In the last couple of weeks’ Sunday newsletters I have mentioned the 2016 Art Journal Adventure, a year-long project that will kick off on Wednesday January 6, 2016. My goal is to create a page or page spread once a week for the entire year.
The AJA kicks off on the 6th, with a video tutorial that outlines my plan for the project, my choice of journal (Dylusions Square Kraft Journal), and complete details about how I created the first page spread.
What you see here is one half of that first spread as I wanted to give everyone some sense of where I’m going. The video explains the process to create the spread so anyone who would like to use the techniques can. Your pages and spreads do not need to look like mine of course, so deviate as much as you’d like. The AJA is about creating, in whatever shape or form you wish, using the theme, prompt, or suggestion for that week.
Subsequent AJA blog posts will happen on Mondays, with the second one due on Monday the 11th. Each week I will do… something. Demo a technique. Work using a prompt. Explore a theme. I have lots of ideas to share to get you working in your own 2016 AJA journal.
The second week’s theme is working in a grid, which is really simple to do. How you interpret that gridded theme is where the fun really happens as I expect there will be lots of variation on the grids. Large blocks or small? Evenly sized and spaced or not? Color inside of the blocks? Outside of them? As you can see, even with a simple idea like working in a grid there are many directions to go in.
I’m considering creating a gallery of photos of my own page spreads and samples all of you send. I would love it if this project turns into something big, with lots of folks participating and sending photos for me to post in the gallery. I need nice, crisp photos of at least 500 pixels wide, but no larger than 700 pixels in either direction.
I hope you’ll join in the fun and am looking forward to seeing your work.
Barb
32 Comments
Very exciting! Can’t wait… a new year and a new look at creativity!
This is going to be so much fun, cannot wait.
I always look forward to your emails — and now your blog posts! Can’t wait to get started on this new adventure with you. Thanks for being such a good muse 🙂
Great idea Barbara. I have been lax in my journaling the past several months and I hope your art will inspire me and get me back in the groove. thanks for doing this!
Lorraine
sounds like fun, barb, i am obligated in many directions but will do the prompts when i can. that’s a good idea to use the square journal, i may do the same thing. Merry Christmas to you and your staff, you make me smile and make my heart glad on a regular basis. <3
I am looking forward to this journal adventure. I learn so much from your videos.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
Annie
I am so excited to hear about your new adventure. I love your videos and can’t wait to see your art journal pages and process and the ideas that they will spark for me.
This is going to be so much fun and a great way to get ideas flowing. Thank you for doing this project that we can also follow along in our journals.
Sounds like lots of fun, and I’m looking forward to it.
Looking forward to this new adventure in 2016. Love your emails and tutorials and now your blog.
Officially jazzed! What a great early Christmas present. Thanks, Barb. It’s just what I wanted. And needed.
Super idea, Barb! Love your tutorials; can’t wait to see your 2016 creativity. Happy Holidays!
So many new things and new looks. Looks like 2016 will be good for all of us !!! Thanks for all the hard work.
I can’t wait. Great idea!! I have the Dylusions Square Kraft Journal just waiting for me to use. Thanks for doing this Barb. Happy Holidays to everyone at Casa Joggles.
I can’t wait to start! You are my favorite teacher! Thanks for your help.
Oh I am so interested in your art journal idea. I have never been able to start one. As for the pictures well, 500 and 700 pixels mean absolutely nothing to me. I can send a picture from my camera and that is about it. Not sure what the pixels from my camera might be.
I am excited!! Would like a list of supplies we need for the first couple weeks please so we can keep up with you. Merry Christmas!!
This is exciting! You know how much I love the Midweek Muse…so something interactive is a sure-fire hit with me!!!
Merry Christmas!!!
Ii am so looking forward to this. I have never worked in a journal before and am new to this form of creativity. I love the videos and have learned a great deal from watching. This is a great way to start a learning and fun year.
Ginnie
Made a mistake. The comments are above the other info. Below. What a mess.
I am really looking forward to this Barb. I love your tutorials and am excited for what you’re doing in the coming year!
This sounds like so much fun and a great way to make yourself take time to create! So excited!
This is a super idea! You offer just the type of instruction I need and you cover a wide variety of techniques ! Looking forward to it!
Just when you think you’ve opened up all the presents under the Christmas tree, you find another. What fabulous news – an art journal video from you every week! What can I expect? Creative projects demonstrated clearly using wonderful products, accompanied by the Joggles enthusiasm and passion we have so learned to love! Thank you Barb!
For sure; I’ll follow you on AJA… since last year I watched all yours wednesday’s videos.
Pretty /funny lessons. Tahank you sharing thoses.
Hummm….I’m thinking this is something I would like to do. I can do it in the comfort of my own home with all my supplies and tools around me and I don’t have to go some where else to take the class. This sounds exciting. But then I get excited over all your videos.
Can’t wait to get started! Thanks for sharing all you do!
Can hardly wait to get started. Love all of your videos and your style of journaling. This will be so much fun!
I am brand new in my art journaling journey. I am looking forward to joining you in this adventure. I even made a journal yesterday to use for it. I made it out of mixed media paper and the cover to an old cookbook. The pages are 8″ x 9″ I think this is close enough to be able to use it to work along beside you. I just stitched the signatures into the book binding with a simple pamphlet stitch and green waxed linen carpet thread that was in the sewing machine I inherited from my grandmother. I have saved that thread for 20 years not knowing what I was going to do with it, but just loving how cool it looked on that big wooden spool. I am amazed how strong it is and I am sure it is more than 60 years old.
Looking forward to this – as I do all your tutorials. I appreciate your articulate, encouraging, clear instructions and the way you frequently point in other directions should someone wish to create a variation of what you are doing. Your information on the supplies is very useful. . .anything gained by listening (instead of doing something 3 ineffective ways first) is a BIG plus, and your are very generous with information. Glad you will be doing one spread, or page, per week. Am hoping I will be able to make time to work along with you as the year goes on.
I’m committing to this! I just ordered my journal and excited to begin.
I love calendars. I really enjoyed last year’s calendar project. I started and then I started a two year graphic design program at the local community college and became too busy. This year I will be following along with the blog. Thank you for all of your videos and hard work. Happy New Year. 🙂