What is art journaling?
Have you ever kept a personal diary or journal? Or a scrapbook? Or put together a photo album? Or doodled in your planner? If the answer to any of these is ‘yes’, then you have already tried a version of art journaling!
At its most simplest, an art journal is a visual diary, a place to express yourself creatively. But it can become much more than that.
I always like to know a little of the history of my interests, so here is a brief history of art journaling:
Commonplace books were used from the 1400s on by scholars to keep track of the useful and interesting things they discovered. This could be a book of quotes copied from reading, or from conversations, poetry both by the owner of the commonplace book or by others, doodles and sketches, and general notes.
Of course in those times the materials used in commonplace books were limited to pen and ink, and maybe watercolour. Avid journallers, such Samuel Pepys, included just about everything in their books, and went so far as to have them all neatly bound to match.
By the 1700s, more and more people were keeping journals, not just scholars but anyone who could read and write and had a mind to do so. Wealthier families considered the arts to be an important part of education, and so many aristocratic young people kept sketchbooks combined with their journals. Gradually, printed material became more readily available, and people began to add cut out pictures and news articles to their journals. With the advent of photography in the 1800s, decorating photo albums became a pleasant pasttime.
Today, art journals are usually a way to try out ideas and materials, and can also be a document of the life and memories of the maker. They may be images only, or contain quotes, poetry, song lyrics, single words, or lists. Some makers like to work to a theme, some see it as a place to put anything and everything. For some it is part of a wider art practise, whilst others keep all their art-making to their journal.
No War Art Journal - with a nod to artist Teesha Moore
Mike Finn - 2022
Art journaling is a practise that is accessible to all, whatever age they are, or experience they may or may not have: beginners and experts alike. It is a form of self care, a window to creativity, an expression of your unique self.
For some, an art journal is as private as a written journal might be, but I see art journaling as an opportunity to build community. Providing a space for sharing ideas and resources, chatting and laughing, creating freely without fear of judgement: art journaling can become a social event that leads to a stronger understanding of self as part of a wider collective of artists.