First Steps to an Art Journal
#1 buy a mixed media or watercolor journal. Head to a local art store (click the link for Cal Arts in San Mateo) or Dick Blick online (links below). Do your thing here, just ideas for the less corporate ones! Here is one link to a Canson journal Two other brands of paper I have used are Strathmore 500 Series Visual Mixed Media Journal Pay attention to the weight of the paper, you want it to be watercolor or mixed media weight, or the glue, water, the paint we will be adding won’t stay, the paper will buckle and it will be kinda disappointing. This will likely happen if you are new to art anyway so let’s not pile on. :) :
#2 Do you have markers, pens, pencils, watercolors, paints, glue, tape, old magazines, and doodads like plastic stuff you need to through away? Gather it all into one place, your new art journal place. Also, a glue gun is fun.
Here are some other ideas for pencils, or art crayons:
https://www.dickblick.com/products/faber-castell-goldfaber-color-pencils-and-sets/
https://www.dickblick.com/products/sargent-art-water-color-crayons/
#3 Gather a candle or incense if that is your jam. And open the first page. Place your hands on the open page and say, “what is already here that I would like to express or know more about”. When I say “here”, I mean in your body, your mind, we are talking about feelings and thoughts here. There is NO right…NO wrong. Just start writing. Write all the way down the page and turn the page one way 90 degrees and write across everything you have just written. Keep doing this until you can’t read your writing. Let your thoughts and feelings flow. Do not edit. No one will ever be able to read this unless they are forensic scientists and then even, why would they care about our inner thoughts?
Now it’s time to have fun and get messy.
#4 Paint marker and glue all over what you have written. Again, there is no right or wrong. Allow yourself to pick whatever color you feel is right for you today.
#5 share with me and ask questions. I will always aim to get back to you in two days. I am eager to engage with you in this process. I want to help you stay committed and soon you will see you crave this time for yourself and you can even get your family involved if you would like. Share this with your friends and family so you can have accountability!