Today I did things a little differently. I created my journal page first and then came to you and shared the why and how of it. I used an old piece of mine for inspiration. And I’m putting that piece in the subscriber library as a free download in case it might inspire you.

Today’s process for me was about processing. I needed a safe place to put my feelings and to get it all out. Of course, I’d written it out in my journal, but then I tore those pages out of my journal and used them as my first layer of texture.

It felt so good to cover them up, and typically I would do this in my personal art journal, but I want to really show you that our journals are the place we let it go.

Too many times I’ve been told that someone has stopped creating because of trauma, or a diagnosis, or hardship… and that’s the last thing we should do.

I know, I know…. we may have to pause (just for a second) but the benefits to our mind, body and soul, when we scratch out, paint out, or collage out our emotion is sooo beneficial.

I’ll share a little bit more of my story and the journey to this page and why our scars are beautiful in the video.

I hope you enjoy the project and that it inspires you to pull up a chair and get it out.  YOU are loved!

Supplies used:

1. My handmade art journal
2. Liquitex fluid matte medium
3. Liquitex gesso white
4. Utrecht gesso for texture
5. Liquitex black spray paint
6. Daler-Rowney sepia acrylic ink
7. Black and brown soft pastel stick
8. Kohinoor soft pastel pencils
9. Generals charcoal pencil
10. Palette knife, dough scraper, old key card
11. Masking tape to tear the pages
12. Acrylic paint – olive green, quin magenta, burnt sienna, titan buff, unbleached titanium, Alzarian crimson hue, raw umber
13. Collage paper

Stencils used: THESE WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEK

1. Peony Buds and Blossoms
2. Simple Background 3 5×8
3. Simple Background 6 5×8
4. Simple Background 7 5×8
5. Journal Writing with mask