JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 9: Freewriting

Freewriting, also known as stream of consciousness writing, is a creative writing technique that we use to capture our thoughts onto the page. In The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron describes this form of writing as a “brain dump” in order to clear the mind and enhance our creativity. We find this technique invaluable for discovering the deeper motivations and issues within our lives. We often write for 7 minutes employing this brain dumping writing, but we also work to fill a certain space in our journals whether its a full page or a specific section.

For today focus on freewriting using any writing material. You could do two seven minute sessions, or you could write for the full 15 minutes. Not familiar with the freewriting technique? It’s simple. You write for a given time without stopping. You write whatever you're thinking as if your brain was directly connected to your hand. Don’t worry about spelling, punctuation, grammar, or content. Just write. Not sure how to get started? Use a prompt, a theme, or a quote. You might want to set a timer, and just write nonstop until the timer goes off.

If the writing gets too personal, feel free to share only small snippets. #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 8: Stencils and Templates

Stencils have become extremely popular in mixed-media art, and you can buy a plethora of artfully designed stencils from websites and craft stores. But what if we used generic letter and shape stencils or found stencils? What if we made our own simple templates to trace?

For this fifteen minute challenge focus on using generic stencils, not those designed by some of your favorite mixed-media artists. Or find objects that can be used as stencils - plastic mesh or window screen come quickly to mind. You might want to cut your own shape template from card stock or thick plastic film that can traced again and again, but keep it to something that you can cut in a couple of minutes. The challenge is to use it in your journal not to spend the entire time creating the stencil.

Remember to share on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! Don’t forget that hashtag so that we can see it. #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 7: Fills

What do we do with our shapes and spaces once we create them? Filling them is just one option. We can simply fill a shape or area with solid color, or we can take things a bit further. We can add some shading to create a sense of depth or three-dimensions. We can use patterns and repeated lines and shapes to create some visual texture. We can even fill our shapes and areas with collage. Filling in these areas is a great way to get our hands moving and doing something in the journal without overthinking what we’re doing.

Take some time today to fill in some areas. Perhaps bring color to words and shapes you have already drawn or stenciled in. Perhaps use metallic markers to create areas of emphasis and surprise. Use patterns or collage to make things a bit more dynamic.

Don’t forget to share! #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 6: Straight Lines

At times, we want to think about the layout of our pages and create visually interesting spaces that hold our attention. Dividing the space of our pages in various ways is one way to consciously consider the layout and composition of our pages. Straight lines section off areas allowing us to set different purposes for the different areas. Horizontal and vertical lines create a lot of stability on our pages, and diagonal lines create dynamism and movement. We can use these characteristics to our advantage as we explore composition and layout.

Experiment with straight lines for fifteen minutes sectioning off areas, creating grids, and playing around with stable and dynamic layouts. Use a single material or several materials. Work on a single page, or spread your lines across several pages.

Once you've responded, you're encouraged to post some of your results, and don’t forget to mark your posts with #jfj15for30.

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 5: Circles

Squares and rectangles add a lot of structure and predictability to our work, but circles add a great contrast to the straight lines and sharp corners. Circles remind us of bubbles and balls, and may have a playful feel to them. Circles also represent wholeness and unity. “Coming full circle” is an expression of completeness and closure.

Add circles to your pages and art today. Don’t worry about making perfect circles, but if you’re uncomfortable with freehand circles, feel free to use a compass or a stencil. Draw, paint, or collage your circles onto your work. Make large circles that go off the edge of your page adding structure to the layout, and make small circles that float in the middle adding areas of focus. Overlap circles to create a nice visual texture. Feel free to start new pages or work, or add to pages in process.

Don’t forget to share! #jfj15for30

21 SECRETS Flashback Sale

21 SECRETS is having a Flashback Sale on their 2014 Workshops. David and I were fortunate to be part of the Spring 2015 line up, and Dirty Footprints Studio is offering a great bargain on their workshops. Each e-book contains 21 individual visual journal workshops with accompanying video tutorials.

The sales begins tomorrow, June 5 at 5:00 AM and goes on through Monday, June 8 at 11:30 PM. Check it out if you're interested.

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 4: Words

Words are an integral part of the journaling process. So, let’s focus on using some words today. We can just start writing about what’s on our minds or how we’re feeling, or we can pick a single word to draw and reflect on. Just don’t overthink it. Start adding words. If you can’t think of your own, add a favorite quote, poem, or song lyric.

For fifteen minutes add some words to you work. Write, draw, or collage the words. Use pen, marker, pencil, or paint. Use your normal handwriting or write in a fancy script. Afraid to write directly on your pages or your art? Write on a separate piece of paper to add in later. Just get some words on the paper.

Don’t forget to share some of your results. If your writing is too personal, snap a photo of a small part of it. We don’t need to read your intimate details if you don’t want. Don’t forget to put that hashtag on it so we can find you! #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 3: Random Collage

What would the Journal Fodder Junkies be without the fodder - the ephemera - the collage materials? We collect so much stuff in our day-to-day lives, and much of this stuff sits around the house and the studio waiting to be used. So let’s use it today, but let’s find some things that we can glue straight away into the journal - no cutting, no tearing, no altering. Just spread some glue on the back and stick it in. Glue stick is great if used it effectively. Try not to fuss with messy adhesives like acrylic medium or other glues that take a long time to use or dry. We use UHU glue stick.

For fifteen minutes, glue some stuff into your journal or onto your art. Try to find random and mundane things. If you want to raid your special papers and your collage packs, that’s fine, but what if you glue in postcards, movie tickets, receipts, flyers, labels, and old artwork? These things help document your days and things you have experienced. Remember to really spread a lot of glue on the back of the collage element to make sure that it sticks. Think about adding to pages that you've already started or adding to new pages as a way to get things started. 

Post some of your responses, and use the hashtag #jfj15for30.

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 2: Rectangles and Squares

Rectangles and squares make good additions to journal pages.

We can sometimes get overwhelmed with what to put on our pages, and we may overthink things a bit. It can be helpful to simplify our thinking and use some basic shapes that we can add without much fuss and bother. These shapes get our hands moving and allow us to begin laying out our pages. Rectangles and squares are very stable and predictable shapes, and they can add a lot of structure to our pages.

For fifteen minutes, add rectangles and squares to your pages. Use large and small shapes to create a layout on a page. Repeat squares and rectangles as a way to create borders, patterns, and embellishments. Overlap a bunch of rectangles to create a textured background for layers to come. Use any material - pen, marker, pencil, or paint.

Don’t forget to share some of your results on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media. Use the hashtag #jfj15for30.

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 1: Watercolor Paint

Watercolor in my journal. I've started some new pages and added to others.

The blank page can be daunting, so it’s easy to engage the space with some watercolor paint. As we begin this 30 day challenge, getting some color down on the page is a great way to ease ourselves into this journey and to take away the starkness of new pages. But watercolor is also a great way to add a layer to pages that we’ve already started. Just remember to paint over waterproof materials. Inkjet prints and many pens are water-soluble and will bleed and smear as you paint over them, but that might be fun, too.

For fifteen minutes, use just watercolor to paint, sponge, stencil, and stamp. Try basic techniques or try creating textures and patterns. Start new pages or add to pages you've already started. Have fun and don’t think too much.

Don’t forget to share some of your results on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media. Use the hashtag #jfj15for30.