Art Journaling Without Rules
An Art Journal Prompt That Focuses on Anything But Straight Lines
© Jennifer Hollowell
Oct 29, 2007
Create art journal pages that incorporate both text and mixed media art without conforming to ruled pages and text boxes.
This prompt incorporates text and mixed-media art in art journals that will help artists break free from the conformity of the ruled page. When creating these pages, some artists still like writing on a line. The only rule pertaining to that is: don't draw a straight line. No rulers!
Materials needed:
art journalwatercolor or acrylic paintpaintbrushes or sponge brushessmall containers of watersharpiesclip art or magazine clippingsused postagerubber stampsink padembellishments (such as buttons, eyelets, brads, and so on)Step one: paint over the page spread using semi-dark colors like brown, gray, purple, blue or brown. Don't paint the pages into a solid color. Create blotted areas and allow some of the page to show through. Allow for streaking, dripping and drops to show. Set aside to dry completely.Step two: Once the pages have dried completely, add the clip art (or magazine clippings) and used postage, and then layer rubber-stamped images over them. Don't overwhelm the pages with these images, however, because you'll need to leave room for writing. Set aside to dry completely once again.Step three: Add text using the sharpies (preferably a black fine tipped sharpie). This is where the optional lines come in, but remember not to use a ruler. Write your text with interesting handwriting, messy handwriting or calligraphy. Write about what's on your mind, what's interesting about the page spread, a to-do list, a list of goals, a gratitude list and so on. Write as small or as large as you'd like.Step four: Using the sharpies again, doodle around the edges of some of the writing, some of the clip art and around the borders of the pages. Be whimsical with these doodles to add extra interest and movement in the page spread. This will further allow your personality to show through the art journal pages.Step five: Layer the embellishments (buttons, beads, brads, eyelets and so on) to add some dimension and sparkle to the pages. These embellishments will add bulk to the pages, so work sparingly if the bulk of the book is cumbersome and undesirable.Don't limit yourself to just one page spread while working through this art journal prompt. Continue adding pages to your art journal until all your thoughts are expressed about a particular issue (or whatever else) through both mixed media art and writing. Be sure to spend time with the materials chosen for this art journal prompt ahead of time so that they accurately convey the feeling or message being told on these pages.
The copyright of the article
Art Journaling Without Rules in
Mixed Media Arts is owned by
Jennifer Hollowell. Permission to republish
Art Journaling Without Rules in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
