Hello sweet creative!

Today I’m excited to share the latest page in my art journal!

I started this page on my birthday last month. Even before that actually, as I had already spread some leftover pink paint many months before, then put down some pieces of collage just for the fun of it, without any outcome in mind. That’s one of my favorite things about this process: I use my journal to play, relax and experiment, knowing that each messy page will eventually become the starting point for something more. There’s nothing like gluing paper and randomly spreading paint after a hard day! And this way, I almost never start from a blank page.

I also love that art journaling allows me to work in little pockets of time, often just five or ten minutes a day. I keep it open on my table with supplies at the ready, and whenever I need to take a break from the computer, my art journal is all set for me to come and play!

I’m a mixed media artist, so of course, I art journal the mixed media way, combining collage, paint, inks, markers and any supplies that inspire me. The magic of this process is that you can play for just a few minutes at a time, add a piece of collage here, dab some paint there, journal a passing thought… And little by little, the layers add up, creating depth and inviting a story to emerge. Until eventually, a whole magical page has come to life!

One of the best things about art journaling, is how much it can make you grow and evolve as an artist, helping you build your confidence and developing your personal style. In an art journal, everything is allowed and you are completely free to try new things: your journal is just for you!

For instance here, I wanted to try bolder colors and even some fluorescent paints and markers (me? really?). I'm usually more of a "muted colors" kind of girl and even though I love bolder hues in other people's art, I tend to get overwhelmed when I use them myself (hello highly sensitive soul). But sometimes it's good to gently expand your comfort zone! And I know no better place for this than an art journal.

Because the truth is, I don't think I would have been brave enough to use fluorescent colors on a canvas straight away ("what if I don't like it? what if I ruin it? what a waste it will be..."), but my journal gives me this freedom, and I can simply focus on enjoying the process, and stay open and curious as something new is emerging. This, in turn, makes me grow my artist wings a little more! I was thinking about all of this while I was finishing the page, and it became a part of the story, with some cut-out words added at the end.

Leave a comment for me!