Sunday, August 11, 2013

My Current Journaling Process...

 A few posts back, Jackie posed this question:

"How many places do you journal each day? Meaning if you have a variety of art journals do you repeat things in each one, or do you choose a journal, and skip from one to another?"


Right now, I have only two main journals I am working in daily - My daily writing/idea journal, and my Book of Days.

The format for my daily writing/idea journal changes all the time.  I've used regular lined diaries, smashbooks, and handmade books. I love variety. It makes writing more fun! My Big Grid Journal currently serves as my daily writing/idea book.  I usually record the day's events and the weather, right after I wake from my nap.  It helps me warm up for the evening's creative project.  Along with being a daily diary, it also holds any writing assignments/prompts for workshops that I'm taking.  I can work out ideas, and paste photos of things that inspire me in it. Here's an example of a recent spread that I haven't shared yet. 




My Book of Days is my art journal.  It is the one that I paint and get messy in.  The format will change a little bit, but it's always made of sturdy pages that can take paint and other wet media. I work in it most every weekday evening.  I use it for all of my different workshop-inspired pages, as well as just experimenting and playing.   I'm on Volume 4 for 2013. Here's the current one I'm working in...



 Here are the two of them together.  As you can see, the cover on my Book of Days is starting to get deliciously messy!  They are both 9"x12..."



I reserve the weekends for working on Project Life, and other unfinished projects, like travel journals from previous trips.  I find that taking a break from art journaling on the weekends, makes it fresh and fun again come Monday!

I have tried having different journals for every workshop I am taking, and sometimes that is really fun!  Lately however, I most enjoy doing it this way.  It keeps my head from getting jumbled up with too many choices, and I get to see my journals fill up faster when I only have two!

I hope this is helpful!  Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments section and I will do my best to answer them.  The most important thing to remember is to do what works for you! 




8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing, you get a lot done and make it sound easy. Your books would be so fun to flip through!

Mary M. said...

Your Book of Days looks handmade. Could you explain materials used and how you made it. I love your work Michelle!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Love when you share your processes with us!! So fun!!!

Sharon Fritchman said...

Hi Michelle! WOW! Your hand-made book of Days is so totally awesome!!!! I can't wait to see your completed cover! And your journal pages look wonderful, too. (I love the photo of the kitty!)

dawn said...

Michelle, I do love when you share your process and awesome pages. Still can't believe how much you get done and share, never tire of seeing your art or journals. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.
Happy day 11, hope your doing ok with blogging so far. LOVING IT!!

p.s. 30 days of Lists are coming up soon, are you doing it? I can't decide?
See you tomorrow!

Julia said...

Thanks for sharing!
Hugs,
Julia

Brenda said...

Thanks for sharing your process Michelle. I do agree that having too many journals could get overwhelming. I also just have a sketchbbok that serves as my daily diary and everything and anything goes into that. And then I have an Art Journal where I can go crazy with various mediums.

Dionne the Tea Priestess said...

I appreciate you sharing your process. I'm always looking for journal inspiration. Now whether I actually do it or not is a totally different story....