What is an Art Journal?
“The Journal is a workbook and playground. And it is also just for me. I’m the audience.”
“Art journaling is about the creative process of pulling together colour, words and images as you wish on one page.
Unlike many other forms of art, it is not about the outcome.”
Tammy Garcia of Daisy Yellow
My Art Journal gives me room to ponder…
…a spot to reminisce
… A place to ask questions,
and answer them.
A testing ground for new art materials,
and old friends.
A space to wander…
and wonder.
There is so much fun to be had.
It’s a mix of diary, travel memoir, autobiography, art therapist, visual diary, notebook, scrapbook and sketchbook….plus more… It’s a place, YOUR space, to record and work through your life experience in images, words, colours and collage.
There are NO RULES.
There is a wonderful and growing community of people around the world who keep an ‘Art Journal‘.
I am an avid Art Journal keeper.
I find it meditative and nourishing.
If I have a crappy day, or someone has ‘done me wrong’, I have a ‘Verbal Vomit’ and blurt it all out in my journal, turn the page and let it sit there for a bit. And a few days or a weeks later, I then paint over it and create something lovely on top. It cathartic, truly.
So many of my ideas and inspiration come to me while I am with my Journal.
I journal everyday…sometimes a little, sometimes alot. I love making lists of ‘to-do’s’ in my journal, and when I’ve ticked everything off, I turn it in to a ‘Ta-DAH!’ list by painting and drawing all over it….can you tell I LOVE it?!
I know the difference keeping an Art Journal has made in my life.
I want to get as many people
sharing this joy as possible.
I am an Art Journaling evangelist.
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The Institute of Cute, is dedicated to the very best supplies for Art Journals.
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If you want to start an Art Journal, it’s pretty simple
Get a notebook and off you go!
There are about a million billion videos on Youtube showing different techniques.
You can do one of my workshops and start today.
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The Institute of Cute, is dedicated to the very best supplies for Art Journals!
We don’t stock ‘Stuff’. We don’t stock the latest just because.
We only stock the BEST, tried and tested, most awesome,
and hard-to-find art supplies for Art Journals.
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Read this great ’Journal Fresh’ Interview with Jane Davenport and Dawn DeVries Sokol
about Art Journaling:
http://www.createmixedmedia.com/blogs/journal-fresh-jane-davenport
Hi, Jane! I Like what you are doing very much!
I just found this link today: http://gardensinfocus.com.au/
and it remind me about you and your passion to insects. Have a look : )
Hey Jane,
I was recently in Byron Bay and came across your cute store. Thanks so much for your inspiring art journal! I bought your owl journal to start my own over the summer before I begin my Graphic Design course in March. Thanks again for bringing a little bit of creative cuteness into my summer
Hi Grace, thank you for your thank you! Enjoy your Graphic Design!
hy
When I went to the store to get a new calendar, I came across yours, and it was simply gorgeous. The photos are really beautiful. These drawing are also equally as amazing.
I really, really love your stuff. =]
Thanks Anna – love away!
Hi Jane,
Love your work and your spirit. Your husband also was so nice and it was great fun talking to him. He is very supportive and talked so proud about you. Really sweet/cute lol – All the Best
I was most impressed when I discovered your shop on a short trip from Sydney to Byron Bay and loved all your ideas. I went with my boyfriend and his mum (french) and they almost had to drag me out before I am buying every single item. We have some beautiful butterflies on our wall now and little thing makes such a difference. One day I hope I will have a little shop too. I am not as creative but you will be the first I would ask to contribute with some spectacular items. Didn’t plan to go to the easter show but maybe now I found a better reason.
meet you on sat at the,stiches & craft show,you were like a breath of freash air,thank you Jane.
I visited your store today (bought the kids a shirt each) and have spent the rest of the arvo reading your blog and browsing your online store. AND I even registered for life book!!
15mins in your store has inspired me!! Thanks
Yay Mandy! It will be an inspiring year I think!
Hi Jane, I am so pleased to have stumbled upon your gorgeous gallery during my recent trip to Byron. My girlfriend and I were both momentarily speechless when we saw your window, name and the ladybeetles…you see my name is so very similar to yours and I am known by my friends as the ladybeetle
It started
years ago from my favourite movie, ‘Under the Tuscan Sun.’ They say looking for a good man is like looking for a ladybeetle. If you go searching you will not find but if you lie down in the grass they will come and land right on you. I liked the idea… So taken with the analogy I adopted the nickname….afterall I’m often busy as a beetle, with an active mind and body. I am told that I am feminine, cheeky & warm with a contagious energy. I have a generous, caring & perceptive nature…I love being near the water and I’m definitely passionate!! Oh and don’t be fooled by my confident and bright polka dotted exterior, I tend to fly away as a defense mechanism to being hurt. Anyhow I thought you may find that a cute story too.
I am a keen photographer, and have made many online photo books with companies such as Shutterfly and Snapfish to celebrate the journey of the emotionally disturbed children of whom I teach. I am also a self proclaimed quotologist and frustrated author
Sooo I am very excited to find out more about journaling. I come from a very artistically talented family, however I am left with all the ideas, and plenty of creativity….but definitely no drawing or painting skill. Can you tell me more about what the journaling is all about and what the online course encompasses. Does it incorporate adding thoughts, quotes and photography?? Is there a number of hours that you would recommend having available to give to the project??
I look forward to hearing back from you and thank you again for creating such a delightful gallery/shop and blog.
jenn daverington
Hi Jenn, 5o YAYs and a cartwheel for ladybirds! What good taste you have….!
there is a PILe of info on the course here: http://www.janedavenport.com/workshops/
You can spend as long or as little as you like journaling… but as with all things, if you want to get happier with your drawing results you have to put the time in… there is no way around practice. Journaling incorporates all that you want to do… it sounds like a perfect match to me – but then I am completely biased, becuase I LOVE it! Pop into the store to see the supplies we have, journals etc. You can sign up in store, and even fdo a live drawing class with me this coming weekend if you wanted. I CAN teach you to draw a face. Its my MAGIC SUPER power – heehee!
JAne
Hi Jane,
xx ‘mira
It was lovely to meet you at the Craft Show in Perth yesterday…I have discovered my inner child through your art work and I cant say how totally blissful it feels to finally find what it is I have been missing all these..thank you, I will definetly be in touch for online classes…Thanks again darling..you are a breath of fresh air
Hi Jane, just wondering how I go about ordering some Sharpie paint pens from you (in particular the neon ones). I met you yesterday at the Craft Show in Perth and fell IN LOVE with your work. I have alot of different pens but nothing like the colours you use. Thank you so much. Lisa
)
Hi Jane,
Your art is amazing. I especially love your faces. Can you recommend a good brand for art journals? I tried making an altered book but whenever I add paint, the page tends to tear.
Thanks,
Sanny
Check out Millini: http://www.instituteofcute.com/search.php?search_query=journals&x=0&y=0
or make your own!
Or come and do my Joynal class – I can show you how to get your altered book rocking!
Hi, Jane-y Jane!! Just signed on for Supplies Me! You are such a treasure trove of the best info on feeding my addiction to art making goodies!! While I may not be the most frequent poster of my art this does not mean I am not making any! I now HAVE GOT TO MAKE ART EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! Whew! Got that out! Once I figure out how to post photos from the iPad you will be inundated with my gals! In the meantime I am putting more of my things on Flickr ( find me as onfireandice and you will find a set of just Jane Davenport faces) but I have to go to the dinosaur slow netbook just to do that much- exhausting!! I really am finding art journaling to be the best mental health practice ever. Feeling stress, anxious, whatever, a few minutes (or hours if they’re available)of drawing something, anything and I am good to go! So… You are stuck with me! Might go add I Heart Drawing, too… Hmmmm… Love you just tons, Marysu
Hey Jane
I absolutely LOVE your work!!!!!!!!!!! They are all so beautiful and inspiring. I have also been to your shop in Byron Bay, it was amazing, I remember looking at all the journals and pictures it was amazing. Love your work
From Georgia
Hi jane i just stumbled into the art journaling world recently in the past few months and heard about you in a magazine i bought about mixed media. So far i love your site and your artwork is beautiful! Im interested in taking one of your drawing classes and am not sure what to take. Ive always loved drawing but dont think ive ever been good at it. Ive never taken any art classes before so was wondering if i could send you something to see if i should take the draw happy or if ide be better off taking the supplies me or i heart drawing? Please let me know if you would be too busy or not to do tjat. Thanks! -Anna Marie
Hi Anna, start with Draw Happy I think- you’ll love it!
You inspire me every time I view your your site. I have no website sharing my art but maybe one day. You are very inspirational.