Art Journal Process

Art Journal Process

I got some new art materials in the mail yesterday and was very anxious to play with them.  I started working on backgrounds, then was taken with a green page I had painted previously.  It took off and I ended up going through the whole process and finishing it.  I took photos along the way for you!

Here is a peek into how I work in my art journal:

Blank pages ready to go.  I love using composition books.  They are sturdy (though the pages are flimsy which can be remedied) and cheap.  I don't feel bad doing whatever I want to them.

Here is how I remedy the situation with flimsy pages.  I tear up random magazine pages and glue them onto the blank pages.  It doesn't matter what is on them since the images will be covered up anyway.  Then take a snack break-hehe!

Cover the magazine pieces completely with gesso or acrylic paint.  I'm using gesso here.  I have never used this type before and I'm not sure I like it for backgrounds in the AJ (art journal).  It's too think.  I'll just use it for texture on my mixed media paintings.

Allow the gesso or paint to dry completely.  Here I am using a heat tool.  I am incredibly impatient! :)

Apply paint with an old credit card, gift card, or palette knife.  I love the way the paint goes on with these tools.

Spray watered down acrylic paint, glimmer mist (as I did here) or other spray ink and let it drip down the page. LOVE this look!

Choose collage elements.

That's as far as I got on that yellow page.  Now I move on to the page that I finished last night.  Still picking out collage pieces.  

I tore the vintage book page into pieces without any thought, then adhered them using gel medium.  The kind I'm using is Liquitex Matte Gel Medium.   I love it.  It is thick and smooth.  For many months I used a gel medium from Golden and I didn't like it very much.  I used it all up so I don't even have the jar to tell you exactly what it was.  But I really love this one.  And I don't have to use much so I think this jar will last a really long time.  On this page there are also pieces of handmade paper and an image from The Graphics Fairy.  I also added some old Basic Grey rub-ons randomly around.  Again with the glimmer mist drips.

Next comes inking and random stamping.  I love that Tim Holtz stamp.

Added some more random rub-ons and ink to the edges.

Add embellishments.   I have not been able to break out of my comfort zone and add any really bulky embellishments.  I still keep it flat.  Here I added inked labels and an acetate butterfly.  I thought the page needed some red to warm it up a little bit.

Added the title with Making Memories foam letter stamps and black acrylic paint. 

Once the title was done, I thought the page was done and I could move on to the penwork.  I added a quote with a black Sharpie poster paint pen.  I LOVE these! 

I outlined some of the elements with a black waterproof pen to give them more dimension.

Here's what it looks like with journaling added to it.

More pen work with a white Sharpie poster paint pen.  Also some random white doodle swirls around.

The finished product!  I love it!

Close up

I don't know why this one is blurry. Sorry! You can still see what I wanted you to see though.  Notice the red smudges and red along the edge.  I just added that with my finger--once again, to give it warmth.

So there you go! I hope it helps you.  Let me know if you have any questions.  I made a YT video about this page.  It will be uploaded soon (I'm headed over there when I am done with this post!).  Remember: BlackSunJamie is my name over there.

Have a good night! Go make something! And then come back and show me! :)