Art Journal Exercises Based on “Art Journal Freedom” by Dina Wakley

I don’t actually do much “training” or “studying” for my new art hobby (as is fairly obvious from the results). But, I am really enjoying “playing” with some ideas I am learning from Dina Wakley’s book, Art Journal Freedom. I am learning to insert a little variety in my projects.

For example, sometimes I might want to use symmetry, as in the next two examples:

For the above page, I started with Tim Holtz music tissue paper, adhered on top of wet white gesso. Next I used Tim Holtz Distress Stains (Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn, and Mustard Seed). Used several stamps, some with Archival Ink, some with paints. Outlined border of page with Oil Pastel.

The above spread was made with several acrylic paints. The eight squares on the grids were cut from Gelli Plate prints on white card stock.

At other times, I might want to use asymmetry, as in this example:

On this page I used some Dylusions spray inks (this is NOT my favorite technique—just can’t get the hang of it) and acrylic paint, white gel pen.

Dina also points out the value of using “white space,” as in the following example:

Now, that is something I almost NEVER do, and I can see her point. However, it was almost impossible for me to leave this page as is. This was a second-generation Gelli Plate print that I adhered into my journal and then used Perfect Pearls/water to highlight some of the empty squares. I also sprayed through a “mask” that was left over from a scalloped heart I cut from the Cricut.

Learning…