Junk Mail Journal

As many of you know, this past week I was in Portland at the ArtforAll 2012 Event, sponsored by atcsforall.com. I was very involved in the planning process, coordinated the workshops and helped make sure things went smoothly during the event.

Along with teaching two classes, I also took a couple of journaling classes from the amazing Amy Sargent. Her focus was that journals don’t need to be expensive!

One of the key thoughts that stayed with me was that my personal journal is for ME… it doesn’t have to be perfect. It can end up ugly, and it doesn’t matter. It’s just for me. I loved that! Very freeing!

Her first class was how to create a journal from materials you already have on hand. What better way to recycle/re-purpose things?

I constructed two quick journals in this class; one from old post cards, local art announcements, junk mail, paint chips, envelopes and book rings.

The other used the cup wrap I had on my to-go tea cup from breakfast, and paper from the “free” table, where folks put assorted supplies and ephemera to share with other artists. (One person’s junk is another’s treasure…)

Amy’s second class had us working on a journal page, using some of the ideas she gave us. 

One of the ways she starts a page is to glue random scraps of paper and pictures onto the page, and then cover with a light coat of cheap acrylic paint as the “gesso”. She told us the “dollar or less” paints have a high chalk content, dries more quickly than gesso, and is very inexpensive to use. Great for traveling! So that’s how I started. Torn pages and a layer of cream paint. 

I actually completed the page below in class using materials I gleaned from the “free” table, or that were shared by friends during the class. Amy also  suggested that if writing over the whole page is daunting, make a circle and just write in that. *light bulb* I can do that!

Amy’s classes really inspired me. Quick, easy and inexpensive journals! I can so do that! Funny how sometimes it just takes a new perspective to give you a jump start.

While it’s not a “painting”, I did paint in my new junk mail journal this week, and am linking to Paint Party Friday, hosted by Eva and Kristin. I urge you to check out what the other PPF artists have created this week!