Letting it flow without having to be perfect, just boundlessly creative.
This is art journaling… mixed media in a book. My passion. Often playful. Never boring. Always unique.
For me, art and especially my creativity are essential in life. Art journaling allows me to dive into my own world with all my senses. That’s precisely why I love it so much. The variety of possibilities is enormous. Art Journaling doesn’t fit into any box… It is very colourful, creative, and unique to each individual, like us humans. It is always an expression of one’s own personal creativity and, therefore, very different for each individual, and yes, often very unique. And that is why art journals – like diaries – are not always meant for foreign eyes.
But what exactly is Art Journaling? Art journaling is not so easy to explain or even put into words. Some call it an “artistic or creative diary”. I see it as much more. It is a place where I can fully express my own creativity. Daily events are documented and processed. But often, it’s just playing and using paint. Maybe (or almost always) sewing, drawing and found things often find their place in my Art Journal. Always depending on the day, just as the mood takes me. Without rules and also without having to follow a specific “plan”.
I make my own art journals. It is always a game between old and new. Sometimes old books are gutted and filled with new life. Or I simply use a wide variety of papers and fabrics.
I use both used and new paper in my Art Journals. Our resources are very important to me, so I don’t just use new paper, but also postal advertising, old invoices, business cards and even clothing labels! And then Hahnemühle paper… a dream come true! As incredibly diverse as life itself and, of course, my Art Journals.
I do not only paint with watercolours in my Art Journals, my art is multifaceted. That’s why I also love to make my own Art Journals. Whether mixed media, watercolour or sketching paper – Hahnemühle papers are versatile and diverse. The variety and especially the quality are simply incredible.
Art Journaling is always exactly what you make of it! According to the motto, “Everything can. Nothing must.”
To find out more about Michelle’s art and especially her Art Journals, follow her on Instagram @RaspberryBlueSky.
Last but not least… Michelle is organising a German Art Journal Festival in Vienna for the first time in May, together with Christine @stepandshoulders.
More info here: www.RaspberryBlueSky.com