New Beginnings
Yesterday I showed you the last page of one of my journals from my Composing A Life: A Journal Box series. While the journals are all finished (for now) I plan on still adding to the box occasionally. I will share it with you as I do.
In the meantime, here's my latest journal cover. I started working on this on the 22nd of December. I have about twelve pages to go before I finish. I LOVE this journal (I say that about all of my books.) The pages fold out (I'll show you that soon.)
I started a (rant) discussion on facebook yesterday about how exasperating it is that my art that I love so much (art journaling) isn't taken seriously. It's not a respected art form even though artists have been keeping them for quite some time! The classes aren't taken seriously either. It's considered "craft" (by that I mean, a hobby. Not Craft with a capital C which is something entirely different and is treated with respect.)
To me, art journaling is right up there with breathing and eating. It's something that I have to do. It's not something that I do to occupy my time or to keep idle hands busy. It's something that I am most passionate about doing and encouraging others to do so as well. Making art in a journal is not something new. However, maybe we can finally elevate it to the level of respect and recognition that it deserves in the coming years.
Comments
Your journals are so wonderful and beautiful, and so well thought out. The fact that your journals have now turned into a career is testament to your talent.
I'm just in the midst of reading a wonderful book about what art is or can be that I believe supports your position. Here's a review that summarizes the book much better than I ever could.
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/10/25/art-as-therapy-alain-de-botton-john-armstrong/
The book focuses on experiencing art produced by others but in my opinion it applies to art produced by oneself as well.