Art Journals For Challenges
How to Use Them For Art-a-Day Challenges
Art-a-day challenges are sprinkled all over the Internet as a way for artists to get into the habit of daily art making. How does an art journal fit in?
Getting into the habit of creating art on a daily basis is a goal for many artists, both novice and professional. It’s seems difficult to break out of comfort zones, understand how to let go of guilt and schedule in the time. This daily creative time is extremely important for all artists, not just those interested in mixed media art. How does an art journal fit into art a day challenges?
- Organization: many artists like to do what’s called prep work before the challenge begins. If this challenge lasts a month, they’ll make notes about what they’re plans on during each of those days. It could be anything from creating a small collage each day to adding a mixed media element to an assemblage painting daily. It differs from artist to artist, as does their need for organization. Break up the art journal into sections (either daily or weekly; it all depends on what’s suitable for the projects) and mark them with page flags or whatever else is desirable. Within each section, make a mess! Map out the goals for that project using text, images, collage work and other experiments. Organize each idea for each project within each section of the art journal.
- Pure Experimentation: there are some artists who prefer to do all of their art-a-day challenge work on separate, stand-alone, pieces. This is an excellent goal, but still one that needs prep work. By sketching out the experiments through drawings, text entries and photography, the artist will have a better vision and understanding of what will happen on each day of the challenge.
- Materials Lists: not only do artist have to think about what they’ll be doing during the challenge, they have to prepare for what they’ll need. If materials are lacking, they need to know this ahead of time. During the challenge, it’s going to be difficult finding time to create. The last thing an artist needs to do is spend that time gathering supplies outside their studios or work areas. Make lists of each item needed to complete the project and shop ahead if necessary.
- Progress Notes: artists love that sense of accomplishment, like everyone else. Make notes of accomplishments through text entries, creating small pieces of art replicating what was accomplished, photographing the work in progress or collaging how the work in progress.
Keep the creativity flowing and your art-a-day projects organized through use of an art journal!
The copyright of the article Art Journals For Challenges in Mixed Media Arts is owned by Jennifer Hollowell. Permission to republish Art Journals For Challenges in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
