Inviting Autumn
Inviting Autumn
in my art journal
Hello lovely artist!
Autumn is coming over here! Well, at least in my art journal it is. Summer will soon be coming to a close and I’m already delighting in the prospect of autumn days, with their golden light, rich colors, crisp air and cosy layers…
Speaking of which, it’s been a joy this week to get back to my art journal, cosy up in the studio a few moments every day, and create this super layered page. I snapped a few pictures of the stages it’s been through, I hope they will inspire you.
September is such a wonderful time to get back to (or start!) your art journaling practice. That’s why all my art journaling classes are on sale for just a few more days!
with code ARTJOURNAL20
creative freedom!
What I love most about art journaling is this flexible, slooow rhythm that allows me to work in little pockets of time, and encourages me to be more creative, more often. When I know that my art journal is waiting for me on the table, open at the current page in progress, with my supplies areound it, ready to play, it makes a HUGE difference in my art practice.
Take this morning for instance: goodness knows why, I woke up an hour earlier than planned and felt ready to start the day. All was quiet in the house so I went downstairs, made myself some tea and toast, and took it all to the studio to have breakfast with my journal! That was one blissful hour before the kids had to get up and get ready for school. Would I have done it if my journal hadn’t been open and ready? Probably not.
layer by layer
Now, what makes it all possible is… mixed media layers! One day I’ll gather a little bundle of papers, the next I’ll start gluing, then on to some journaling, cut-out words, then paints and inks, crayons, then maybe some collage again!
I also love that this page sort of started even before I sat down to create it: those of you who participated in my free Artist Soul Online Retreat a few months ago might remember that it all started as a spread in my inspiration scrapbook, a large sketchbook that I use as a collection of moodboards.
The elements in it are not permanently attached (hello washi tape!) so that I can reuse them later in my art. Below is what it used to look like, and it stayed in there for well over a year before I finally felt called to make something out of it!
page after page
You see, that’s the best thing about art journaling: it’s always a work in progress, it’s a creative practice for life, and you do it just for YOU. One year after another, my journal is the faithful, playful companion of my days, a safe space where I can freely express my feelings, stories, dreams and wishes…
And it doesn’t have to be complicated: this page is simply about me longing for the new season to arrive. After such a scorching summer. I cannot wait to put on boots and cosy layers again! And until then, I’m inviting autumn-like layers in my journal…
What is your favorite thing about art journaling? Or if you haven’t tried it yet, do you have any questions? Anything that feels mysterious to you or gets you stuck before you even try? (I’ve been there and I’m talking about it HERE)
I would love to share the joy of art journaling with you in one of my classes! If you’re new to this wonderful practice, I would recommend starting with my foundational class The Artist & the Journal. Then I have plenty more workshops to keep you inspired and help you fill your own unique storybook with plenty of magical pages!
Click below to explore the classes and join me in the studio! Don’t forget to use the code ARTJOURNAL20 to get 20% off:
the artist & the journal
class now open!
A magical adventure through art journaling and mixed media painting. Build your personal art journaling practice, grow your wings and take the leap from the page to the canvas!