Last week's post – or rather the events of the past month – left me drained. I set a schedule with uploading posts to be accountable to myself and keep on going even when things get hectic. Despite the list I wrote on topics I want to discuss, I kept coming back to thoughts over my personal problems which left me mentally exhausted. Since I started this blog to focus on art block I feel like I have to be honest with what is going on with myself and with you guys out there.
I'm currently in a state where creativity just isn't working for me or rather I'm struggling to find motivation to draw. I've spoken about certain techniques that can be used for tackling this but didn't get much further than discussing coloring books. What I didn't mention yet is that I have a special idea brewing in my mind about using a binder art journal.
So… I don't think a binder art journal is anything new and flashy but I haven't used a binder for that purpose before. And of course, me being me, if there's anything new to try, I'll leap at the opportunity. Especially if it's about art and art supplies. My idea behing a binder art journal is somewhere along the lines of using it for journaling, art journaling, junk journaling, sketching and some commonplacing. I know it might sound chaotic – and trust me, it kind of is – but with all the other journals and sketchbooks that I have it's a fresh, experimental way for me to approach art block. While it might look like a mess of various styles, bits and pieces, it could – just because of its apparent chaos – inspire and guide me to keep creating.
Before I continue I want to explain why I thought of using a binder instead of a regular sketchbook for this. Since there are (and will be) so many differenty types of paper and materials used, I think a binder is really practical because you can easily add and take things out as you wish. It will get thick just like any other sketchbook will, but I think it'll be somewhat sturdier with all the stuff I want to include in it. Plus, I like that I can take a certain piece of paper out and draw or write on it on an even surface without worrying about that particular thing I glued in it that warped the whole thing.
And here's what my idea of a binder art journal entails:
1. Journaling: as in doing journal entries but unlike a daily journal, this one focuses on art and creativity. I think of it as writing down thoughts, ideas, doubts, fails and wins in order to develop as an artist and as a person. It's a way of organizing thoughts that might be too noisy to keep buzzing in my head.
Some prompts for this could be:
- What illustration/painting/drawing are you most proud of? Why is that?
- What do you think your biggest artistic fail was? Now turn that failure into something good. What did you learn from it?
- What kind of an artist do you want to be and why?
- What kind of art excites you?
- Which artist is your favourite and why?
- Why are you afraid to create this particular artwork? Discuss the steps you could take in order to conquer that fear (this usually comes down to fearing the blank page).
2. Art journaling: using various mixed media techniques with supplies that you already own (this is great for using up supplies that are laying about unused because they're either low quality or you generaly don't like them because you prefer other types of supplies for your particular style).
Some ideas for art journaling:
- Doing collage.
- Doodling.
- Making paint blobs and using your imagination to outline a shape that a certain blob might look similar to.
- Using leftover paint to color a page.
- Drawing with crayons just for the sake of it.
- Any kind of mixed media: paint + collage + glue + glitter + anything you want add at that moment.
3. Junk journaling: using whatever paper leftovers you have, punching a hole through them and putting them in the binder. I am a major proponent of recycling and even the binder that I'm currently using used to be my college notes binder that I repurposed. I love to experiment with paper and over the years I'v accumulated quite a few paper bits that now have a new home in my binder and are just waiting to be drawn on. (:
Some ideas for junk journaling:
- Using ephemera to add to the binder journal.
- Using packaging to draw on (this is great if you don't own thicker paper so instead of buying it, you can repurpose cereal boxes and such).
Junk journaling is really a world on its own, so use whatever you have at home without boundaries.
4. Sketching: using the binder as a sketchbook is probably my least favourite thing to do because I have a designated sketchbook for drawing, but it's still a great option.
5. Commonplacing: using the binder to discuss everything related to art. This can be copied from books or websites or in a form of taking notes about favourite topics. Its purpose I think should be to get inspired and perhaps instead of just browsing through the internet to look for inspiration, to be more systematic about it and really think and write about why certain things inspire you.
Ideas for commonplacing:
- Finding artwork (artist/motifs/color combinations/photography/reference…) that resonates with you, printing it out and sticking it in the binder then find information and write a few key thoughts you have about it.
The key to all these ideas is to discover your authentic self through experimentation and mindfulness, to listen to yourself and what your body is trying to tell you, especially when suffering from art block. And above all – be gentle and kind to yourself. (:
Next week I won't be writing a blog post because I want to dedicate some time to my binder journal. I'll be using and testing the techniques I mentioned and upload photos of what I created instead.
Take care, have a great week and I'll see you next time!
Vanteri, 20. 5. 2024
Image by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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