simple mood-shifting visual journal practice (video) | Something From the Studio 13

In this short video, I muse and paint in an altered book art journal, sharing a very simple and uplifting Creative Practice approach… a sort of meditation, where I let the thoughts, pressures or agenda of my day roll on by for a little while.

This practice is not about making grand fine art or even an exemplary, layered art journaling spread.

It’s not about refining skill or challenging yourself or setting and meeting an intention even.

This approach is just about showing up to your practice, as you are - maybe even when you are likely to find a million excuses not to - but doing it anyway, because you know you feel better when you take that time to just breathe and let go.

It’s a pressure-free way to relax into a very simple approach - in my case, in an altered book.

Despite its simplicity, though, it can still spark inspiration, form and develop how you see and express in your visual language, bring a little beauty into your day, and shift your mood or focus from worries, tension or stress into the peace of the present moment.

At least that’s what I find. Even though that’s not the point. ;-)

This approach works well in altered landscape, nature or geographical books (like mine in the video), or you could easily do this with a magazine image - loose or adhered into another art journal or sketchbook.

Like in the video, try first finding and filling the negative spaces on your image with colors that delight you.

Try going thick with your paints or medium.

Or maybe fall into the flow of making a repetitive pattern for a bit.

See where that leads your interest or aesthetic desire on the page.

But most importantly, just move color and play around on the page for the sheer sake of enjoying yourself.