Art Journaling with a Splash

(Paint scraping of blue and black acrylic paint with water splotches)

Since I had mastered the art of paint scraping, I decided perhaps I had enough intelligence and skill to pull off a variation of the technique which L.K. Ludwig just so happens to provide.  So my bold, brave self chose to do a paint scraping with a little splash. 

This is simply where you do a basic paint scraping of two different colors and then throw some water on the page willy-nilly and blot up the water with a handkerchief, an easily accessible sleeve, or paper towel.  If one wishes cheap, easy clean up and a non-purple nose I would recommend the paper towel. The blotted up water allows the first color of paint to be displayed in a smattering of splotches across the surface. Mine turned out rather brilliant, if I do say so myself. 

So with this success I decided to try another paint scraping variation. This involved beginning with a simple paint scraping and then the use of a stencil and damp paper towel.  You use the damp paper towel to remove the first layer of paint within the stencil.  It sounds simple enough and to be honest, it probably is but, nevertheless, mine turned out to be more of a paint smear and not an attractive one at that.  

While this was disappointing, it showed how the world would not end if I screwed up a page.  It also taught me about the limits of certain techniques with certain mediums.  This was very important because up until this point I had really no experience with any of the stuff I was using besides a little practice with some everyday paint-by-numbers.

Luckily, my paint smudge did little to discourage me, and I plowed ahead, but now that I was gaining momentum.  I thought perhaps I should move beyond the paint and old debit card and see what other wonders were waiting for me out there.

The Discovery

(One of my first art journaling pages using the paint scraping method.)

As of three months ago, I had never even heard the term "art journal."  It was around the time of Halloween and my roommate and I went to the local fabric store, so she could obtain the necessary items to construct her Halloween costume.  I, being the great roommate I am, went along for moral support.  Everyone else who lived in a five mile radius must have had the same idea to be economical and make their own Halloween costume.  And, furthermore, decided to purchase the material the very same sunny Sunday afternoon that my roommate and I went on our adventure.

So while my roommate was standing in a line at least 60 long waiting to have an absurd amount of tulle cut.  I wandered about finally ending in the craft book section.  With nothing else better to do, I began flipping through them a bit like one does at the dentist's.  It was through this mindless perusing that I discovered a book called Creative Wildfire: An Introduction to Art Journaling- Basics and Beyond by L.K. Ludwig.  I became enraptured by the wonderful pictures and enthralled with learning about art journaling.  Before I had nearly enough time to fully investigate my new discovery my roommate appeared at my side and said she was ready.  So we left.

But within the next few days I couldn't help but think of the wonderful concept I had stumbled across.  Finally, my curiosity got the best of me.  And like any self respecting, somewhat, technologically advanced person, I googled it.  This resulted in me not only finding the book that had peaked my interest, of which I promptly ordered. I discovered that there were a great many books on the topic of art journaling. I was completely fascinated.

In just a couple of short days after my purchase, the item appeared on my door step.  I ripped the package open and devoured the pages hour upon hour.  I did this for several days reading and re-reading sections.  I wanted to try it out so much, but I was afraid that I would screw up or not be able to make anything half as beautiful as the book showed.  But I somehow found the courage to meander down to Michael's and pick up a few basic items including a pad of 140lb. paper, tissue paper, a simplistic drawing kit, gel medium, and a strange substance with a funny name called gesso.

That's all the further I got that day.  I was still paralyzed by fear, but the book starts off with a very simple exercise to get you going.  It is simple paint scraping, meaning you squeeze out a line of paint on one end of  the paper and then take an old credit card and drag it across the page.  You can then squeeze out another line of paint (a different color) and drag that across and get an interesting effect.  So with paint I already had and an old debit card, I took a deep breath and made the proverbial dive. And may I just say what a spectacular feeling.  I did page after page and by the time I considered finishing up, I was covered in paint and giddy as a school boy who has just put a toad in the school snob's lunch box. So in other words, I liked it.

And so began my new hobby and journey in the world of art journaling, something that was not only for the mind, but for the soul.