Journaling Workshop part 1- sources, inspiration

I have no doubt about the power of journalling. Personally, I need to organize my current one… It’s all in a large basket. But it still counts as a journal! In fact, I have many journals going all at once it seems. That’s OK! My journals can challenge space-time continuum- not following a linear route and are created through collecting, sketching, in binder here, in a notebook there. It’s the tactile part of journalling that I favor. DARE TO BE MESSY!

The internet offers a great way to share with the world, but nothing beats the power of actually cutting, pasting, scribbling. Glue on your fingers, the warped paper and a journal so thick it won’t close. I tell students that keeping a journal can help reduce anxiety and stress- but the students often complain that they get stressed at the thought of maintaining a journal… No worries. Let that go. Connect with your journal once a day. Simply picking it up, shoving in a piece of paper you want to keep, writing to-do list inside keeps the flow going. That way you can allow the natural process- then take personal retreats- surround yourself with collaging materials and interesting pens, glue, scissors, bits… then spend some time making a page (or pages)… Or just write- stream of consciousness. The main thing is to get those voices out of your head and onto the paper. ENJOY!

Here are some of my favorite books on journaling:

Artists’ Journals and Sketchbooks: Exploring and Creating Personal Pages by Lynne Perrella