JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 21: Masking

A fun alternative use for stencils and templates is to use them to mask off areas as we use watercolor paint. With this technique we block off certain areas to keep them clean as we paint., and we often use pieces of paper, tape, and stencils along with watercolor paint to create interesting negative spaces on our pages. By laying these objects down on our paper and painting over them, we easily create designs and patterns with the masked areas. Be careful when using tape, some masking tape will tear the paper as you try to peel off of the paper. We like to use painters tape.

For today, find some interesting flat objects, slap down some tape, or cut paper shapes to block of areas as you paint, splatter, and sponge. You can use this technique to add interesting layers to pages you've already started and to begin new pages. Experiment with different cut and torn shapes, and play around with how you apply the paint.

As always, don’t forget to share. #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 20: Colored Paper

The collage elements we incorporate into the journal don’t have to be precious, personal fodder or random things we find. Colored paper is an effective way to add lines, shapes, and large areas of color to our pages. Many of us have stacks of handmade, textured, and exotic papers in our studios, or bits of construction or scrapbook papers, or delicate, thin, translucent papers.

Use some of these papers in your journal today. Cut out specific shapes and glue them to pages you’ve already started, or cut and glue down larger shapes onto a blank page as a way to get something started. Cut a variety of lines from the paper, and use them to create structure, movement and flow in your work.

As always, share your responses if you’d like. #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 19: Page Cuts

As we have seen with windows and doors, the journal page doesn’t have to stay intact. We can manipulate the pages in a variety of ways. One of those ways is to cut part of the page completely off from the rest. There are endless possibilities for how we can do this - from simple straight lines to complex silhouettes. These cuts add another level of interaction in our journals and add more intrigue and interest.

Grab a hobby knife and a cutting mat, or even a pair of scissors, and get cutting. Cut a page down the middle vertically, or cut out a complex shape down the edge. Create a series of cut pages or cut a single page. What are you going to do with the part you cut off? What if you made a tab, and glued it in some how? Maybe onto another page.

Keep sharing your responses. #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 18: Shading and Depth

Instead of simply filling or “coloring” in a space, we often use shading and value change to give a space some dimension and depth. Shading around words and shapes allows them to “pop” out from the page, and they can seem to float above the surface. We can also make areas seem like they go into a page, and of course, shading can make our drawings and paintings seem more three-dimensional.

Focus at least fifteen minutes on shading and creating value changes on your pages. Use graphite, colored pencil, or ink. Remember with ink, it’s not about how hard you press, but how much empty space you leave between your marks. Drawing materials can keep you plenty busy, but you may want to try creating value changes with paint as well. Experiment with making things pop out and sink into the page.

Share on those social media sites, and don’t forget that hashtag. #jfj15for30.

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 17: Painting with Markers

We sometimes shy away from certain materials, especially ones that we think as children’s art materials, but there is a lot to explore even with these “kids art” supplies. Water-based markers such as Crayola and Prang, are great for experimenting. We often use these markers with a brush and water to get painterly effects. Since the ink is water-based, it blends and bleeds when we brush water over it. Some of these markers are even labelled as watercolor markers.

For today, break out the “kids” markers, and don’t just color with them. Use them to paint. Color a little bit down and paint water over the ink. Let the ink blend, spread, and bleed. You can easily blend colors together to get effective color transitions, and you can create interesting textures by dripping water onto an area you have colored with marker. Experiment and play and see what happens.

Remember to share some of your results. #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 16: Observational Drawing

Observational drawing is just as at home in the visual journal as it is in the traditional sketchbook and can be a great way to capture our surroundings. By closely looking at objects and our environments, we can gain inspiration and we can begin to document where we are. We often find interesting patterns as well as ordinary objects to draw as we take in what surrounds us. We may simplify what we see or we may draw it in all of its complexity.

For today, focus at least 15 minutes on looking closely at actual objects around you and drawing what you see. Try to avoid drawing from photographs, and look around your immediate surroundings. Draw a house plant sitting in the corner, the tv remote control, or your keys. Draw the remains of breakfast or lunch, or draw a chair in the room. You may want to draw with a pen so you’re not tempted to erase and start over multiple times. You may also want to think about drawing blind contour drawings as a way to loosen up. Whatever you draw, closely observe the object or scene and draw what you see. Don’t judge or criticize yourself. Just draw.

Don’t forget to share. #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 15: Spirals, Swirls, and Squiggles

If we want to create a lot of stability and predictability in our work we can use straight lines - primarily vertical and horizontal, but if we want to show a lot of movement and flow in our work, we can use curved lines. We can echo themes of growth and change by using spirals, swirls, and squiggles, and we can create exciting page layouts by dividing the space using these curvy lines.

For today, focus on including curvy lines - spirals, swirls, and squiggles. Bring contrast to pages that have a lot of straight lines and sharp corners. Draw repeated spirals as a way to create a pattern and fill a certain space. Cut squiggly lines from paper to glue them into your work or experiment with how these lines affect the layout of your pages. Explore a variety of ways to bring these curvy lines to you pages to create a sense of motion and excitement.

Remember to share. #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 14: Personal Fodder

Random fodder from our everyday lives is a great way to document our days, but at times we want to add things that are a bit more meaningful - a bit more personal than the mundane things we pick up along the way. When we add birthday cards, photographs of our loved ones, notes from someone close to us, or postcards from a friend on a trip, we add something of significance, and the journal becomes richer document of our lives.

Find some meaningful and personal ephemera to include in your journal today. Print out a favorite recent photo or two, and glue them onto a page. Find mementos from a trip or something tucked away that you’ve almost forgotten about to add to pages you’ve already begun. Use pictures your kids drew for you or thank you cards. Whatever you choose, make certain that it is personally relevant and significant.

Keep posting those responses to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and personal blogs. It’s inspiring and motivating to see how people have used the day’s challenge. #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 13: Lists

We are always making lists of one kind or another - to-do lists, grocery lists, bucket lists. What if we included these lists in our journals? We can glue our grocery lists and to-do lists into our pages as a way to record our day. Besides gluing, we can write our lists directly into our journal. We can list things we are grateful for, things we want to accomplish, the people who are close to us. We can create lists of all kinds.

For today, focus on incorporating lists of one kind or another. Glue in those mundane lists, or create other lists directly into the journal. Try brainstorming a list in response to a word or a theme. Try creating a list of possible journal prompts. Keep a list of quotes from something you’re reading. Collage, write, stencil, or paint your lists.

Don’t forget to share! #jfj15for30

JFJ 15 for 30 Challenge - Day 12: Watercolor Textures

Texture brings a lot of visual interest to our pages, and with watercolor paint we can create quick and simple textures by using some experimental techniques. We can use sponges, salt, rubbing alcohol, plastic wrap, bubble wrap, and string. We can use our fingers or a scraper, or we can use an old toothbrush, a cotton swab, or a crumpled paper towel.

For at least 15 minutes experiment with stamping, splattering, scraping, lifting, and dabbing the paint. Try for uneven, jagged, and rough looking textures and feel free to use multiple colors and to layer textures one on top of the other.

Share your responses to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media. Don’t forget the hashtag so we can see what you’re up to. #jfj15for30.