Tuesday, August 23, 2011

A journal by any other name is not as sweet

I do "visual journaling". It's a new-fangled word for something artists have been doing for years, which is basically, journaling visually. Just like it sounds. There's some writing, some images and almost always a thought or a question prompting it.

I started doing it about 3 years ago and my practice survived largely due to taking Kelly Kilmer's online "A Prompt a Day" class. It really took off when my "real" artist friend challenged me to create art -- anything -- every single day for one year. She gave me a big beautiful journal in which to do it. And I did. Crazy.
Now, I find visual journaling is what keeps me sane half of the time. It's where I get my ya-ya's out. 

Sometimes it happens to come out pretty, but mostly it's simply for me. One of the biggest challenges has been to share my pages. I feel raw and cut open putting my real (often ugly) feelings out into the world to be judged, praised, dismissed. But that's part of being on my journey: staying vulnerable. Even when it's scary. Even when it hurts.

Do you journal? Do you feel in images? Take a leap and start doing it daily. Rip, paste, write, breathe. Even a teeny little notebook can hold a whole lot.

2 comments:

  1. I LOVE to journal - I have kept a journal for years. It's my dumping ground, travelogue, record keeper and sanity. I've always glued/taped things into my journal, but I'm fascinated by what you're doing! Can't wait to see/hear/learn more about it on the 13th!!

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  2. oo! Bring some of your stuff (*if* you don't mind sharing!) I'd love to see what you do. And yes, we're going to have fun on the 13th! Glad you can come! :))

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