This picture shows a desk with a sweater and a cup of coffee and journal in front of a window

The Wonderful Words for this Wednesday are as follows: ‘Winter is for Art Journaling’

But then again, so is Spring, Summer, and Fall for that matter!  BUT, January is notoriously a tough month for many of us who live here in the Pacific Northwest. The wet gray skies, bare gardens, 16 hours of darkness, and the ‘end’ of the holiday festivities form into a perfect storm in January.

During these dark days of winter, we must combat the natural feeling many of us have to go into our dens and hibernate until Spring. Anyone with me?

Here are 5 of the ways I have learned to combat this Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) which is self diagnosed of course simply by my longitude and lattitude.

  1. A good strong cup of coffee to look forward to each morning, brewed to perfection.
  2. A jigsaw puzzle with happy colors on the living room coffee table to work on here and there.
  3. Listening to the book, “Wintering” by Katherine May (I listen to this every January)
  4. Dates with friends (even when one has to force oneself out of the house to do so).
  5. And lots of PLAYING ART!

The first four are pretty self explanitory, so let’s talk about #5: Lots of PLAYING ART

Does it seem nebulous when I say “Play Art”. Do you wonder, what that really means? How does one actually ‘Play Art’?

Well, let me explain just exactly where and how one can play art.

Where to Play Art

This image shows three handmade journals.

I play art in my Art Journal (currently the one labeled No.2) which I cheekily call my ‘bestie’. My bestie knows about this, don’t worry!

This journal is actual magic. I truly mean it. It’s pure unadulterated magic.

First of all, I made it, so it’s something I love because I made it with things I love. It pleases my eye. This seems small, but I know you know what I mean. It’s the reason we buy books by the cover and wine by the label. We enjoy what’s pleasing to our eyes. So that’s the first thing, you have to make your own journal in order to have such a connection to it that you are drawn to it.

 

Secondly, nobody has to see my art that I create in there unless I choose to share it. Furthermore, if I create something I don’t like, well then, I just cover it right up with something I do like. This spells freedom.

Third, an art journal is very different than a sketchbook. Right now, what does your mind think of when I say the word, ‘sketchbook’? Do you think of a book with only pencil drawings in it? I do. And while I do sometimes like to do a pencil sketch of something, the art journal is WAY more. In my art journal I paint, stamp, draw, write, stencil, play with modeling paste, layer, glue, cut, and even sew!  Yes, you heard that right – I SEW in my art journal! Here are a few pics for proof:

 

This picture shows a sewing machine and the pieces of paper I sewed with it.

 

 

 

Oh wait, you meant WHERE like in location. Oh. Sorry! You can do it on a table, you can do it on a desk, you can do it on a floor, you can do it out of doors. Um, this is sounding kind of ‘sus’ as my teen would say, but you get the gist. Just play art!

How to Play Art

There are various ways one can approach an art journal and below I’ve listed two common ways:

  1. Use prompts
  2. Pick a color or art supply you want to use that day and just start and let the process unfold before you.

I know your next question!  Where does one find prompts?  Well, there is always someone on social media who has put out some prompts for art journaling.  You could just search the Google machine for “Art Journal Prompts” and you’d probably have a lifetime supply at your fingertips.

This month, I am using a list of prompts called “Junk Journal January” by Meg Journals and Get Messy Art (Caylee Grey). The prompts are really broad and open ended.  I’ve only done one, which was the word, “hidden”. When I saw that word, it prompted me to cover a page spread in my art journal that I hated, so I hid it with something I liked, thus, ‘hidden’! Viola! I am keeping this list in my journal for the days my own inspiration is lacking. What happens if I use one of these prompts in February, or even July?  NOTHING but creativity, which is the goal here people!

Here’s a pic of the Junk Journal January prompts but you can also get your own downloadable copy plus a few pages of bonus collage fodder by going to megjournals.com.

This picture shows a list of journal promts for each day in January

Caylee Grey is the author of the book, “Get Messy Art” which was the catalyst to my art journal and daily practice. I wrote all about it in this previous post.  I am so very thankful to her! If you want to read Caylee Grey’s book, and you should, here’s a link: Get Messy Art​

WARNING

I want to warn you that if you start to play art on the daily (or however much you can squeeze in) your space might begin to look like mine:

This picture shows my messy work space

No matter how many times I clean off the surface of my desk (and the floor) and put all the things in their places, it looks like this only seconds after I start playing art. I’ve come to embrace it and I just keep plowing out a space in the middle in which to work/play art.

Would You like help getting started?

Come and make your very own art journal with me and other like minded people on January 14th at Refind Creations Studio in downtown Bellingham. I will be reading some passages aloud to you from Caylee’s book during this workshop! There is no way one can come to this workshop and not leave inspired to play art in one’s new art journal.

It’s winter people, give yourself the gift of creativity during these dark days, it is scientifically proven to boost your spirits!

Sign Up for the Workshop

Okay friends, I gotta run, my art journal awaits with open arms, I mean pages!

Kimberly Snider, Virtuoso, signing off

To see all things that “Play Art With Kim” has to offer, click here