Artists Journals

Copyright Lora's Crafts and Arts Ideas

I decided to dedicate this page to artist's journals, this is something that I always wanted to do but was afraid of do it wrong. Why, because I didn't thought that my creations were good enough to be called art. That insecurity and the naive thought that an artist was only one that create realistic and exuberant pieces. It took me years to understand that everything that we create to express ourselves is a form of art. Still, it took me even longer to have the courage to keep my art and show it off to my friends and family. 

I have always have my mind in the clouds, imagining and with the urge to create and express my self. I started writing poems on pieces of scrap papers and hiding them because I was too shameful if someone finds it and says is not good. So I decided to release this urge for creating with crafts, like jewelery, decoupage, card making, etc. I also took pictures and never printed them, I only kept them hidden in my computer or the films were never developed and lost. It wasn't until I started wearing the jewelery I crafted that I felt my art talent and thoughts appreciated. My friend at college love it and soon I started selling my handmade jewelery. My thirst of creation was quench, a bit, until my engineering studies started to claim more of my time and I had to stop. After that, a couple of years pass by and now in my late twenties I decided to hear to the voice inside me. Still afraid of not been good enough to keep an art journal I decided to do some research and look for some inspirational voice and example. After reading different art and craft books, and watching some you tube videos I found what I was looking for, courage and confidence. So I decided to grab the bull by the horns and start making an art journal. 

It wasn't as easy as I thought; trying to get rid of those negative thoughts of not been good or that if it wasn't "perfect" I'll mess it up. So basically I stop, and started using the lame excuse that the journals and art supplies were expensive so I couldn't throw my money away. But the voice inside my soul, didn't quite down and a that voice told me, then make your journals yourself.  This led to more researching and I found beautiful and inspirational hand-bounded books that fire up, even more, my artistic desire. So I did, I started making small books, and looking for art supplies sales. I really enjoy binding my own journals and creating covers for them, I discover a new passion. Now, that I had two or three art journals I was facing the same problem again, what to do that looks pretty and perfect. At this point, the artist within me is yelling at me, no, this time it wasn't letting me go and run away like a scare mouse in front of a hungry cat. I couldn't run from it anymore, and again I went to look for some courage and inspiration; I found it.


In her book " Artist's Journal Workshop", Cathy Johnson states that ans art journal is a book full of drawings, calligraphy, collage, etc,  that are often meant to be display and sold. She suggest to create and artist's journal, which is a journal that the artist will keep. And that is what I want to do, not for the meaning of keeping it for myself, since I'll be sharing it with all of you, is the fact that I do it for me, for my enjoyment and self satisfaction. There are no worries about it been liked or not, it will have the essence of my feelings and inspiration without restrictions; there mistakes will not be mistakes and luck is not necessary. You can call it an art journal, but for me it is an artist's journal, and I am the artist.


Another wonderful book is "Creative awakenings" by Sheri Gaynor; this inspirational book carve its inspirational words right inside your soul. It was in this book that I read for the first time this beautiful poem:

What in you life is calling you?

When all the noise is silenced,

the meetings adjourned,

the lists laid aside,

and the wild iris blooms by itself

in the dark forest,

what still pulls on your soul?

In the silence between your heartbeats

hides a summons.

Do you hear it?

Name it, if you must,

or leave it forever nameless,

but why pretend it is not there?

-The Terma Collective, "The Box: Remembering the Gift"

This poem applies to any desire you have, not just as an artist but as a human being. I heard my call, and although I might not be ready to run through that path, I'm not pretending the call is not there anymore. With baby steps I'll walk my path, after all I had finally found it and I want to savor every step of the way.