Art Journalling Workshops Coming in October - Live and Online!!

Above are some of the results from this summer's "Arts Bootcamp" mini-workshop in art journaling. It was a glorious warm August Sunday, and the grounds of the Arts Centre were festively adorned with tents and booths with a variety of art, crafts, and yummies. Ten students gathered in the shade of a big canopy, and we spent two hours sampling many different journaling techniques - with just 15 minutes for each page! What fun! The mini-workshop was so popular & such a success, that we decided to offer a 6 week course this fall, on Tuesday evenings at the Denman Island Arts Centre. In conjunction with this "live" course, I will be offering the same course on-line, and I'm really excited about opening up this fun and empowering course to a wider range of students than I can on my little island. Each week we'll be exploring a different type of art journal:

WEEK ONE: handmade watercolour journals

We'll learn super-simple techniques for putting together your own journal using watercolour paper, found and decorative papers, and your sewing machine! Once the journal is complete, we will learn simple pen & watercolour techniques for recording daily sketches or on-the-spot travel memories - whether or not you think you can draw. PLEASE BRING: pencil, technical pen, watercolour set and brushes OR watercolour pencils and brushes, a container for water, and some photos/memories of a recent travel experience or other meaningful event (holiday, wedding, new pet, new house, party, etc.) These photos are for reference only so feel free to bring originals. Journal will be provided.

WEEK TWO: beyond scrapbooking: creative play with photos




Using copies of our favourite precious photos, we'll create unique pages that communicate the beauty and drama of our memories. We'll learn various mixed media techniques for backgrounds and layering, and experiment with materials like metallic foils and water soluble crayons. We'll explore creative ways to incorporate text into our pages. Fun journal prompts will help us to compose images and text from our authentic selves.

WEEK THREE: altered books as journals









Using a variety of exciting altering techniques, we'll create a decorated journal with plenty of space for future writing on each page. We'll play with collage, random text, acrylic layering, creating pockets and inserts, and adding embellishments and personal ephemera. We'll have a mini "round robin", giving the other artists in the class a chance to contribute to our books.

WEEK FOUR: the memory painting






This week we'll create a stand-alone mixed media art piece based on a special memory. Working on light weight wood panel, we'll use layered papers, acrylic paint and inks, encaustic, and several types of photo transfer to create a richly layered image.

WEEK FIVE: life narrative: making a personal fairy tale



Using the skills we learned in the altered book and memory painting classes, we'll create an illustrated fairy tale about an important event in our lives. This can be a powerful technique for exploring and sharing our feelings about life's challenges.

WEEK SIX: the dream journal and collage as self-exploration
This week we'll explore the power of collage to reveal the inner workings of our minds and hearts. Emphasis will be less on technique and more on play and exploration. We will learn a few tricks for making your collages smooth and professional looking.
If this course sounds like fun, you can sign up here for the in-person version. For more information about the online course, drop me a line at info@linguaterratile.com, and check this space for updates. To see more of my own journal pages, check out the slideshow in the sidebar.