It is easy to fall into a rut with art journals whereby mixed media artists tend to feel constrained or limited by the pages in front of them. Their own inner critic or a misunderstanding of the uses for an art journal could bring on these constraints. This art journal prompt incorporates scrapbook and art journal techniques in order to preserve holiday memories.
Materials:
- Art journal
- Glue sticks
- Glitter gel pens
- Watercolor paints
- Small containers of water
- Playing cards (or blank ATC template)
- Christmas themed scrapbook embellishments
- Christmas themed decorative papers (or leftover wrapping paper scraps)
- Black ultra-fine sharpie
- Paint or sponge brushes
- Waxed paper
Instructions:
- Open your art journal to the first blank page spread, and place a piece of waxed paper behind each page in the spread.
- Create a color wash using the watercolor paint in the same colors you used to decorate your home for the holidays. Consider working in a gradated pattern using darker colors along the edges and lighter in the middle. Allow the paint to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
- Using the playing card as a template, create at least five tracings throughout both sides of the page spread using the black ultra-fine sharpie. Add journal entries about your holiday memories using the ultra-fine black sharpie, glitter gel pens, or both.
- Using the Christmas themed paper and embellishments, decorate the rest of the page spread using the glue stick. If items are too heavy to stick with a glue stick, use a heavy-duty craft glue. Use the glitter gel pens to add more embellishments, and drawings.
- Note: Depending on how large the art journal is you are working in, it may be necessary to add the Christmas themed paper or recycled wrapping paper to the page spread first. Then, once you have done that, layer the tracings of the playing card or blank ATC template over the paper.
Variations:
- Use acrylic paints rather than watercolor for a bolder appearance.
- Add Christmas carols to the text areas, or Christmas themed quotations.
- Incorporate Christmas cards, or miniature handmade Christmas cards.
- Add mini-envelopes containing small papers with journal entries.
Let your imagination take over with this project. If you have old pictures from holidays passed, scan them into your computer and create sepia toned reproductions to print out and add to your art journal pages. Consider working on this with friends and family members to further enhance the creative experience and process. Continue repeating this art journal prompt on numerous pages in your art journal until you have expressed all your thoughts and memories about the past holiday.
