Don’t miss a flip-through video in the end of this blog post!
Four years ago, I purchased a new art journal – a big one. It was Dylusions Creative Journal, the largest size. In the beginning, I wanted to do everything “right.” I wanted my journal to have pages that are well-thought and carefully executed. The first couple of spreads went ok, but then, ugly pages started to appear. They were pages that I had just started but got tired on the way. Or pages which began so ugly that I didn’t feel like finishing them. But the longer I used my journal, the more I realized that I could have fun with those ugly pages. I could add more simple motifs and then color them all. I could add black paint and leave only some of the background visible. I could add more ugliness, and once it hit the saturation point, it became – something else.
I am interested in learning all kinds of visual styles. Art journaling has supported it. One day I played a fashion designer and made a quick line illustration with poodles and all. It didn’t look inspiring back then, but a long time later, I had a lot of fun coloring it.
That’s what I love with art journals. The pages don’t get lost, and the ideas don’t get forgotten. Sometimes the ideas are abstract and timeless …
… and sometimes they are illustrations about what’s happening around the world.
Filling the pages in a random order adds its flavor to the journal. A grid-like paper patchwork felt innovative once, but not anymore. It feels pretty stiff, especially when there are freely doodled elements on the opposite page.
But I don’t want to rip off the pages that don’t seem to fit. I accept them all. They are all explorations on the land of Art and Imagination. Sometimes I didn’t get very far, but I believe that all the trips benefited each other. I also believe that when painting on canvases, I feel more confident because I have played freely in my art journals.
Dylusions Creative Journal – Watch the Flip-Through Video!
See all the pages of my large Dylusions Creative Journal!
Enjoy drawing by starting from stick figures! – Buy Drawing Factory!
Inspiring work.
Thank you, Lin!
Wow! Thanks for sharing. Your work is so varied, yet it feels like all it comes from a single source. You have found your voice.
Thanks, Paula! I think it’s good for any artist to play with styles. Plus: it’s so much fun!
What a treat! Thank you very much!
Thank you, Chris!
I love your work, vibrant and beautiful!
Thanks, Karen!
love thanks for sharing paivi
Thank you, Joanne!
Oh Paivi, 11+ minutes of pure pleasure. Thank you for sharing your journal.
Thank you, Barbara! Your comment made my day!
I enjoyed watching this very much! Thank you for sharing your pages and inspiring me to get back to my art journal. Do you gesso your pages before working on them?
Thank you, Diva! I don’t gesso the pages because the paper in Dylusions Creative Journal is so thick. I also like Moleskine Art Plus Sketchbooks and their paper is very similar.
I have a category called “Journal Love” especially dedicated for art journaling, see the posts there: http://www.peonyandparakeet.com/category/inspiration/journal-love/
So good to hear that I have been able to inspire you to art journal again!
Paivi what a beautiful journey and journal. Thank you for sharing it with us. It is so inspiring to see what and why you have created each page. Your sense of color is divine and your drawing skills, ( something I feel I lack), are spot on.
Thank you, Gloria! As far as I know, I don’t see any problem in your drawing skills! I think that experimenting with different styles has made me approach drawing from many angles and that’s just it.
Loved looking through your journal! I have one of the small Dylusions journals and love working in it. Your voice often visits me when I feel a bit meh! about what I’m doing – it says, ‘work through the ugly and concentrate on one small area.’ Sometimes things that I dislike have redeeming qualities after a few days/weeks. Thank you so much. ?
Sue, thanks so much for posting this! I love to be the encouraging voice in your head!
I have so many memories while looking through your journal. I laughed out loud when I saw your pink knitting page, was in awe of your beautiful black coloring on the Scotland page, and still love looking at your work – it makes me relaxed and excited at the same time. Can’t wait to see what you have in that new journal!
Thanks so much, Mary!
Beautiful Paivi! Thank you so much for sharing this with the world. Love your work and am always inspired by your enthusiasm. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Thanks, Meg!!
Beautiful Paivi!! Loved how you let us know what inspired you to do each piece!! Soo interesting!! Thank you for sharing such a wonderfully completed journal!! xoxo
Thank you, Gailie!
I love to see what others have done in their journals! Thanks for sharing–
Thanks, Ginnie! What journal(s) do you use?
danke paivi für den Einblick in dein wunderbares journal.
ich bin begeistert und inspiriert!
herzliche grüße
doris
Danke schön, Doris!!
Thanks for sharing. So enjoyable and so much to look at. Could spend hours with this journal and still not see it all
Thank you, Denise! There are a lot of details but I wanted to make the video fairly short so that I don’t bore anyone!
This is such a wonderful collection of visual varieties of expression. Love all the use of color and line and even your using various mediums and collage. Thanks you for allowing us to see what you have done.
Thank you, Valerie!!
What a feast for the eyes. I see your joy shining.
Thanks, Teresa!
Kiitos, upea!
Kiitos, Taina!
As these pages turn, so many memories and emotions
come up– how inspiring and freeing your teachings have been to me! I had been wary of black before working with you, but you have made me see its beauty. You are always asking us who our favorite artists are–you, dearest Paivi, are my very most favorite artist of all.
Thanks so much, Mackie!! I really appreciate it, especially as I adore your art too!
Love your work! Your journal is so beautiful!
Thank you, Rae!
Thank you so much, Paivi, for continuing to inspire us with your beautiful work. All that you do is appreciated.
Thank you, Elaine!!
Paivi this journal is so amazing1 Thank you for sharing your beautiful works of art.
Thanks, Paula!!
Thank you Paivi for this wonderful video. I paused on each page to really drink in the images. I very much enjoyed your Scotland pages and I think you captured the essence of the Mackintosh Rose and the colour of sun through stained glass. I think, too, that was a depiction of Mary Queen of Scots a couple of pages further on? The whole journal was so fresh and inspiring. Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your work with us.
Thank you, Maria!! Mary Queen of Scots … not intentional, maybe subconscious!
Some of your pages seem to have a shine to them – do you spray them with something? Pages are inspiring and just beautiful.
Thanks so much for sharing
Many of them have gel medium which I use for collage pieces but also mix with acrylic paint. My favorite brand is Golden Soft Gel Gloss which also gives the shine.
love seeing more of your wonderful work .WIll your videos for inspirational drawing stay up after the course is finished ,i am running a bit behind
cheers anne
Thank you! The material is downloadable to your computer until the end of 2017. If you save the material to your computer, you can access it from your computer as long as you want. So no hurry!
I love this! Perhaps I’ll be able to finally use all the “stuff” I’ve accumulated for so long. Thanks!
Kathryn, thanks! Do that!!
What a beautiful and inspirering journalist. Thans you so much for sharing it. ?
Thank you!!