Embrace Whimsy & Grow Your Creative Skills
Don't like what you created? Keep working your creative muscles and trust that you are exactly where you need to be in this moment.
Starting an art journal page can feel intimidating but finishing it can also feel challenging. We want it to be perfect, profound, and worthy. But what if we shifted our focus to simply flexing those creative muscles through playful techniques?
In today's video, I finish a page in my journal that I didn’t like and had given up on. This was originally a live stream on YouTube back in December of 2023. Enjoy!
The Power of Imperfection
If you don't initially love your page, keep working or come back later when you’ve had time to distance yourself from those feelings. Art journaling is about the process, not the final product. It’s about the journey you experience along the way. Tap into your own whimsical, less-judgmental creative flow by giving this activity a go.
Visual Morning Pages vs. Written
While traditional written morning pages clear your mind, visual equivalents offer additional benefits:
Freeing Intuition: Images, colors, and textures engage a different, more intuitive part of your brain.
No Language Barrier: Even if you struggle to express emotions with words, art journaling provides a direct outlet.
Playful Exploration: You're less likely to get stuck in self-criticism as a visual form encourages exploration.
Simple Techniques to Get Started:
Blind Contour Drawing: Focus on looking at an object and continuously draw its outline without looking at your page. Embrace the wonky results!
Scribble & Paint: Make energetic scribbles across your page then fill in the spaces with watercolor. Notice how the shapes evolve.
Intuitive Collage: This is my favorite way to get my creative juices flowing. All you need is a magazine and a glue stick - yes, it can be as simple as that.
Tips:
Let Go of Expectations: The goal is a creative exercise, not a gallery-worthy piece.
Date Your Pages: It's so rewarding to see how you progress when you look back over your art journal.
It's a Practice: Like any skill, consistency is key to feeling more comfortable and confident.
Share Your Journey!
I'd love to see how embracing simple techniques builds your skills and creative joy. You can share your experience in the comments below or better yet, share your whimsical art journal pages in the Chat!
