Why I Love Art Journaling

I was digging through a box of loose journal pages in preparation for this post and stopped to read each and every one. It doesn't feel like it's been as long as it's been since I made these two different journals but it's been seven and five years! The first grouping above was made for an online class that hasn't been available for awhile and documented how I was feeling about our last summer as a family of three back in 2009. Sebastian was about to turn three and I was a few months pregnant with Ruby. I remember feeling much more whimsical of heart and I think it's really special to look back at my thoughts as a mama of one. 

I'm still really drawn to the aesthetic of these pages. I love all the white with black letting and summer colors. I used a lot of found papers and cut out shapes to create fun collages. I had a lot of polaroid film left but must've run out after this because I haven't seen any for years. 

I still love so many things from those lists but had forgotten about some of the things I'd written down, such as my fear of all the garden snakes in our backyard. There were always (harmless) snakes in our big, beautiful backyard and I almost let it keep me from getting out there to enjoy it. I also often worried that someone would call Child Protective Services or at least really judge me for letting Sebastian run around naked outside at age two. It's so funny to think about how I'm not going to care one bit when Smith pulls off his diaper to run through the sprinklers. I guess some worries fade with each new addition.

This round of pages is from 2007. Brett, Sebastian, and I had just moved back in with my family after our apartment complex in Seattle was being sold to turn into condos. We were apartment managers on the weekends and got free housing plus pay and both worked part time through the week but the new owners didn't need us and we weren't going to be able to find anything else to work out with our schedules and budget so we had our stuff put in storage and moved in with my parents.

They were so generous to let us stay with them for so long but I remember feeling a little defeated moving home and running into high school friends and being in a hard place financially. It's reflected in one of my pages below. I remember one afternoon I was out to lunch with my dad when he spotted someone I used to know from school and I desperately hoped I could avoid eye contact so they didn't ask me what I'd been up to the last six years.

I can look back now with the confidence and humility that comes with age - knowing that we all have different stories, unmet expectations, plans that may not have gone accordingly, or experiences that have been greater than we could've imagined. I'm not sure I would've remembered some of the raw emotion and insecurities from my twenties had I not put them on paper in such a way. 

As I mentioned in the trailer for my 52 Weeks of Art Journaling E-Course, I hope these journals I've made over the last twelve plus years will give my kids as much as they gave me. They were a creative outlet, a chance to experiment with new techniques, a reason to take pictures of myself and the kids, a place to vent and question, a record of likes and dislikes through the years, but most of all they allowed me to get to know myself better. When my kids are walking through a frustrating time in their life they'll be able to see where I struggled and be encouraged. I hope they see all the simple joys we knew as well. 

They say children learn valuable lessons through play. I think the same is true when you have a medium that you love. I'll always love art journaling for the safe place it's been to make pages that are meaningful to me without the pressure of keeping up with trends or creating with others in mind. Some pages I'm really proud of and others I just needed to get out of my system but they're all for me. 

If you've purchased my latest Art Journaling E-Course and have completed any pages you feel excited about sharing you can add the hashtag #52weeksofartjournaling to your pages on Instagram or via Twitter. I'd love to see what you've done with the prompts and challenges!

Your turn. What do you love about art journaling? How'd you get started? If you've never tried it before have you ever wanted to? I'm all ears!

-Rachel

Comments

[Phyllicia]

Oh your art journals are so lovely Rachel. I wish that I am that creative. (^-^)

[ira lee]

oh my goodness!!!! i absolutely love these pages!! im so proud you shared them and good for you for having so many years full of memories!!! what an inspiration to just put pen to paper and let your words and emotions flow.

[Holly Francis]

Rachel, I am a long time reader but this is my first comment.
I burst into tears when I read your paragraph about moving in with your parents, and the shame and defeat that is inevitably felt. I am moving in with my parents in less than a week and although I am only 27, it is still going to be a difficult adjustment. But is for the betterment of my life as I am using the their kindness to be able to leave my dead-end job and focus on my art.

You never know when your words and honesty might help another, and yours did help me today. You put it down so wisely and I will have to remember to that even though it is not ideal at the moment, like you said we all have different stories and different ( even difficult) paths to get where we want to be.

Thank you.

[Holly Neufeld]

oh Rachel, I remember these pages, and I remember following your lead and creating journals for myself from these classes! What a fond memory! I'm thankful for the pages I have as well, so THANK YOU for sharing your gift with all of us. xo

[Beth Tilston]

I used to do this at University (10+ years ago) and this has reminded me how playful it all felt then. Lovely!

[paige @ Lux Per Diem]

I love art journaling! It used to be such a big part of my life, but it's definitely gotten lost in the shuffle. You've inspired me to pick it back up again.

[Lydia Larae]

Wow. These are beautiful. Each page has such a unique mood. I especially love the stitching you did on some of them. This is so inspiring.

[Pam]

What do I love about art journaling? Most of what you tapped into, which is that it is both documentation and celebration of life - all of it- the good and the hard stuff- that it ALL matters. I love your pages! I signed up for your course on A Beautiful Mess and am loving it- learning so much!

[rachel]

hi rachel - beautiful work - reminds me of art journals sabrina ward harrison published around 10+ years ago if you wanted to check them out
hope you & your family have a great day

[katielicht]

i remember all of these & am also stunned to hear some are more than 7 years old!

i haven't made personal pages in forever and I think a lot of it is that I'm not feeling too "whimsical of heart" (great phrase!) lately. who knows if that's just growing up, or having more responsibility, or what, but sometimes art journalling feels too frivolous now. but even as I type that i realize that's not true. alright... time to pull out the paper scissors and glue sometime soon.

[racheldenbow]

I know that exact feeling. I used to work on these every week or two. Now I can go months in between because of car pool and laundry and dinner, etc. I think you're right. Some of it is getting older and having new priorities but it's also getting busier. I love your pages so I vote you get those scissors and paper out, too! ;)

[racheldenbow]

Yes! She was one of the artists that first inspired me and influenced my style starting out. I love her honesty and disregard for rules of any kind when she creates.

[Jac]

Love your work, it's inspiring and makes me want to do more to my baby daughters journal.

[Missi]

This is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing these pages! I'm saving my pennies for your eCourse - first a haircut (badly needed), then the eCourse. In the meantime, this is a great reminder to start creating and stop waiting for all of the "right" things to fall into place first.

[Denise Ross]

Thank you for posting this Rachel. Your pages on your own journey through your hard times really resonated with me. I'm working this stuff out too, started when I was about 36, I'm now 42 nearly 43, so I'm hoping I'm nearing the end of this grind part. It's amazing how much baggage we have to work through . I do a mix of art and journaling to get it out and admittedly it's hallo to clear my head and emotions. I so love your list of things you wanted to do and face head on. I have to do this too as I'm actually quite shy and if I'm not emotionally or mentally ready to face someone even if they're not judgemental at all. I fiancé ways to avoid the, if I've seen them because I can't always make general conversation. I don't often admit to feeling or being this way and I'm sure that I've given to notion that I'm stand offish.
A way I just want to say a big heartfelt thank you for this post, I feel like I'm not alone in my struggles
On a brighter note I love reading your blog and seeing your creativity brought to life as well as your beautiful family life journey.
To share a ,little about myself, I don't have a blog going, I am married 20 yrs now, my husband has just had a career change from a builder to a nurse, loves it :). I am full itime

[Denise Ross]

Pathology trainer/collector, and I have 3 children, one is adult 18 yrs and in his first year of college studying paramedic, my daughter is 16 years and in year 11, and my youngest is 8 yrs and he is in 3rd grade.
I'll sign out now
Have a wonderful week :)

[Elizabeth]

I hope you come back and read this - best wishes to you!! As a woman who's 38 I can say that all the stuff we push through in our 20s can make the 30s even better. xoxo