Art Journal Your Unsent Letters
Letter Writing in Mixed-Media Art Journal Projects
Touching on unsent letters through use of mixed-media art has come up in the past, and it will continue to be a topic in the future. Let's mix art and letter-writing!
The individual who is doing the writing is the one who defines an "unsent letter". For example, if the writer would like to speak to someone they are angry with and cannot do so, an unsent letter would help them purge the feeling. Or, if a person has longed to share a feeling with someone and has been unable to do so, an unsent letter might bring him or her closer to that reality. How these unsent letters are used (or not used) is also an individual decision. However, in this case, they will be used in an art journal.
For this mixed media art journal prompt, you will need the following materials:
- Art journal
- Waxed paper
- Watercolor or acrylic paint
- Sponge or paintbrushes
- Small containers of water
- Heavy-duty glue stick
- Blue or black ballpoint pen
- Pieces of paper and corresponding envelopes for each letter
- Black sharpie
- Mail themed rubber stamps
- Black or brown inkpad
- Mail themed embellishments
Follow these simple instructions to complete this mixed media art journal prompt:
- Open your art journal to the first blank page spread. Place a piece of waxed paper beneath each page in the spread to protect the rest of the pages in the book.
- Create a bold color wash across both sides of the page spread. Cover as much of the page with color as possible, though is does not have to be one solid color. Create swirls, patterns, blobs, or whatever else the brush decides to do. Allow to dry completely.
- While the page spread dries, take out your paper and envelopes. Designate each set to one person, or one issue. Write the unsent letters, and then place them inside the envelopes. Do not seal them shut.
- Distress the edges of the envelope using the brown or black inkpad. Carefully set the envelopes aside to dry so they do not smudge.
- Add mail themed rubber stamped images to the page spread. Add more paint to embellish the stamped images. Allow to dry completely. Speed drying time through use of a heat gun or hair dryer.
- Affix the envelopes (allowing the flap to be opened) to the page spread in a random fashion. Be sure the envelopes are securely fastened to the page to prevent items falling off, as well as corners curling.
- Embellish the page spread, including layers over the envelopes, with the mail themed items and rubber stamps. Add more color to the page spread, as well as to the envelopes.
That is all there is to completing this mixed-media art journal prompt. This art journal prompt is not meant to solve problems completely, or act as a single therapeutic method. However, it is hoped these unsent letters would bring the writer that much closer to a solution or a resolved feeling. Repeat this art journal prompt as often as needed to bring closure to a situation, or bring you a step closer.
