Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart.
He who looks outside, dreams. He who looks inside, awakens. Carl Jung

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Art Journaling & Prompts

 As I’ve played more with art journaling this week, I thought I’d share the prompts that I used.  For this first picture, I asked ~ What does the New Year represent?

In the middle, I carved a “secret” door, a visual representation of the time I need to carve for self:

pageone

Inside the door, I wrote those spirit words that I hope to manifest in greater abundance this year:

pageonepocket

I’m embracing the word “Release” this year and wanted a flavor of what that feels like.  You can see that I didn’t sacrifice my journal writing for the mixed media as my entries are written here:

release

The prompt for the next picture is actually a cluster writing ~ center circle with a word in the middle & then span out with quick word associations (usually a spider web effect but this one turned into a flower in which the stem… aka my need to control…wasn’t grounding me but holding me down).  Use any word that calls to you, or any idea that’s tickling your brain.  (I also use this exercise for writing projects and planning workshops.)

I chose the center word “overwhelm” in an effort to find my balance.  I only used oil pastels and a paint pen on this one:

overwhelm

In this next example, the left hand page was a response to my questioning an out of control feeling & I ended up with a puppet on stage.  The right hand side was a release of the need for control through “blowing bubbles”:

bubbles

puppet2

Here are the writing prompts for your own journaling whether through writing, mixed media or a combination ~ express yourself your way:)

What does the New Year represent to you?

What do you want to manifest this year?

What can you release this year?  What would that look like?

Try a cluster writing…pick a word that calls to you, center it on the page and spider-web quickly all the other thoughts that flow from your center.

Enjoy the journey:)

8 comments:

  1. What wonderful journal work...and so many mediums! Thanks for sharing your prompts...sometimes (often!) I come up empty when it is time to work on my art journal and these will be helpful I'm sure.

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  2. These are wonderful, Dawn! I love looking at what you've done.

    I found it interesting the idea that the stem was not only "grounding", but "restrictive" (holding down) as well. It was not something that I had considered previously. Definitely something to ponder.

    And the "puppet on the stage"... I can most certainly attest to feeling like that often as well.

    Beautiful images! Must do something of the sort soon. :-D

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  3. This is marvelous Dawn. You're so creative. I too identified with the puppet idea. I've been feeling like that lately. Thanks so much for sharing your lovely projects, the prompts have a lot of depth.

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  4. Hi,

    Thanks for coming by. I have to admit I like my website too. My own little personal space I get to play around with. If I can do it trust me anyone can. Plus the fact you can always keep tweaking it until your satisy with it.

    Oh I so want to do this one. Especially this year I really need to visualise what I want. See this is why I pick your blog as one of favorites for 2010!

    I hope you have a great weekend.

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  5. Dawn...I was going through some old papers and I came across your name. I don't think I every mailed the tags you won from my blog!! I feel like a schmuck!

    I would love to send them to you...please email me your addy again.

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  6. Thank you all for such wonderful feedback! I hope you find the prompts helpful.
    @ Leslie - not a problem, I just realized I did the same thing, life gets busy:)

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  7. These are so beautiful! I have a collage journal that I've been working on for years. I used the one by created by Sara Ban Brethnach that I received as a gift about 10 years ago. I have also created a few of my own. Being a very visual person (oooh shiny pretty colors!) I find that when I'm stuck in my writing it can be a great inspiration to utilize a different perspective.

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  8. Beautiful journal. I've been meaning to incorporate art into my journaling. I've always had a spot in my heart for art but never quite knew how to incorporate it more into my life. I think I will start with journaling! Thank you!

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