This month I've made a commitment to myself and my art practice by doing an art journal page everyday.
Right at the end of November I got the idea. I was already art journaling pretty often, and thought this would be the perfect way to get into a daily art journal habit. With my regular art journal nearing its end, I decided to create a journal dedicated to this month and the start of my daily art journaling practice.
I had a big rolled sheet of paper that I bought in the summer, which I cut that up into reasonable sized-pieces and sewed together in a single signature. Without even counting, I managed to get exactly 30 pages, plus the covers, that I'm counting as one. It's been a while since I made and used my own handmade journal, and it definitely makes it feel more special and full of my creative magic.
I typically have a hard time doing daily challenges, but there are two main things that make this one easier for me.
1. I made it up for myself, so there's no comparison or pressure
I have no other people to compare my challenge to, and don't feel the pressure to join in. I'm doing it for myself only, and because I truly want to.
I also don't need to share my progress everyday (or at all). Of course, I'll probably share the whole journal at the end, but I'm not making each page with that in mind.
Unlike a public daily drawing challenge, where you post what you've done everyday, I can share as much as I want, whenever. And again, because I want to, not because I feel obligated to.
2. An art journal gives so much freedom!
You can do whatever you want in an art journal. It's all about experimenting, exploring and going with the flow. Intuition is the only tool you need. Well, and art supplies.
So far, every page I've done is completely different from the rest. I'm sure I'll repeat ideas as the month goes on, but it's been so much fun to come up with a new idea everyday. And I don't overthink it because there's not enough time to. Whatever my first idea is, is what I end up doing.
Some pages are more "art" and some are just collages of images I like, but it's all valid in an art journal. That's what I love about art journaling!
I'm one week into the challenge. Some days have been a bit harder than others, where I'm waiting until the absolute end of the day to do the page, but overall I'm having a lot of fun. Even the days that I wait until the night, I have to pry myself away from my journal to go to bed.
As someone who puts a lot of pressure on myself to be productive, doing a daily art journal page guarantees some art time each day to do whatever I want, for myself. As long as the process brings me joy or releases built up emotion, it's a good thing. I'm excited to work in my journal each day. And when I'm not excited, I always get into the flow once I've begun.
I'll explain about each page when I do a final wrap-up at the end of the month, so for now, I hope you enjoy the creative randomness and color of my daily art journal!
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