Art Journal to Aid Understanding
Use This Art Project to Build Your Sense of Personal Understanding
Do you feel you are an understanding person? Do you feel people understand you well or not well enough? Explore these thoughts in your art journal.
When was the last time you were in a situation where you nothing more to do other than listen and understand? When was the last time you were in a situation where you just needed someone to listen and understand? For this art journal prompt, picking apart what the definition [to you] of understanding is.
For this mixed media art journal prompt, you will need the following materials:
- Art journal
- Heavy-duty glue stick
- Pieces of filler paper
- Letter sized envelopes
- Ballpoint pen
- Distress ink (walnut brown)
- Acrylic paint (earth tones)
- Paintbrushes
- Small containers of water
- Ultra-fine black sharpie
- Collage items
Follow these instructions to complete this mixed media art journal prompt:
- Open your art journal to the first blank page spread. Do a very light brown color wash over both sides of the page spread and allow to dry completely. Add another layer of yellow paint very lightly over the brown. Allow this layer to dry completely, as well. (Speed drying time through use of a heat gun or hair dryer.)
- While the page spread is drying, take out three pieces of filler paper. On one piece, write out a situation where you needed someone to understand you. On the next, write out a situation where you needed to provide understanding to someone else. On the last, write out where you think misunderstandings are happening in your life. How would you solve these misunderstandings? Fold each piece of paper, place them into the letter-sized envelopes, and set them aside.
- Collage over the painted journal spread any way you like. Do not censor yourself, and do not limit yourself to themes of understanding. Use distress ink on the corners and edges of the pages once they are complete. Add additional painted elements, as well.
- Add distress ink and paint the envelopes and adhere them to the pages so the flaps can be opened. Be sure not to adhere them until they have dried completely. Avoid ripples by using less water in your acrylic mix.
- Using the ultra-fine black sharpie, use interesting and decorative handwriting to write positive affirmations throughout the page spread. This writing can also include the definition of the word understanding, as well as quotations that are themed toward understanding.
Repeat this journal prompt as often as needed to accurately convey your feelings and your personal definition of the word understanding. Visit these page spreads often, particularly if there are misunderstandings that need to be resolved. If they have not been resolved, create additional journal spreads outlining how you would resolve them.
