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Visual Journaling Beginnings

Collage is one of the more accessible ways to start a visual journal that is truly unique and truly yours. It can be neat or messy. It can evolve organically as you add textures and pieces of scraps that fit together in ways that have a special meaning for you.

One thing that feels magical about this process is that there is usually an element of surprise that comes from the materials themselves. Play with different kinds of papers and inks, crayons and found objects and you will always find new ways to express your ideas.

After gluing down the pieces, you may find that the moisture causes some inevitable warping as the pages dry. In this particular case, I prefer the effect of the irregular warping, but you can press it out of your pages with book weights if you prefer a flatter surface.

When it comes to choosing a blank journal it seems just about anything is possible. I've seen amazing visual journals made from college ruled spiral notebooks or composition books as well as elaborate hand-sewn books made from beautiful handmade papers. Some extraordinary visual journals have been made from altered books such as used encyclopedia volumes or paper backs. Anything with a spine seems to work just fine. However, if you want it to last, look for acid free paper that is durable and holds up to moisture. This handmade blank journal was given to me back in 2000. The paper comes from Nepal and is made from Lokta bark (a renewable resource) and has a great durable and rough texture.

For glue I have used everything from glue sticks to gel medium. In my experience the gel medium has worked best because it dries so quickly and holds the heavier papers down so well.  Also, it has been interesting experimenting with so many different types of media that produce different qualities of finishes.  Be sure to use wax paper underneath your page when working on a page so that moisture doesn't seep through the page on to the next page.  This also protects your other pages from glue so they don't stick together.

Part of the joy of creating a visual journal has been collecting scraps to gradually build a palette of textures and images with everything from old raffle tickets to fortune cookie fortunes to handmade paper. I enjoy working with a mixture of media such as scrap paper, watercolor, pens, pencils, and oil pastels. The more I add to my journal, the more it draws me back to try out new visual ideas.

As you can see, this is a very accessible way to journal whatever comes to mind or to heart.