Art Journal to Heal Anger

A Prompt to Help With Anger Management Through Artwork

© Jennifer Hollowell

No one likes feeling angry, nor do they like holding on to unresolved anger. Use your art journal as a tool to manage anger issues.

Handling anger, dealing with anger, and managing unresolved anger issues is difficult for even the strongest person. There are many ways to handle these issues, but they are often left alone in hopes they will resolve themselves. This is neither healthy nor productive for you or the people touching your life.

For this art journal prompt, the idea is to use your art journal as a tool to help you through anger. These could be current anger issues, unresolved anger, or anger you are unsure how to deal with. This art journal prompt is not meant to take the place of one-on-one help, but rather act as a step toward that direction.

You will need the following materials for this art journal prompt:

Follow these simple steps to complete this art journal prompt:

  1. Open your art journal to the first blank page spread. Think about everything that is making you angry in your life. Write it all out using the ballpoint pen on both sides of the page spread. Do not worry about how messy or neat your writing is, or about grammar. Fill the pages with every detail that comes to mind as they come. Do not worry about how organized your thoughts are.
  2. Add the waxed paper to the backside of each page in the spread. Using the black acrylic paint, cover over both sides of the page spread. Make sure none of the text is showing when you are finished. It may be necessary to use more than one coat of paint.
  3. While the pages are drying, pull out two pieces of watercolor paper. Tear along the edges so the pieces are trimmed down enough to allow a one inch black border to show around the edge of each page spread in the art journal. Wash over each piece of watercolor paper with a light color of your choice and allow the paint to dry completely. (Speed the drying process with a heat gun or hair dryer.)
  4. Using the watercolor pencils, doodle and draw all over both pieces of watercolor paper. Be as random as possible with these drawings. Have fun! Take out the fine tipped paintbrush and blend the colors with water. Allow to dry completely.
  5. Add the watercolor papers to the black page spread using decoupage or gel medium. Be sure the entire piece of paper is covered so the edges do not curl up. Use the edge of a brush to burnish down edges and remove all puckers and bubbles in the paper.
  6. Take out the ballpoint pen once again and write down a positive affirmation for each angry thought that came to mind in the beginning of this art journal prompt. If you cannot remember every thought that was blacked out, do not worry about that.

That is all there is to this art journal prompt. Repeat this art journal prompt on as many page spreads as needed to express all your thoughts completely. Do not censor yourself, do not worry if the pages are pretty or ugly, and do not worry about how these pages may be perceived if they are viewed. This work is for you.


The copyright of the article Art Journal to Heal Anger in Art Journals is owned by Jennifer Hollowell. Permission to republish Art Journal to Heal Anger must be granted by the author in writing.



Comments
Mar 26, 2008 4:27 AM
Jennifer Hollowell :
If you have completed this art journal prompt, or have plans to work on this art journal prompt listed in your blog, feel free to post a link to your blog here. I'm interested in seeing your work or reading about your plans to do so!
Mar 28, 2008 12:21 PM
Jo Murphy :
Hi Jennifer,
I will take it in and offer the idea to the women in prison on Tuesday.
I am not allowed to show the work that the prisoners do - but I will do the exercise with the women and show you my own example.

Seems like a great idea,
Jo
Mar 29, 2008 6:15 AM
Jennifer Hollowell :
What a wonderful idea, Jo! If the women have any specific ideas for art journaling that they would like to see an article about, feel free to let me know and I'll write it up. I'm very in favor for supporting creative minds, and helping those who are using art as therapy. :-) Thank you for commenting!
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