I just had a realization. I haven’t really shared much about one of my main artistic practices—my visual journals. Yes, I’ve mentioned my journals before, and I’ve included a lot of images from my journals in these ramblings. But I haven’t really said much about my journal practice. Those of you who have been familiar with my work for a while might know all about my visual journals, and I was once widely known for them as one half of the Journal Fodder Junkies. But if you’re new to my work, you may mostly know the collages that I’ve been focusing on for the last three years. So, forgive me while I take you back.
In 1999, I was in my second year of teaching art for Loudoun County Public Schools here in Virginia when I met David Modler. The thing I remember about that first official meeting was that he was holding a small hardbound sketchbook, but it was thick and had bits of paper and string and other things sticking out from the pages. Stickers covered the front and back cover, and I immediately asked, “What is that?”
“My visual journal,” Dave said. I stood in awe as I flipped through the pages and saw drawing, painting, writing, and collage on every single page. I was blown away. I had always used a sketchbook as a sketchbook, drawing mostly in graphite or ink. I never thought to add paint or collage, and the only writing that I had done was either notes about ideas that I had or bad poetry that I was writing at the time.
Dave and I became good friends over the next few months, and he also showed me his larger journals which were filled with the same kind of drawing, painting, writing, and collage like that little journal. I was intrigued, and it felt like something that I wanted to try. But I wasn’t ready to commit this approach to my large 11x14 inch sketchbook, so I begin experimenting in a smaller 6x9 inch sketchbook that I often carried around with me. It don’t take me long to realize that I wanted to try this approach in the larger book. So sometime in 2000, I began exploring a bunch of different materials and techniques in my larger sketchbook and transforming it into my first visual journal. And for the last 26 years, I’ve had a consistent visual journaling practice.
I very deliberately use the term “visual journal” and not “art journal.” I see a bit of a difference between the two. To me a visual journal is an Everything Book. I draw in it. I paint in it. I glue memorabilia into it. I write about what I’m thinking, feeling, and going through. The journal documents my life, my art, my thoughts, and my ideas. Everything goes into it, and I don’t necessarily set out to make art in my journals. An art journal to me seems to be more about making art on every page, and often there is a very defined process the artist goes through to make their pages. Though both art journals and visual journals may use similar materials and techniques, art journals feel more polished—more about having finished, artful pages. But that’s, just my thoughts. I made an entire video where I discuss what a visual journal is and talk about the differences with sketchbooks and art journals if you want to check it out.
The visual journal has played a key role in my life and my art over all of these years. I process my emotions in my journal, and I reflect on my life and my work. I develop ideas, and I discover why I do certain things. The act of making and reflecting help me figure things out in my life and in my art, and just engaging in the journal keeps me grounded in my creative practice. At this point, I have filled 33 larger journals and a number of smaller ones.
So, if you’re looking for a way to stay in touch with your creativity, visual journaling may be just the thing. The best part is that there’s no right way or wrong way to work in them, and you can do whatever you want on the pages.
Of course, there are lots of resources out there—videos, websites, books, and much more—including mine!
Check out:
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Happy Creating!
Eric
I love those faces of yours. They feel so familiar to me. I’ve made many that could be their cousins for sure
Love this, so it’s somewhere between a scrap book, sketchbook and art journal.