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• artist’s reportVisualjournalsbeautiful & addictive!By LK LudwigI have kept a journal since I was sevenyears old, but I didn’t start keeping avisual journal until, in my early thirties,I enrolled in the art program at theuniversity where I worked. Keepinga visual journal was required as partof the program. We were to draw,paint, mark, glue, collage on pages,of course. We were also sent off tothe library to research the work ofparticular artists we would be assignedindividually based on our own work.As part of this process, I rememberpasting down pieces of photographsand proof sheets. Eventually, my blackjournal became so thick the wholespine was made of duct tape. I carriedthat book in my bag everywhere; Itwent- to classes, of course, but also towork, meetings, appointments, lunches,dinners, out for coffee ... working in itwhenever I had the opportunity.Because of that first journal Ifell head-over-heels in love withworking with my art inside a book.As someone who approached artthrough photography and then addedpainting, my journals typically focusedon those two mediums. Even now, Iuse these art forms to create visualjournal pages. I create journals frompapers I have painted and add photosto this surface. Altering the photoswith a wide variety of art media is oftenmy next layer, followed by whateverthe page seems to need - writtenjournalling, mark-making, collage,added embellishments, or additionalpainting.I travel to various places in theUnited States to teach workshopsand one thing I hear repeatedly is adesire to create art journal pages thatare more than pretty. Keepers of artjournals are looking for ways to enrichthe content and meaning of theirpages in personal ways, to create moreauthentic journal entries. Entries aremeant to be personally meaningful,to record some aspect of our lives,regardless of whether the journal entryis written or visually expressed.One amazingly easy way of addingrich, personal content to your journalpages is to use your own photographs.Digital photography is accessible to somany and incredibly portable. Even ourcell phones have cameras! Carrying acamera everywhere you go allows youto act on those moments of seeing andcreate a photograph for later use inyour journal.You shouldn’t limit yourself todocumenting your day; considerincluding whatever strikes your eye.Later as you sit down with the photoand your journal, think about what itwas that drew your eye to that scene,what it was that made you push theshutter button. Your daily activity mostlikely had nothing to do with why youliked what you saw enough to make aphotograph. Chances are the photoreflects a memory, a feeling, a thought,or idea and those concepts are perfectfor creating rich visual journal entries!LK Ludwig’s newest book, CreativeWildfire, in good bookstores now.LK Ludwig... is passionate about creating rich visual journal pagesand intriguing artist books. She has authored four books:Mixed Media Nature Journals, True Vision: Authentic ArtJournaling, Collaborative Artist Journals, and Creative Wildfire:An Introduction to Art Journaling Basics and Beyond. LK is afirm believer that by working with what we know and usingaccessible art materials we can create wonderful, meaningfulartwork. With studio spaces that are in the middle of herfamily’s life (the entry way of their home and an island in thekitchen of their river cottage), with small children, an artisthusband,and a puppy underfoot, LK works each day, inspiredby what she sees through her camera lens and with her heart.Visit: gryphonsfeather.typepad.com@140 spotlight.com.au