HOW TO USE AN ART JOURNAL (and WHY you really need one)
Art Journal, Notebook, Catalog…whatever name you give it, it’s a must for a more successful art career.
Even if you are just a hobbyist and never plan to sell or market your art, an art journal is a real tool you should consider using consistently.
6 WAYS TO USE AN ART JOURNAL:
- Capture the moment: Inspiration hits at the most inopportune moments sometimes. If you have a journal handy, you can jot down your ideas (paste photos and objects of inspiration).
- Keep track of your art process: One of the most useful for this journal is HOW you created something. You may think you’ll remember exactly what blue (or mix of blues) you used, but trust me, five years from now you will not remember! Track your “recipe” for the creation; keep track of colors, mixes and processes. If you are asked to re-create something, this will give you the exact steps you used.
- Names – naming your art is an essential part of the whole creation process. Sometimes the name is obvious to you, but sometimes you need outside inspiration. Whenever you see a cool word or name, you can jot it down and refer to it when you need to name something.
- Favorites / Shopping List – tools and supplies you like. Jot down which brands work best for you and which you want to avoid. Sometimes shopping online can lead to overwhelm and if you have a guide of what you need to stock your kit (a shopping list of art supplies), it helps to save on purchases.
- Wish List – just like a shopping list, you can jot down items you’d love to have (but maybe won’t invest in). These are great gift ideas for others. If you give family “gift ideas” you can include some of these items, where to buy them, etc. Keeping a wish list is a great time-saver and can help you get some of those coveted items!
- Color Recipes: As mentioned above, keeping track of how you created something can be essential, especially if you take on commissions. You can track color recipes (you own mixes) as well as other recipes you used on certain artworks to create unique finishes, colors, blends and textures. Sometimes it’s not as apparent later as you would think, so write it down!
ART JOURNAL – see inside this art journal
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