)

How has Art Journaling impacted, changed or enhanced your life?
Art Journaling has been something I’ve always done for fun. It has impacted my life in a great way; I found a way to turn my passion into my career. I am blessed to make my living doodling and painting. Art Journaling has put me in touch with artists from around the world. By sharing and teaching techniques through my videos, workshops and writings, I encourage others to develop their creative spirits. Now, I make one-of-a-kind art journals that I have sold to collectors worldwide. My journals have been published in several magazines and books. My creative business has developed from my art journals…from brainstorming dreams and goals in my books, to creating art to sell and developing product lines of stationery, scrapbook papers, digital downloads, online workshops and Collage Pauge.



(Here I've collaged color lasers of my artwork, then drawn doodles with a black Sharpie paint marker and various Sakura Gelly Roll pens.)

(Detail of visual journal painting. I like to layer my writing using various markers and pens. I write words, thoughts, quotes randomly across the page using the lines as my guide. I turn the page and write in different directions.)

What are a few of your favorite Art Journaling materials to use?
For me the art of making the journals is as important as filling them up with art. The covers of my journals are patchwork collage art quilts embellished with wild freeform stitching. All of my journals have random-sized,painted pages. I monoprint single sheets of recycled papers and then use creative techniques to bind them together. That usually involves machine stitching for smaller idea books, freestyle macramé with beads and baubles or sometimes woven yarn, fabrics and ribbons embellished with silk flowers, tag, crochet bits and pompoms.

Collage Pauge ☺
Tulip Fashion Graffiti Sprays
sharpie Oil-based paint markers
White out correction pen
Copic markers
Pigma Sensei black permanent pens
Montana hardcore markers
Sakura gelly roll pens
Prismacolor pencils
Tulip SLICK dimensional paints
Golden fluid acrylic paints
Dip pen & Sumi ink
Turquoise waxed polyester
Pipette
Brayer
Here’s a list of papers I include in my journals:
ledger paper, graph paper, sheet music, brown grocery bags, USPS priority mailboxes, FedEx envelopes, storybook paper, drawing, watercolor, craft paper, maps, large desktop calendars, magazines, newspapers, vellum Bristol, wallpaper, rosin, construction, Black & white/color photocopies of my original artwork, envelopes, manila folders, drill cloth, Black and white photocopies of my photos & art for pages.
My printed photographs
Handmade stamps made from fun foam
Found texture printing tools like skewers, needlepoint canvas, sequin waste, chipboard letters
Handcut stencils
Colored masking tape
Beads & baubles handmade fun

(a collection of my handmade art journals)

Who are some of your favorite Art Journalers?
Karen Michel
Tiphoni Moore
Jeannine Peregrine
Katie Kendrick
Sabrina Ward Harrison
DJ Pettit

(my studio in action while I'm working...very messy but an organized chaos)

What kind words of encouragement would you say to an Art Journal newbie?
Use your journal as a place to spill, play and experiment. Everyone journals differently, I work in my books in a random fashion, I open it up to a page and make a few marks, then turn the page and add a photo and then maybe got back to different page and add words. Sometimes I journal on separate sheets of paper and attach them back into my journals. There is no order with my art journaling. So do what you want and have fun with it… it’s your personal space to PLAY!

(a few of my journal stacked showcasing the intricate bindings or color, beads, fabric and string that burst from the spine)

Where can we contact you...give us some link LOVE!!
website
blog
online workshops
online boutique

Videos Starring Traci:

Short Bio:

After a successful design and marketing career in Silicon Valley, I was longing for more so I left the corporate world to pursue my passion for art. 2011 marks the 10-year anniversary of launching my creative business endeavor. Prior to becoming a full-time artist, I worked as a graphic designer, event planner, marketing director, professional cheerleader, elementary art teacher, fashion designer and Web designer– just to name a few. Experiences that I gained these positions, coupled with my innate drive to explore and create without boundaries are what contribute to my success as a mixed media artist.

My passion for sharing art has led me on a worldwide tour teaching mixed media workshops in handmade books, art journaling, collage, and surface design. The handmade journals, custom handbags and paintings I create are layered with rich textures, wildly painted and stitched fabric, “girlie glam” ink drawings and free style lettering. Bold use of color, doodling and images are spilled throughout my art.

In 2005, I wrote my first book, Collage Unleashed and am currently working on my next book. My art has been featured in over 15 art/mixed media books and 40 craft magazines including Somerset Studio, Altered Couture, cloth.paper.scissors, Art Journaling, Art Quilting Studio, Belle Armoire and Craft. I have been a regular guest on DIY/HGTV Craft Lab. Looking forward, I am continuing to develop product and I have designed licensed product lines, Collage Pauge adhesive and {kolLAJ} paper crafts.

Being an artist has led me through an amazing journey that is continually changing and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It helped me discover that it’s important to have passion for what I do. Leaving something that is stable and taking a big risk to the unknown is scary, but I truly believe that if you are doing what you LOVE only the best things follow … that is TRUE success.

30 Journals 30 Days: DAWN DeVRIES SOKOL

How long have you been Art Journaling?
It's been about four years since I wholeheartedly got into it. I wasn't real sure about it at first, but all of the reasons that kept me from it eventually attracted me to it.



How has Art Journaling impacted, changed, or enhanced your life?
In so many ways, personally and professionally. Personally, it has brought more creativity to my life. I once again journal, as I did when I was a kid, but now I do it visually, which feels more natural. Professionally, it's helped me become an author and teacher. It's enhanced my design work and helped me begin a hand-lettering part of my career. Nothing but good things!



What are a few of your favorite Art Journaling materials to use?
I LOVE Souffle pens, markers such as Tombow, and cheap acrylic craft paints for my page backgrounds. Tombow Mono Adhesive is a must!

Who are some of your favorite Art Journalers?
There are SO many I look to for inspiration, but I'd have to say those that come to mind are

Sabrina Ward Harrison

Teesha Moore

Pam Garrison

Each are completely different in their own right, but you can see cross-influences of styles and methods there.



What kind words of encouragement would you say to an Art Journal newbie?
Learn what you can through books and workshops and online. DON'T worry about what your pages look like at first. You will most likely hate them. I hated my pages for quite some time. But keep at it. Copy others to learn, but don't do that for too long. You can't be true to yourself if your art journal pages look like someone else's. That's not art journaling. Look at others' pages and try to pinpoint WHAT it is you like about their pages. Is it the color palette? The style of backgrounds? The use of collage? Take little things you like about others' pages and combine them to make your own style. It takes TIME. And patience. And an open mind. Keep at it. Be true to your art journal and it will be true to you. If your art journal is you, then it is GORGEOUS!




Where can we contact you...give us some link LOVE!
You can find my blog and work HERE OR HERE

My Twitter: @dawndsokol
My Facebook
My latest book's Facebook page

Video Starring Dawn:

Short Bio:
I am an author, book designer, lettering illustrator, and an avid art journaler. After seven years of art directing magazines including America West Airlines Magazine, I decided to design books from my home studio. I design coffee table books, gift books, cookbooks, and kids books, and my design work has been included in Print’s Regional Design Annual 2002 and also has been recognized by the Copper Quill Awards, the Association of Partners for Public Lands, January Magazine, and Round & Coffin Club’s 2005 Western Books Exhibition, among others. In 2008, Quarry published my first book, 1000 Artist Journal Pages: Personal Pages and Inspiration. My next book, Doodle Diary: Art Journaling for Girls, has just been published by Gibbs Smith Publisher.

30 Journals 30 Days: RHOMANY

How long have you been Art Journaling?
I've kept a visual journal for most of my life. Of course, when I was 5 they were called scrapbooks, then in high school they were sketchbooks or notebooks, then they became visual journals - my preferred term. People think because the term 'art journaling' is relatively new that the journals themselves are new. But Frida Kahlo kept one. So did Leanardo Da Vinci. So did Mary Anne, my grandmother. She pasted in just about everything into her journals and encouraged me to do the same. I began by helping her, then one Christmas she bought me my own book and I've kept a visual journal, in some format, ever since. Over the years I've yo-yo'd between many styles from pure collage to just writing and sketching, to full on painted pages. You can tell when I get a new book on journalng because I'll go through a spate of a certain style of pages. I always come back to just simple pen and collage though because I'll always be an illustrator at heart and painted pages are just too messy for me. I'm just not a layers kind of girl; I can do it, but I don't really enjoy it.



How has Art Journaling impacted, changed, or enhanced your life?
I've kept a visual journal (i.e. not just plain writing) for over 30 years, so it's hard to tell because I don't really know any different. I watch a lot less TV than anyone else I know. In fact I don't even have one! I watch particular programs over the internet on BBC iPlayer but mostly I listen to audiobooks and play in my journal for downtime. When I was younger I would rather be in my room playing music and journaling than out with friends. Playing in my journal is my default. I can't sit and do nothing, I have to have a pen in my hand.

What are a few of your favorite Art Journaling materials to use?
Just a pen and some gluestick. Plus my Neocolour IIs if I want to add some colour. My roots are in illustration and even though I do have a journal that's painted, I'd much rather doodle, illustrate, collage and write in my journals. It's also much easier for carrying around - I never leave home without my everyday journal and my pencil case.

Who are some of your favorite Art Journalers?
I like the work of lots of art journallers, but my favourites tend to belong to illustrators. I really love the work of :

Tracy V Moore

Eden

Theo Ellsworth

Adriana Almanza

Anna Rusakova

I also recently discovered Rebecca Horwood, who has a similar style to my own everyday journaling.

And it goes without saying I love the work of my fellow journallers at artjournaling.ning.com - there's such a huge variety of styles to look at.



What kind words of encouragement would you say to an Art Journal newbie?
Don't feel you have to do what everyone else is doing or have a particular 'style'. I have a different style for every day of the month and then some. If I didn't, I'd get bored. But changing it up whenever I feel like it gives me the freedom I love, so I do it. It's not about being good, it's about feeling good about doing it. If that means embracing your penchant for having 15 journals or using a different style everyday, so be it.



Where can we contact you...give us some link LOVE!
tada!
website
youtube
facebook fanpage
flickr
twitter
artfire
email: rhomany {at} gmail {dot} com

Videos Starring Rhomany:

Short Bio:
Rhomany is the artist name of Klair Scattergood, a mixed media artist, art journaller and children's illustrator from the UK. Her pieces are cheerful and colourful, invoking the bright feeling of summer childhoods, when becoming an Indian princess was as simple as donning a chiffon scarf and going to sea as a pirate needed only an upturned table and a sheet. As well as creating artwork for children, Rhomany runs online workshops in bookbinding and art journaling, for anyone who wants to rediscover the magic of playtime.

30 Journals 30 Days: LISA WILSON

How long have you been Art Journaling?

Only a few short months. As a little girl, I had many locked journals with combinations and tiny keys but they held only words. I have relied on the written word as my confidant for most of my life, but just expanded into artistic play through Connie’s Art Journal Love Letters.

How has Art Journaling impacted, changed, or enhanced your life?

It has helped me get out of the way of myself. And you know what? I LOVE who I found.

I am brave, expressive, deep, scarred, flawed, perfect, human, and divine. Who knew?

I still forget from time to time, but artistic expression…in particular with a journal in which I am having a private conversation with my Self…helps remind me.

What are a few of your favorite Art Journaling materials to use?

Paints (acrylic & watercolor), Gesso (white & clear), stamp ink, colored pencils, digital and sketched images, baby wipes (to clean, smear paint, and the painted wipes on the page!), my fingers, and music. And an iced chai within reach.

Who are some of your favorite Art Journalers?

Honestly I am so new to this art journaling community that I can’t name a favorite…other than Connie. (*brown-nose alert*)

Beyond that, I suggest readers visit http://Artjournaling.ning.com. There are so many talented individuals bravely delving into themselves and their art.

What kind words of encouragement would you say to an Art Journal newbie?

Try to Re-member who is waiting for you on the other side of your creation. All you have to do is pick up something and move it, smoosh it, or glue it on something else (I’ve doodled on myself before when no journal was available)…and you will be amazed at what happens. There is no right or wrong. Got it? Now go. Start. You are already a beautiful soul and an artist. All you have to do is create to discover that.

Where can we contact you...give us some link LOVE!!

I am in a few spots on this crazy internet.

Blog
Facebook
Twitter

If all else fails, email me at LifeUnity@gmail.com and I’ll come find you.

Short Bio:

I’m here exploring what it means to be Alive.

The human me: I’m a mother of 2 young children, wife-y, home creator, registered yoga teacher, on-again off-again runner, and artist-in-training. I am blessed to have the comforts of a home, a car, loving family and friends. I let my children eat junk food from time to time, I skip workouts, I drink wine and diet coke (not together), and I have more than one paint stain on my carpet and dust bunnies under my couch. I am fabulously flawed.

The divine me: I am a creative soul just re-membering who she is. I am an artiste, a poet, a photographer, an Earth Mother, and a firm believer in magic (i.e. that the impossible is possible, no matter what we call it). I giggle a lot. I am fascinated with the complexities of humanity. I am We – knowing that every thought I have, every feeling I experience is shared with you, with nature, with the stranger I’ll never meet face-to-face. I am blissfully whole (even if I forget).

30 Journals 30 Days: KARIN BARTIMOLE

How long have you been Art Journaling?

I began art journaling in my pre or early teens, though I wouldn't have known to call it that at the time. I was drawing and writing in notebooks, getting feelings out and processing my thoughts pretty early on.

How has Art Journaling impacted, changed, or enhanced your life?

I truly believe that art journaling has pretty much saved my life, several times over.
As a child growing up with a violent, alcoholic mother there was very little predictability in life, but my art was always a sure thing. When I felt there was no where else to turn, I had a way to express the hurt, anger, and confusion that was going on inside of me. Through my art I was able to release the feelings that would otherwise have built up inside, with no where else to go.

My art journals have continued to be the way I process the challenges in my life. As an adult I've had to deal with a number of health issues - I've used my journal for exploring and releasing the emotions that have risen and aren't constructive. It's helped me find acceptance in the seemingly unacceptable, understanding in the baffling, and a sense of peace in the midst of chaos. Having a daily record to look back upon allows me to see when patterns develop in my imagery or use of words - I can catch myself in negative patterns and make changes, or reinforce positive evolutions that or occurring. Having this concrete record helps make real the goals and dreams of life!

What are a few of your favorite Art Journaling materials to use?

I tend to keep two kinds of journals going at once - one is purely collage, so for that my favorite items are a glue stick and anything collage-able! Old calendars, magazines, and newspapers headed for recycling.

My other journal is more mixed media - for that gesso is my favorite thing. A base of gesso gives my pages body, strength and texture to build on, with acrylic paints, pastels, stitching, stamping - what ever I want to add.

Who are some of your favorite Art Journalers?

I actually have an ever changing list of "favorites", and they all get listed in my blog's side bar, but here are a few of some recent finds that have inspired me:

Laura Lein-Svencner
Katie Kendrick
Judy WIse
Rachel Whetzel

What kind words of encouragement would you say to an Art Journal newbie?

Trust yourself, allow for spontaneity, play, freedom and exploration. Don't judge - if your first instinct is to grab a red crayon and then a voice chimes in, "what? get the cadmium red acrylic paint and fine point brush out" ignore the second voice and always go with your first instinct - it speaks Truth.

Be sure to cater to your inner voice, not some imagined audience that may see your journal in the future, or on your blog. If you are imagining how someone else is going to see what you are doing, then the Censor will undoubtedly make an appearance! I always center myself and connect deeply within myself before I start. During my process, no one is ever going to see what I've done. Sometimes it's hard to share the results, but when I do I know they are pure truth, and all me. I can be assured that what I've uncovered, discovered, recovered and learned is exactly what my process has guided me to, and nothing I forced into being.

Where can we contact you...give us some link LOVE!!

~ My blog is Beyond Words
~ My video book binding tutorials and art sharing can be found on my YouTube channel
~ and to get to know me a little better, and my feelings about creativity, I've replied to an in depth interview at WhoHub which might interest you both as a reader, to get to know other artists, and for answering yourself, to share who you are with others!

Videos starring Karin:

Short Bio:

I have always been an artist, and if I couldn't be that I'd want to work with plants. I live outside New York city with my husband. I'm currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and am looking forward to the completion of that so that I can get back to full time art making, moving into a newly renovated studio, and teaching again!

30 Journals 30 Days: TRACIE HANSON

How long have you been Art Journaling?

I’ve been keeping traditional journals for many years, but art journaling didn’t happen for me until a couple of years ago. I’d seen some art journaling by Dan Eldon and others and was really psyched. But I had never picked up a paint brush before - although I was raised by an artist. I remember experimenting with painting some pages - just rubbing color around with paper towels! Then I’d write over that. I was really pretty frustrated at the time, trying to figure it all out for myself. This was well before the rush of YouTube videos, books and magazines about art journaling.

When I saw that my favorite artist, Sabrina Ward Harrison, was offering a workshop locally, I had to go see how it was all done. That was two years ago and since that time I’ve not stopped!

Below is the book I made in that first class with Sabrina ....my first taste of collage!

How has Art Journaling impacted, changed, or enhanced your life?

It’s changed EVERYTHING - truly!

Because of it, my life has bloomed. I have become an "artist". I've tried out many types of journaling styles, which gave me the confidence to begin painting on canvas a year ago. I have even taken the rather bold step of renting a large studio space - just 5 months ago! I needed the space - if only to house my ever expanding cache of art supplies!

In this time, I've also become a creativity coach and have hosted journaling workshops of my own. I plan to do more AND host other teacher's classes in my new studio space!

What are a few of your favorite Art Journaling materials to use?

I do several different types of art journals, so my range of materials is quite wide.

For painted and collaged journals, I love inexpensive acrylic paints, water color crayons, gel medium, permanent glue sticks, white gel pens and tapes of all kind - especially graphic black and white patterns!

For my sewn up journals, I love to bind them with batiks, ethnic prints or re-purposed books. I sew papers together with mismatched threads. The paper I use tends to be scraps, junk mail and souvenirs picked up on my frequent “artist dates” to art galleries, street fairs, etc.

Who are some of your favorite Art Journalers?

Sabrina Ward Harrison

Daniel Eldon
Mary Ann Moss
Kelly Kilmer
Juliana Coles
Hope Wallace Karney
Shiloh Sophia McCloud

What kind words of encouragement would you say to an Art Journal newbie?

Art Journaling is a growing trend right now. The internet has provided us all with a wealth of inspiration and instruction. Do that. Enjoy that. I've taken many online and a few in-person classes....but do NOT compare yourself to others. Journaling, by definition, is personal. We ALL have a unique voice and our own take on the latest technique.

Where can we contact you...give us some link LOVE!!

www.mybloominglife.com

Short Bio:

It's been a long route to becoming an artist - stints in archaeology, geology, banking, gallery co-owning, television advertising and real estate make one either a person of varied interests .... or one lacking in focus and direction. I prefer to think I'm just a bit "colorful"!

Married to the long awaited love of my life, Derek, we bounce between sunny Southern California and foggy Northern Cal with my hubby's two mid-sized growing "art goddesses" and a dog named "Flea". They are all teaching me much about art making and living juicy!