Art Journal Flip Through: March 2017

art journal tour, moleskine sketchbook tour

Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

I just love getting a little tour of other people’s journals and sketchbooks, so I thought you like to see an art journal flip through with some of my latest work. I hope that you find some bits of inspiration for your own art journal pages. I’ve included a bunch of useful links on stamp cutting, supplies, and keeping an art journal if you are curious. You’ll find it all just below the video.

Art Journal Flip Through

Video Notes

Supplies:

I’m using a Moleskine 3.5 x 5.5 journal. I find working small helps me complete more pages and therefore feel more satisfied with my work. Also, while the Moleskine journals are comparatively expensive, I love the weight of these pages – they really hold up, even with wet paint and gluing.

I use Sakura Gelly Roll Gel pens for making patterns over a colorful background. I used a white gel pen and a Micron pens for the star pattern on the pink journal spread.

I’ve used Dick Blick matte acrylic paint for the kelp painting, and Golden high flow acrylic for the shiny black background on the “dots” page, as well as the washy background on the Ginko leaf page.

Finally, I used a Moo Carve block to create the Ginko leaf stamp.

Keeping an Art Journal

This tutorial will help get you started with some fun and simple doodling techniques similar to the ones I’ve used in this journal.

Of course if you have no idea where to start, you could always start with my e-book, Starting Your Art Journal. It’s simple and fun for only $19. And if you want to learn to create with those intense, beautiful high flow acrylic paints, check out my class, Fluid Art. I put them into little handmade journals and it’s so much fun. I teach you how to do it all.

Block Printing and Stamp Cutting

I used a Moo Carve block and a set of Pfeil cutting tools for the Ginko leaf print. I’m still getting to know the Pfeil lino cut tools, but already I can achieve much more detailed lines than I was able to get with the Speedball lino cutters. I’m pleased with these results and eager to keep practicing. If you are interested in learning more about really good stamp/ block cutting, you might check out two artists I just love, Viktoria Astrom, who does gorgeous, whimsical animals, and Aftyn Shah at Rise and Wander, who does amazingly detailed outdoor scenes. She also has great tutorials and supply lists for beginners. Finally, I’ve just discovered The Diggingest Girl, and watch out Emily Louise Howard, will make you swoon with her woman-powered prints!

I hope you enjoyed my art journal flip through and hearing a bit about what supplies and artists get me inspired. Drop into the comments and let me know what is inspiring your journal pages these days. And, if you’ve seen something you love here, please share it with a friend.

[bctt tweet=”It’s fun to flip through someone else’s art journal for inspiration. Here’s a peek at mine #artjournaling” username=”amymaricle”]

Creatively Yours,

Amy

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, if you choose to click and purchase something, you’ll be supporting the work of Mindful Art Studio to empower the artist in all of us. Thank you!

12 Comments

Margaret Osborne on March 15, 2017 at 6:14 am

Thanks, Amy for sharing your work and inspiration in such a generous way; I always find much encouragement, pleasure and inspiration in your posts, videos and e-lessons. I’m a relative new comer to the practise of art journaling and I find it such a satisfying means of mindful self care. Thank you.
Reply
- Amy Johnson Maricle on March 15, 2017 at 7:48 am
  
  Hi Margaret:
  
  I am so thrilled to hear that you are finding the information and tutorials at Mindful Art Studio helpful and inspiring. If there’s anything you’d like to see more of, I’d be happy to hear.
  
  Creatively Yours,
  Amy
  Reply
Jeanette Jones on March 15, 2017 at 6:59 am

Thank you for sharing your video. It was inspiring.
Do you gesso the moleskin pages when you are going to apply acrylic paint?
And we’re the cutting tools your birthday gift?
Reply
- Amy Johnson Maricle on March 15, 2017 at 7:44 am
  
  Hi Jeanette!
  
  I’m so glad you enjoyed the video! No, I almost never gesso pages, unless I want some particular effect. I find the Moleskine holds up really well for my purposes, anyway. And, yes, the Pfeil cutting tools were a wonderful bday gift. What’s happening in your journal?
  
  Cheers,
  Amy
  Reply
Jenny Malone on March 15, 2017 at 11:59 am

Loads of inspiration for me, thank you Amy. I realised that I probably over complicate some of my ideas and render myself blocked in the application. Some of your pages are so pretty and interesting with pleasing colours and repetition in a shape. I will try and simplify my plans and produce more. I expect some of what you achieved are more complex whilst others can be simplified to create such effects. Thanks again for sharing 🎨🖍🙂
Reply
- Amy Johnson Maricle on March 15, 2017 at 2:51 pm
  
  Hi Jenny!
  
  I just love what you have to say about not over-complicating things. My personal opinion (and taste) is to not make journal pages overloaded or too busy. I think most of the time when folks are unhappy with the pages, what my artistic sensibility sees is too much going on. That said, there are other wonderful artists I admire who would disagree, but I can only share my own vision. 🙂 The benefit of working this way is it’s simpler, more clear, more fun. 🙂 I agree, even when I get complicated, I think going simple is a great place to start. Some of my pages have just a few touches and that’s it. Happy creating Jenny!
  
  🙂 Amy
  Reply
  - Jenny Malone on March 15, 2017 at 4:29 pm
    
    Exactly. As you say, start with a simple vision and if it organically grows that’s fine but if not, best not to force it and let it be. Thanks Amy. Great advice as always
    Reply
    - Amy Johnson Maricle on March 15, 2017 at 4:42 pm
      
      I’m so glad it’s helpful Jenny!
      Reply
Michelle on March 15, 2017 at 12:57 pm

Beautiful and inspiring work Amy. Love seeing the many different ways you interpret a shape (like the Ginko leaf) to create a journal with pages that are all unique works of art, yet the whole journal is cohesive. Just beautiful. I enjoyed the artist links also.
Thanks,
Michelle W.
Also enrolled in Wanderlust 2017
Reply
- Amy Johnson Maricle on March 15, 2017 at 2:53 pm
  
  HI Michelle:
  
  Oh how great that you are in Wanderlust! I’ll be popping in with my lesson in the summer. 🙂 Thank you for your thoughtful words about the journal and how it’s varied yet cohesive – that’s good to know! 😉 And I’m thrilled you enjoyed seeing the other artists’ work. They are BEYOND inspiring.
  
  Cheers,
  
  Amy
  Reply
Anja Meurer on March 18, 2017 at 4:05 pm

Thank you for the glimpse into your art journal, Amy. Your work is so aesthetic and looking at these pages makes me happy! The dot clouds at 1:09 complemented by the watercolour snippets are my favourite! And yes, i also find it very satisfying to complete many pages!
Reply
- Amy Johnson Maricle on March 19, 2017 at 7:49 am
  
  Hi Anja:
  
  There’s definite overlap between our work and it’s been SO SO FUN watching your work evolve on our Facebook group. I also want to thank you for your beautiful description of that work as “dot clouds.” It goes along with the sort of thing I’m playing with, outer space type themes, but I love the descriptor. Thank you! I never cease to be surprised at all the amazing things you can do just with dots and simple patterns. Thanks again so much for taking the time to watch and comment here, I really do appreciate it and am so THRILLED that you find inspiration here.
  Creatively Yours,
  Amy
  Reply

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