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The Social Journal Notes

A group for artists and creatives in Kent to make meaningful art journals whilst reflecting, exploring, creating and sharing during our time in isolation.

#thesocialjournal

This period is an opportunity for all of us, together, to journal our experiences and to share our creations.
Together, through art journaling, we will combine culture, making art, experimenting and connecting with other creatives. We will use a variety of techniques writing, drawing, painting and collaging… not just digital stuff. It’s good to get away from the screen…

Artists

At the end of each day, making notes via an art journal will give you the freedom to practice and develop as an artist. The discussions you will have with your peers will help you develop even further. A perfect opportunity to realise your artistic potential and compile ideas that you can use afterwards in your practice.

Non artists

Both a personal diary and a creative release, an art journal is a perfect opportunity to let your imagination wild, whilst keeping a record of your thoughts and ideas. It is a liberating process.

Let’s get going

Having a goal or choosing a theme makes it easier and you’ll get more satisfaction making it. So, I am suggesting two ways to do this, both inspired by what we feel and see during the day.

1 – fill up a notebook with your activities whilst in isolation, your daily walk, your shopping, your thoughts, your feelings… about this extraordinary experience. Recording, collecting, remembering… in a diary.

2– getting inspiration from virtual museums collections. Not being able to go out and visit museums is frustrating. However, all sorts of virtual visits are now possible, discovering new sources of artistic inspiration. It’s OK to maintain a little bit of technology in this project, so we will share links to a number of them.

So… cover your notebook pages with notes, words, quotes, drawings, sketches, wishes, emotions, stick photos on, sew fabrics on…. You will enjoy going through them and finding inspiration and forgotten ideas. Remember there is no right or wrong.

Sharing

You don’t have to share your notebook. It is fine to keep it for yourself.

If you do, please do it on these platforms:

  • On our Facebook group
  • On Instagram using #thesocialjournal

Tips

  • Collect bits of papers, magazines, fabric… with colours, patterns, shapes, textures, illustrations, photographs… anything that you can cut out and add to your journal.
  • Start your journal with the cover
  • Take photos and print them
  • Go back to previous pages and change them.
  • No need for a strict method. Just start and see where the process will take you.

Get ideas and inspiration from others

Key words: Art journal, art journaling, scrapbooks, artist books, diaries..

  • Look for artist notebooks
  • Create an “Art Journals” board in Pinterest to store images that inspire you
  • Follow # in Instagram
  • Look for videos on Youtube. Save those you like as favourites in a “Art Journal” list

Examples:

 

Read