I love contrast.

If you want a page element to be powerful, contrast it with its opposite and you have mega-impact.

Contrast is what makes a piece of art surprising, or interesting, or even just plain good.

Contrast is essentially the use of opposites on the same piece of art. Opposites used together will draw the eye and provide excitement. Think in terms of light and dark, big and small, smooth and rough, upside down and right-side up. Any sort of opposite that you introduce will give you an interesting contrast.

Robert Henri, a famous American painter, said “A curve does not exist in its full power until contrasted with a straight line.” I love that. If you want a page element to be powerful, contrast it with its opposite and you have mega-impact.

Here’s how you can get contrast on your art journal pages.

A simple way to add contrast is to use complementary colors.

Complementary colors are colors that are opposite on the color wheel (such as blue and orange, yellow and violet, red and green). If you don’t have a color wheel, you need one. Print one from the internet or buy one from an art store, it doesn’t matter. A color wheel is very useful to consult when you’re looking for color ideas.

One way to use complementary colors (without totally overwhelming your work) is to first choose a dominant color, such as orange.

When you add orange’s complement, blue, add it thoughtfully and in small amounts. In this page, there are bold orange circles in the body of the silhouette. Then I introduced the small blue circle, and it really pops against the orange.

Even though I love contrast and I love complementary colors, I rarely use them together on the same background layer.

Let me clarify. If I am using yellow and purple, I don’t put yellow and purple on my palette and paint both colors on my background at the same time. Yellow and purple may very well end up in my background (as in this art journal page), but they are not the same layer. When complements mix, they make brown. Keeping complements out of the same layer helps you avoid muddying your work.

Let me tell you about my secret “contrast” weapon.

My secret weapon is…paint splatter. I know, it sound simple, but trust me, it will rock your world. Sometimes when I create a page, I like it, it’s fine…but it needs some “oomph.” A simple way for me to introduce a bit of “oomph” without overwhelming the whole page is with paint splatter in a complementary color. Splash a contrasting color across your work, and your page will come alive! On this page, I splashed orange paint over the blue hearts. Voila, instant contrast and energy!

Try using contrasting colors in your work…I think you’ll like it!

I always say that one of the reasons I love art journaling is that there are no rules. Anything goes. You can do what you want. The process of putting paint on the page is more important than the finished outcome.

So, why care about composition?

I firmly believe there’s value and beauty in every art journal page. Every. Single. One.

But…knowing the “ rules” allows you to put an extra “oomph” into your work. When you understand composition principles, you have power over them…power to arrange them, power to twist them, power to make them do what you want to convey your meaning and intent.

The principle of proximity

Let’s look at the principle of proximity to understand this. Have you ever created a page and something is just “off”? You’ve got text and images and collage, but the page doesn’t seem to be saying what you want it to say? I would put money on the idea that your “off” page may have a proximity flaw.

Proximity means that items that are grouped together will be perceived as belonging to each other, or as relating to each other. When elements are close to each other on a page, that closeness implies a relationship. Proximity is important because it helps us understand what we’re seeing. If the proximity is unclear, then we get confused.

Proximity is important in art journaling. By being aware of how you are placing your elements on the page, you can control meaning and better get across your page’s intent. The easiest way to create proximity is to just move your page elements closer together. That’s it. Easy, right?

Take a look at these three art journal pages in progress. Each page tells a different story because of the way the silhouettes are grouped. Which page do you prefer? Do you see how the way that you group page element can change the meaning and feel of a page?

Here is a page from my art journal. I made sure all of the stamped images of the little girl were in close proximity with each other. Because they are close, you automatically infer they have a relationship with each other and you consider them as a group. How different would this page look if the girls were scattered throughout the page? How about if they were about the same place but there were more space in between them?

On this page, I used “Betty,” the silhouetted figure that I often teach with and have made many, many pages with. I overlapped the figures tightly and sewed on them to add some texture. The overlapped figures have a strong bond, and they impart meaning to the page because of their close proximity.

On this page, the trees are scattered almost equally across the page. The page has a feel almost like patterned paper because of the spacing. Imagine if the trees were grouped in a single row at the bottom of the page. What story would the page tell then?

Try playing with proximity on your journal pages. Pay attention to how meaning and feel change depending on how you arrange your page elements. Experiment, play, and most of all…have fun!

Begin with Dina Wakley’s video tutorial and then check out the links for other online spray-ink how-tos as well as several spray-ink projects.

Spray-ink video tutorial with Dina Wakley

This video tutorial shares basic instructions for using spray ink on art journal and scrapbook pages. What’s more, it offers a fabulous look at art journaler Dina Wakley’s creative process—you’ll never treat a roll of paper towels the same way after viewing this lesson.

Spray ink tutorials

CK Shows You How to Color with Spray Ink

Creating Patterns with Spray Ink by The Everyday Scrapper

How to Make Your Own Spray Ink at WonderHowTo

Spray ink projects

DinaWakley.com

December Daily 2010 Cover Option One by Ali Edwards

A Fall Tag by Funsize Creations

Folded Paper Wreath DIY by Megan Hoeppner

Layout by Birgit Koopsen

Sometimes, for something fun and different, I like to write my journaling in shapes—not just in a circle but spiraling around the edge of a circle or other shape. It isn’t practical for reading—the reader always ends up upside down and backward trying to read around the loops—but it adds a fun visual punch to your page and, sometimes, I find that the journaling is more for me this way.  Here is one of my favorite journal blocks using this technique.

the how-to

1. As with the journaling blocks already described, you will need to determine the space need for your block at the beginning.  I usually put these blocks on a separate sheet of paper, since they are complex to draw and, thus, easier to manage on smaller pieces.  If you decide to do yours on a separate sheet, size that down now.

2. In pencil, draw the outer edge of your shape. In the example above, it would be my heart shape.  The one I will walk you through is a circle, but the same directions will work for any shape.  For these circles, I usually use a circle cutter or stencil.  Writing around the edge makes even small flaws very obvious so it is better to start with a perfect circle.   If you do not have a stencil or compass, grab a cup or small bowl to trace around.

3. Eventually you might be able to take out these next 4 steps, BUT for today let’s make this as easy as possible.  While this adds a little time, it might help you get your writing moving around your shape.  Draw another circle about 1/4 of an inch inside your original.  Continue drawing circles, each one gradually getting smaller by about the same 1/4 of an inch all the way around.   Notice these circles are hand drawn and sketched, they are not perfect, they are just guide lines.

4. Pick a starting point, on the ring just inside your outer edge, for your writing and mark it with a dot.  Turn your paper so the dot is straight up for now. Move your pencil about 1 inch to the left of your dot still on the ring and draw a gradually curving line from your first inner ring connecting it to your second inner ring.  This is hard to explain in words so check the example.

5. You are going to connect all the rings this way moving from the outer rings to the inner rings. Connect the second ring to your third, your third to your fourth and so on…  The curves that are doing the connecting should all be on the same side of your circle, so the shape all seems to curve inward at the same point.

6. Erase the sections of the original circles where the curves inward are replacing them. You should end up with one long continuous spiral.

7. The rest is easy! Lightly pencil in your journaling, and then go over it in ink.  I do not go over my spiral line with ink.  I feel the image is already complex enough so I erase my pencil lines, cut out my shape and attach it to my layout—that is: if I am still seeing clearly enough to get it on straight.

Michelle Houghton is a wife, mother and artist living in Iowa.  Teaching high school art, doodling, scrapbooking and Copics has been her passion for over 15 years.  You can find Michelle’s classes at Creative Passion, her tutorials at Get It Scrapped and Tiffany Doodles, and her blog at Scrapweaver. 

 

OK, I love these little guys!  I love the frame the circle creates around my journaling.  Circles will come in at the end of the steps but grab a scrap piece of paper first and do some practicing. You know what I’m going to say: “Get your elbow off the table.”

With a pencil, start practicing circles. Go over and over one circle. Just keep your pencil moving around on the same path. Trying to draw a single perfect ring is near impossible, but if you go around 4 to 6 times for each circle you can usually end up with some pretty good shapes.  Here is an example of what my practice page would look like.

the how-to

I like my circle journal blocks to overlap elements on my page, so the paper elements of my layout including photos need to be adhered in place.

You can do these on a separate sheet of paper, but they are much more effective right on the page, so, with pencil, start with horizontal lines for the journaling. The top line will be short, and the next few will progressively get longer. When you think you have about half of the space you need for journaling start making your lines progressively smaller again.

With pencil, write in your journaling.  Keep your journaling to the center of each line so the lines can hang out of your circle in some spots. This step is to make sure you have the right amount of space.  This is the best part: because you are making your own block, you can add or take away lines as needed.

Stay with your pencil for this step.  Now take a deep breath: it’s circle time.  Get your elbow up, and—just like you practiced—loop several rings, VERY lightly, around your journaling.  The rings will hopefully overlap your lines in some places and not in others.  When you have done 4 to 6 loops, stop. Take a look. Do you like the shape you got?  If yes, move on. If no, erase only your rings and try again.

In ink, go over your lettering first and then your straight lines.  If some of your journal block overlaps slick surfaces make sure you are working with a pen that will work on those papers.  Realize as you hit edges that your pen will bump. Here is a hint: it is easier to draw from the top layer onto the bottom layer than it is to go from the bottom layer up and over the edge to the top.

Time to go over your circle with ink.  Same drill with your pen: elbow up and go around your loop—3 to 4 times this time. You will not trace your pencil lines exactly but you will be amazed how much those pencil lines will help guide you.  Erase all of your pencil lines.

You did it!

Michelle Houghton is a wife, mother and artist living in Iowa.  Teaching high school art, doodling, scrapbooking and Copics has been her passion for over 15 years.  You can find Michelle’s classes at Creative Passion, her tutorials at Get It Scrapped and Tiffany Doodles, and her blog at Scrapweaver. 

 

I have always been fascinated with old books . . .  the smell, the worn edges, the discolored and torn pages all seem to hold a certain history that should never be discarded. Every year, though, libraries, bookstores and schools discard millions of books–leading me to believe that we are coming to the end of an era.

With the internet, audio books, and e-books now at our disposal, the “conventional book” is becoming largely overlooked. Perhaps now that we have new innovative ways to “read” our books, it’s time to search for fun creative ways to repurpose our old ones!

For this project, you will print an image (that you can design with digital scrapbooking supplies) to image transfer paper and then iron it onto an old book cover.

supplies & tools

• an old book
• image transfer paper (to print your cover image to—and then to iron on to the book cover).
• 3 book rings
• large stick
• iron
• drill
• jute
• Crop-a-dile or hole punch
• exacto knife
• photo editing software (optional) Note: For those of you without an old book on hand, check with local vintage stores, flea markets, schools, and public libraries for discards.

1. Remove the cover from your book, by using an exacto knife to slice through the paper lining and binding tape that holds the book together in the front and back creases. Then remove the spine from the front and back covers by slicing down each of the creases. Set aside the book’s spine and the bound pages–they may not be used in this project but they may be useful for future scrapbook pages and projects.

2. Using your photo-editing software or your own hand-drawn images, design the cover of your journal.  I layered a digitally framed and hinged photo with other digital papers and elements to create my cover design. You may also buy a pre-made transfer. When choosing a transfer type, keep in mind the properties of the book you will be transferring it to (i.e., light or dark colored, the material the book cover is made out of, etc.) and choose an appropriate transfer method.

Supplies: Yesterday Page Kit by Anna Aspnes; Letterbox Naturalist Kit by Katie Pertiet; Ad Challenge 9-27-09 by Katie Pertiet; Everday Inspiration Challenge 10-25-09 by Katie Pertiet; Mixed Bag Brushes and Stamps No. 3 by Katie Pertiet all from Designer Digitals. Ornate Frames by Rhonna Farrer from House of 3; Big Dreams and Pocket Treasures Kit by Laurie Ann; Old Woody Alpha by Paula Kesselring; Studio Remnants by sherrieJD and Studio Tangie all from ScrapArtist

3. Whether you are printing your image or drawing it, make sure to read your transfer instructions to see if your image must be mirrored. Once your transfer has been designed and printed, trim around the edges as best you can, so that you avoid transferring negative space.

4. Determine the placement of your three holes in both the front and back cover and punch them out using your Crop-a-dile or hole punch.

5. Use a hot iron (check transfer instruction for temperature settings and procedure) to apply the transfer to the book using firm pressure. Avoid sliding the iron over your transfer as this creates slippage and bubbling. Remove the backing paper and allow the transfer to cool. If needed  re-punch your holes in your cover, so that they are not covered by the transfer.

6. Find a stick approximately the inner circumference of your book rings and about a half inch longer than your book cover.  Make clean cuts on the ends of the stick using clippers or a hand saw.  Clean any fraying bark, stray branches, etc. Use the holes in your book cover to make markings on your stick that correspond.

7.  Clamp the stick into a vise and use a drill bit that corresponds to the size of your punched holes, drill the three holes through your stick.

8. Now thread your book rings through the stick until the joint in the book ring prevents it from going further.  The side in which the book rings protrude, will be the inside of your spine and your book rings will acts as a “three ring binder.” Then through the same holes, thread a length of jute that is equal to four times the circumference of your stick or book rings, in the opposite direction that you threaded the book rings (towards the front of the spine).

9. Continue threading the ends of your jute through the front and back cover and tye them in a knot, thus binding your cover to your spine.

Now you’re all ready to fill your journal with inspiration and memories!  Here are a few ideas:

• Fill your journal with blank pages so that you may document your life on a daily basis.
• Use the original pages of your book (maybe two pages glued together for stability) and some gesso (as a mat for your any writing) to create a fun nature-inspired journal filled with poems, random thoughts, and photos of the beautiful world around you.
• Take one of the fabulous art journaling classes offered by Dina Wakley and you will soon have this journal filled and be moving onto the next!
• Or try your hand at digital art journaling, and register for one of Pattie Knox’s Digital Art Journaling classes!

from an art journal by Dina Wakley

Do you art journal?

Are you wondering if you might like art journaling? Maybe you’ve heard about keeping a visual diary and it’s piqued your interest. Or . . .  maybe you’re wondering just what these so-called art and visual journals or diaries actually are.

Take a little time to stroll through the links below and get a better understanding of this art form that’s become popular. Art journals offer the opportunity for self expression with no rules. Additionally, their creation lets you to make something from your own hand that is intensely personal and meaningful–something that no one else could create.

So take a look and let us know if you’re feeling inspired to try some art journaling yourself. Or if you’re already making art journals, link us up in the comments!

from Frida Kahlo

Dina Wakley: Defining Art Journaling

Aisling D’Art: How I Started My Art Journals

Squidoo Lens by Sammie: A Goldmine of Journal Writing Prompts

Play Design Create: 7 Tips to Build a Treasury of Art Journal Ideas

Flicker Inspiration: Flickr group: Visual Journals

Dina Wakley: Using Art Journal Techniques on Scrapbook Pages

Discover your own artful self with any of Dina Wakley’s self-paced art journaling classes. Explore the world of art journaling through written and video lessons guaranteed to teach and inspire.

Once you understand layout design principles AND the basic parts of a scrapbook page, scrapbooking gets easier and more fun. 12 lessons cover this territory with hundreds of layouts to illustrate. Click here to get lesson 1 today -- and then new lessons every couple of days -- all at no cost.

by Dina Wakley

Using Brushstrokes Inspired by van Gogh

Van Gogh’s directional brushstrokes are a visual force. What you don’t realize about van Gogh’s work until you stand in front of it at a museum is that the paintings are more than just visual. They have a tangible texture that moves the eye. They have energy.

When you can see visible brushstrokes in a work and the paint stands up off the canvas, we call it “impasto.”  Van Gogh painted very rapidly, with a sense of urgency, using the paint straight from the tube in thick, graphic brush strokes. Let’s take a look at how to get that energy on your art journal pages.

Because I’m not really a painter, I don’t know how to paint figures or apples or trees…but I can use brushstrokes as part of my expression.  When you want your brushstrokes to show movement, you have to get your whole arm moving as you apply paint to the page. Try this quick and simple circle flower exercise.

1. Choose 3 shades of a single color of acrylic paint,  and gesso a page in preparation.

2. Using the lightest color, draw some large, flowing circles onto your page. Work quickly and don’t think about it…just do it! Make the circles loose and flowing, and leave some visual space in the middle.  Apply the paint thickly and don’t smooth it out. Let the bumps and ridges be.

3. Take the next couple of darker colors and add a few more brushstroke circles over your lighter circles. [insert dina02.jpg]

4. Repeat the brushstrokes again with the darkest color.

5. Fill the center of the flowers with a few quick strokes of a second color.

6. Add a second shade or color in the center of the flowers, van Gogh style.

7. Add leaves around the flowers with two or three shades of green. Paint them loosely and quickly…no over-thinking!

I used this technique in my art journal—the effect is slightly different because of the texture of the watercolor paper. And in my journal, I don’t know if they’re necessarily flowers…but they are free-flowing circles, or wheels, or suns, or whatever interpretation you want to apply. The inspiration and feeling is definitely van Gogh!

What is Art Journaling?

by Leonardo DaVinci

Simply put, an art journal is a journal in which you combine art and words to express yourself. That’s it. It’s not complex, and there really aren’t any rules for art journaling. It’s all about self-expression.

Art journaling has a long-standing artistic tradition. Artists through the centuries have kept notebooks in which they sketched, practiced, experimented, and recorded themselves. Vincent vanGogh kept notebooks (and he used moleskins!). Picasso and DaVinci were two other prolific sketchbook keepers. You are in good company! If you feel like exploring famous and not-so-famous artists’ sketchbooks, go to Artists’ Sketchbooks Online.

You might be thinking, I’m not an artist! Well, I beg to differ. You are an artist, and you can create an art journal without drawing or sketching. In fact, I’m lousy at drawing, so I use collage techniques to express myself. Stamp images, vintage photographs and magazine images make up for the fact I can’t draw.

by Dina Wakley

Why Keep an Art Journal?

I sometimes read comments from people who don’t “get” art journaling. They wonder why people would take a blank book and fill it with images and words. I can’t answer for anyone else, but I feel compelled (creatively and emotionally) to art journal. It nurtures my soul–which sounds “new agey” and abstract, but it’s true.

I’ve kept a regular written journal since I was 9 years old (in fact, I still do). I’m a big believer in the value of keeping a journal. I have 18 volumes on my shelf. Sometimes I would sketch or draw in those journals. I’ve always been drawn to art and, eventually, when I was in my early 30s, I couldn’t keep the art suppressed any longer. I started keeping a visual journal in addition to my regular journal, and it fills a need I have for expression and creativity when words alone just don’t cut it. Plus, it’s just plain old fun.

I think artists (and that means you) all have different reasons for keeping journals. The reasons are very personal and individual, and could include:

• To experiment with art techniques & ideas.
• To get your thoughts & feelings out on paper in a creative way.
• To document your life, your being.
• To enjoy the process of creating.

Think about why you are going to start creating an art journal. And honestly, you don’t have to have any other reason than, “I want to.”

Silencing the Inner Critic

by Dina Wakley

I know how we are when it comes to artistic things. We think we’re not very good. We think we can’t do it. We think everyone else is better than we are.

I want you to check your inner critic at the door for this class. Don’t allow it to give you any doubts about what you’re doing and creating. I want you to chant with me, “There are no mistakes in art journaling. There are no mistakes in art journaling.”

So, there’ll be no self-defeating behavior, and no comparing. Sound good?

Here are 7 links to get you started exploring the world of art journaling.