In the last post, I shared how I’m changing the way I’m journaling for this upcoming year, by keeping three main journals to organize my daily and inner life: a planner to organize my time, a diary to process life, and a commonplace book to record ideas and inspirations etc. These will be a springboard for my creative life adventures and journals for the new year. They’ve already prompted a new idea - shared further down.
The photo above shows examples of the diary, commonplace journal and planner journal.
The diary shown is the open book with the text ‘thoughts, feelings & ideas’. In that journal, while recovering from hand surgery, I managed to tear and cut out words and images from my favorite clothing catalog (Gudren Sjoden), painted some medical tape using stencils and acrylic paint, added Washi tape to pages, along with the coffee and tea specialties download from my shop. I used these to create collage pages that left space for writing. Because gripping the pen and writing was difficult, on some pages I typed out my thoughts, then cut and pasted them in the journal. Thankfully I can write and draw again. This year my diary journal will be mostly just writing, but who knows? There aren’t any constraints or criteria for that type of journal.
I’ll talk more specifically about the commonplace book and planner journal a separate, future post.
You’ll notice the Archer & Olive pens, ink and notebooks in the photo above. Their dotted journals are the best, and the watercolor notebooks I have are becoming treasured keepsakes. I am really looking forward to using the pens and ink more, and am excited to be an Archer & Olive ambassador. Remember you can use the code ‘Valerie10’ to receive 10% off your purchase.
NEW IDEA
An epiphany for the new year
Seeking discernment for the new year, I was looking through my planners and dotted journals. I’m entering a new phase in life, not just a new year. The new studio is smaller, but also cozier. I’m slowly learning how to work more effectively in it. It’s challenging to know how to navigate this new creative season in a meaningful and productive way. I’m wondering how to connect it to my previous art making life in a way that encourages gratitude.
Somehow I need to re-member (put together) my past experiences and re-new my present creative life. In recent years, there has been loss and sadness, but there has also been beauty and joy. I’m finding it helpful to take time to ask questions and to listen, wait for answers, and be watchful. I began to look through my art journals and snippets made over the years. Through this process, it occurred to me that making art has always been my way of processing life’s joys and sorrows, a way to cope and find hope. It was kind of a Captain Obvious moment, (Duh!) but it hit me in a new way, an epiphany. It begged the question:
How can I express the experiences of my life in a visually pleasing way,
that connects my past to my present, and fosters thankfulness?
All this art making processing (aka art therapy) has really been about exchanging ‘beauty for ashes.’ (Isaiah 61:1-3) The artwork in my journals now seem like prompts to remember the beauty that comes out of the ashes, and it’s re-minding me of what I have to be thankful for. This is giving me that wonderful fluttery feeling that lifts my spirit.
What if?
What if, once a week, I gathered journals and other items that ‘sing’ well together, arrange them, and take a square format photo of them. Then I could wrote down the memories, thoughts, or emotions the images invoke. Once I’ve taken the photo, I could print it out and glue it into my journal. Then write the description of what the images in the photo mean to me, the stories behind the art. They would be like little square vignettes of beauty that record the blessings.
Here is an example:
The story behind the art:
In the photo collage above, the small top left watercolor was done in a plein air outing at a park close to my house. It served as a precursor to a class I taught with my friend Carol Aldrich at a local library. I already mentioned the dotted journal to the right of the small watercolor. This also was one of my first Archer & Olive journals and it made me happy and thankful to be able to journal in it in a new way. The lower left tree image is on watercolor paper and was the result of painted paper experimenting. The image was used as a background for the Shalom Prayer video. The lower right journal was made in one of my inperson weekend art journal workshops in my old studio. I loved those summer workshops! The Beautiful Word Online course is based on those.
I am thankful for:
the opportunity and wonderful time I had teaching with Carol and being with the wonderful people at the North Plains Library
to have had an art group to meet with for about 10 years when I first moved to Hillsboro
finding Archer & Olive as a resource that keeps putting out beautiful journaling books
to have the opportunity to design stencils that are produced by StencilGirlProducts and use them in my art.
to have the resources and supplies to make these
the ability to paint and create, to use my imagination
The challenge I’m giving myself
My goal is to make one of these photo collage squares, descriptions, and thankful lists each week. I’m hesitant to state a time attached commitment to my goal, but it seems like a good idea. It doesn’t mean things may change and it will morph into something different. It may. That is my disclaimer.
I anticipate there will be some days where the things I am thankful for might be what is in my kitchen cupboard, and that could show up as the photo square. Or maybe what is hanging on my wall, or maybe my grandchildren playing at ‘Grammy’s’ house, or something that catches my eye on a walk. I don’t know, but if I am intentionally looking for the blessings of the present and revisiting the blessing of the past, the future will look and be brighter.
What do you think?
I’d love to know what you think. Would you like to do the photo collage square challenge too? Take a photo of what you’ve made or what is important to you, write down the memory it sparks, and make a list of what you’re thankful for? Or share your own idea?
I’m planning to post mine here on my blog and on Instagram.
Thanks for stopping by!
Feel free to leave your thoughts, suggestions, and questions in the comments section below.
Be blessed!
Valerie
Affiliates etc.
Amazon: Sometimes I post links to Amazon products on my site. I receive a small commission if you click on the product and purchase it. I only recommend products I use, am happy with. It costs you nothing, but does help me cover some of my costs to host the site etc.
Archer & Olive: I am now an Archer & Olive ambassador and affiliate. To receive a discount of 10%, use the code Valerie10 when you order. You get the savings and I receive a commission to help cover my online and tech costs.
StencilGirl Products: I receive royalties from stencils I’ve designed from StencilGirl Products. I hope you enjoy creating with them.