Friday
Jul272012
Use Your Journal
Fri, July 27, 2012 at 10:00AM “When the people of the world all know beauty as beauty, there arises the recognition of ugliness. When they all know the good as good, there arises the recognition of evil.”
Lao Tzu
Do you use your art journal? Your art materials? I mean really USE them? To paint your sadness or paint colors that make you feel good? To write lists? To figure things out?
Let yourself make a mess and get paint on your fingers. Watch what your art materials do when you don't have an elaborate plan.
The idea is not to make pretty stuff and post it on the internet. That's what it seems sometimes. The idea is to enjoy making stuff, whatever that stuff is.
We need to see the flowers. Remind yourself to notice beauty especially when the world is going awry.
Paint flowers. Draw roses. Drip rainbows.
Paint cloudy skies and moonbeams.
♥♥♥
Fearing the blank page? The journaling process? I talk about jumping through that mental barrier in my new podcast with Ricë.
Did you know that you can get the blog posts for Daisy Yellow delivered in your feed reader {something like Google Reader}? Just click here for information on the RSS Feeds for Daisy Yellow. And I'm testing a way to get the posts by email. Let me know if the email thing works!
Reader Comments (16)
YES!!! LOVE!!!:)
thank you. sometimes it seems the only reason for art journaling is to share amazing pages. and then you see them, and you feel guilty or not good enough because your own stuff is not as wonderful. i forget that they're sharing only the really good ones and they probably have hundreds of pages that aren't amazing. reminds me of reading a really good book - we don't see all the previous drafts, just the one that's perfect.
...no. I really don't. I know I should, but for whatever reason it just doesn't seem to happen. I hardly ever get out my paints or any other art supplies. Making collages does soothe my soul, and from time to time I'll tease out a drawing, but just art for art's sake? Hardly ever. And I'm not sure why. Maybe I feel like I don't have the right kind of journal to use or like I need to preserve my art supplies for something Good (I know, it sounds dumb even in my head). I appreciate this post because it's nice to get permission, even from a complete stranger on the internet, to go make a mess and be happy. Thanks.
i love that line, "the idea is not to make pretty stuff and post it on the Internet" . . . It's brilliant! I often stop myself in the creative process for fear of it not measuring up to the amazing things I see posted online. it's so counterintuitive, isn't is? I'm learning, though, to release myself from the expectations and just . . . BE. Love this post!
thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with the world.
I stop by often, I don't usually comment but I just wanted to let you know that your words and images stay with me, leave a mark, make me...I don't know...feel a tiny bit more courageous...
thank you for today.
and for all of your inspirations.
Eliza
p.s. love love love the podcasts!
Thank you Leslie, Michelle, Melydia, Leanne, Eliza, for your kind words. I have honestly been wondering if I've been spinning my wheels with Daisy Yellow. Wondering if people are really reading. I love doing the blog, and sharing, but sometimes I have to admit that feedback helps me keep going, and helps immensely. So thank you.
go tammy! this post completely sums up your podcast with rice. yes, i listened. it reminded me of things in your zines. i see you as an enjoying the process of art making kind of girl.
Great post here. and what a lovely blog! Glad to have found you!
(Well, looks like the comment I just tried to send didn't go...one more try!) I wanted to say thanks for sharing your process--very inspiring. I am going to remind myself to notice beauty every day ESPECIALLY when the world is so awry. From someplace else I read today "The point is to commemorate the day, in a way..to notice it, to make note of it...to leave a trace."I love your mission: encouraging us to try! Now, to go do it!
Ditto to all of the above. Sometimes I am afraid that my art legacy will be every color of acrylic paint of every brand still intact and unused, stored neatly in plastic tubs. Thanks for this reminder that it's not about amassing all the right art supplies before you get started, but about making stuff and enjoying the process with what you have. Grenae
I agree with all the above posts! Excellent insights in this one! Just so you know, I read your blog/website everyday! Dear, you are the one who started me art journaling. Thank you so much for sharing your words, encouragement and talent! :)
Thank you Teddi, Danielle, Mary Jo, Grenae and Ali. You guys are wonderful. Your feedback really does wonders for my motivation!
You are not just a voice in the wilderness! You are being heard! I have subscribed to many blogs, too many, in fact, and have begun culling those blogs that don't resonate with me. I appreciate everyone's contribution, but the RSS feed is a little out of control ! Your blog stays on the list, however ! Love your content, your voice, your sharing. Keep doing what you're doing!
I love your blog. I love the inspiration and the outpouring of ideas and creativity and enthusiasm and encouragement. Sometimes I'm really keen to post what I'm doing and then sometimes I have to stop for a while and just let myself do my own thing in my own space and time. I wish I could give back a tenth/ a hundredth of the support I feel I've gotten because this blog and a circle of others have really helped me see my way to making creative space in my every day. I am SO grateful. Thanks Tammy!
Lizzie Bo, You do truly give back inspiration. Knowing that you guys are there, reading, playing, trying new things, that's super fantastical. I just have moments where I question what I'm doing.
Kelley, Thank you for your kind words. They mean a great deal! I am super duper happy that you are finding value in the content here! Yay!