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Blending Art & Writing In Your Intuitive Art Journal

04.05.2018 by Amy Johnson Maricle // 4 Comments

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Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

I’ve been thinking about how to give you some of the goodies that I’ve been developing for my Diving Deep: Intuitive Art Journaling class, and I’ve got a sweet idea. The PDF that I’m developing for the class is THOROUGH. I love being able to develop solid and inspiring resources for you. I know that not everyone learns the same way, and I’ve realized how helpful a written guide is. With that in mind, I wanted to share some of the lessons about blending art & writing in your intuitive art journal. I think blending art and writing doesn’t come naturally to all of us, but can be so cathartic and beautiful in art journal pages.

So my gift to you today is an excerpt from the Diving Deep class PDF. I hope you enjoy these techniques and share them on social media with #mindfulartstudio so we can all inspire each other!

Using Text in Your Art Journal 

The text on your page is not just writing, it’s a part of the art piece. Of course, you can always leave things more loose, letting them evolve naturally. I do this often as well. It’s important to make space in your journal for the ugly stuff too.

Sometimes I NEED to just let go of the aesthetics and do what feels good, regardless of how it looks. Other times, it’s a blend of following intuition and thinking about it as “art.” What helps me decide what I need that day is to tune into my body before I begin to create, and set an intention to honor my needs in the moment.

Having said that, let’s talk about using writing as a part of your artistic composition on the page for those times when you want to blend your intuition with aesthetics. You want your writing to look like a natural part of the piece, not something you slapped on top of it as an afterthought.

I use writing in several different ways. Try them all, and then experiment with your own ways as well:

  • Use writing to create a textured background.

I frequently write on a blank journal page and then draw or paint over it, covering some or all of my words. The first image with the triangles shows writing with triangles drawn over, and then a layer of smoky gesso, and then collage. The second image shows writing, smoky layers of high flow acrylic paint, collage, and gel pen for the branching lines. I love how layering art techniques in this way allows me to transform my feelings on the page. I can go from feeling stressed and confused, or even icky, to relaxed – like I have a handle on things. Sometimes the symbols that emerge – like with the fish and bird in these two pictures, have powerful metaphors that help calm my feelings.

Blending Art & Writing In Your Intuitive Art Journal

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  • Use text partially hidden in the imagery.

The image on the left has writing in the white “smoke” that surrounds the figure. It doesn’t jump off the page, but rather is a secret to be discovered. I like this element of mystery and how it matches the feel of the piece. The blue piece on the right uses the writing almost as part of the line work on the page. It’s hard to read in many spots. That suited me well in this piece, as I didn’t want others to easily read it.  

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  • Use text as a supporting element to the focus imagery.

I like to create images and colors on the page without a plan, see what comes up, and write a few phrases that encapsulate the thoughts and feelings that emerge.   I find this process very cathartic.

Incorporating text into your art

Expressive art pages, intuitive art

 

  • Use writing as the central focus of the page.

With this, you want to be sure that your writing is placed in a way that marries well with the imagery on your page. It can’t ignore the imagery, the colors, and the rest of the piece, but needs to play nice with it.

using writing and art together in art journal

writing and art in art journal

 

I can’t wait to see what you create with these ideas. I hope you dive deep into your intuitive process. And if you are longing to dive even DEEPER, we have just 5 spots left in our live class, Diving Deep: Intuitive Art Journaling and we would love for you to join us. You can learn more here.

Creatively Yours,

Amy

Categories // Art Tutorials Tags // art journaling ideas, art journaling prompts, art journaling prompts for anxiety, combining writing and art in an art journal, how to start an art journal, writing in your art journal

What Your Art and Your Coffee Have in Common

01.31.2018 by Amy Johnson Maricle // 11 Comments

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Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

I’ve been thinking a lot about what empowers us to create. It’s slightly different for each of us, but one thing that artists of all kinds consistently talk about is trusting the process. What exactly does that mean?

When you first start making art, it’s a bit like feeling around in dark. You aren’t sure where you are going, and it can feel uncomfortable, but hopefully you keep pushing on because you have to get where you are going. The problem is that sometimes staying present with the unknown can seem overwhelming and people give up before they’ve even begun.

This leads me to my point about the similarities between art and coffee. One thing I know about a good art process is that it’s a lot like a delicious cup of coffee: it needs time to percolate. Developing your own art process can’t be rushed. When’s the last time you threw some coffee grounds in your mug and chugged it down? (Are you envisioning the coughing fit sending coffee grounds flying through the air like I am?) Or when have you put a scoop of coffee beans in your cup and then poured cold water over it? You would never expect this to make coffee.

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Take time to get to know your art process. Let it be like a delicious cup of joe, something you savor throughout the process as you grind the beans, fill the coffee pot with ground coffee and water, wait for it to brew, and then add in the accompaniments that please you most. When you first started drinking coffee, you had to experiment to see if you liked your coffee black, or with sugar, cream, or milk, or if you preferred a skinny grande latte double shot with single pump of vanilla. (Whoa, I think I’d be vibrating all day if I drank that!) But unlike hitting the drive through of your local Starbucks for your am cuppa, there are no short cuts with your art.

There’s a ritual to our morning coffee, and your art becomes much richer when you decide to create the same kind of ritual and process around it. To do this, you have to make your art a priority. What would you be willing to let go of in order to have more creative time in your life?

I recently listened to Elizabeth Gilbert’s Magic Lessons podcast interview with writer Glennon Doyle. She said that she realized if she wanted time to write, she needed to give up her beloved night time tv. Now she puts the kids to bed, and hits the sack at 9pm so that she can rise at 4, go to her closet desk, and write uninterrupted for a couple of hours. It’s her time, her creativity, and her self-care.  Let go of tv for a week, get off the internet and social media in the mornings, or at night and make art instead. Think about where you have mindless time and reclaim it for art. If you need more help, I created this post on making time for art.

Once you sit down to create, prioritize experimenting, letting loose, and just creating for the joy of creating. Let go of the need to produce. You deserve time that is just for you to play with beautiful colors, textures, and shapes.

Let your art be more about the process than it is about the product. Focus on the joy of creating for creation's sake. #maketimeforart Click To Tweet

 

A Key Element in My Art Process: Percolation

So here’s a little peek into my art process. One of the most important elements of my art process is percolation. (Yes, I do love coffee: it’s a skim latte, no sugar, no flavors. How do you take yours?) Anyway, I love to work on several art pieces at once and let them percolate. I have several percolation stations around my studio. Here’s one on top of my supply dresser.

 

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Or sometimes I’ll put high flow acrylic paint on several pieces at once, letting my process be loose and playful, and then when they are dry, I have several to choose from. In the percolation station below, you can see that I’ve also cut up a piece with alcohol ink on Yupo paper. I’ve used these circles and rings as collage elements on other pieces. I teach my process with high flow acrylics and circles in my class Fluid Art. You can learn more about Fluid Art here, or check out a gallery of gorgeous student work here.

 

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Letting My Art Percolate

I spent all day working on the animal print piece. The photo below shows how it looked when I stopped working before dinner. In between cooking, I kept it propped up on the kitchen table. I looking at it several times from a distance as I chopped and stirred, trying to decide what the upper right corner needed; I knew it felt too busy. After dinner, I kept it on my desk so that when I walked by, I would see it. This is a great way to let the image percolate in your unconscious.

 

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Later that night, I realized that that corner needed to get a bit darker. After adding a wash with the Nickel Azo Gold, it felt just right. Complete. What I love about my process is that I don’t get too hung up on any one piece; I have multiple things I am creating, and I always have something in process, inviting me in.  Another artist recently put it this way: working on various pieces at once is like leaving a present for your future self so you don’t have to start with a blank page. That’s so sweet, isn’t it?

 

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How do you take your coffee? What are you learning about your art process? I’d love to hear about it!

Creatively Yours,

Amy

 

 

 

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means that if you choose to click and purchase something, at no extra cost to you, you will support the work of Mindful Art Studio to empower the artist in everyone.

 

 

 

Categories // Art Tutorials, Creative Self-Care Tags // art rituals, creative anxiety, how to be a better artist, how to be a better painter, how to get inspired to make art, how to overcome creative block, how to paint with high flow acrylics, intuitive painting, painting ideas for adults

Intuitive Painting Techniques

12.21.2017 by Amy Johnson Maricle // 6 Comments

intuitive painting tutorial, intuitive painting techniques, how to paint intuitively, intuitive art journaling

 

Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

The last days of the year are a time for most of us to take a deep breath and sink deeply into the couch after the holiday craziness. It’s also a great time to do some introspective art. Rather than endlessly scrolling through social media or watching Harry Potter for the tenth time, (who, me?) why not make some time for yourself and your art practice by using these intuitive painting techniques?

I had a ton of fun developing these pages and I can’t wait to see what you create. I’ve included a list of tips and supplies below, but first here’s your tutorial!

 

 

Intuitive Painting Tips:

  • Intuitive painting is an invitation to be non-judgmentally present with yourself. See what shows up on the page and follow it. Don’t be perfect, be open.
  • Stand back and let the painting “speak” to you: Pick up your journal and stand it up. Take several steps back and consider it from a distance.
  • Trust your imagination. When you think – “Oh, this reminds me of,” or, “It’s sort of like” let that shape the direction of the art piece.
  • Work on more than one painting at a time. This will help keep you from overdoing or forcing your art pieces in a particular direction.
  • Turn your work and create from different angles.
  • Break some art rules. Write on your painting or use art supplies the “wrong” way.
  • Mix and match different elements of your art practice: Sew on journal pages, stamp on painted pages, or dance while you paint. It will make your work more fresh and more you.
  • Take your time. Give yourself and your work the respect it deserves and let the intuitive painting narratives unravel slowly. It might be a narrative about a character, or simply about color. Be open to whatever offers itself to you. Our art is after all, a gift.
  • If you’d like to learn more about working this way, check out my class, Fluid Art.

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Supplies I Used for this Intuitive Painting Session:

High Flow Acrylic Paints:

Titanium White

Carbon Black

Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold

Burnt Sienna

 

Brushes: Artist Loft Synthetic Brushes

 

Journals:

Moleskine Art Plus Sketchbook Large

Strathmore Watercolor Journal

 

Pens:

Posca pen in white, extra fine tip in White

Sakura Gelly Roll in white

 

Adhesive: Liquitex Matte Gel Medium

 

I’d love to hear about your intuitive painting experiences in the comments.

Creatively Yours,

Amy

 

 

*Most of the links are affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, if you choose to click and purchase something, you’ll support the work of Mindful Art Studio at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Categories // Art Tutorials, Mindfulness Tags // art journaling ideas, art journaling prompt, art journaling tutorial, art journaling video, how to paint mindfully, intuitive art journaling, intuitive painting ideas, intuitive painting tutorial, mindful art techniques

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Hi, I'm Amy! I'm here to empower your inner artist to use art for self-expression and de-stressin! Make art, feel better.

amy@mindfulartstudio.com

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Not Art Therapy: This information is not a substitute for professional psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content provided by Amy Maricle is intended for general information purposes only. Never disregard professional medical or psychological advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you find here. The art information and tutorials found here may be relaxing or healing, as many art activities can be, but they are not art therapy.  Affiliate Links: Mindful Art Studio accepts some paid advertising banners and contextual affiliate links. An affiliate link means that I receive commission on sales of the products that are linked to in my posts if you click on them from my site. I promote products, books, and services I really trust and believe in. Any affiliate links are clearly marked.

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