Thursday, April 14, 2011

True Confessions



I am a journaler. Okay, I said it. Outloud. For everybody to hear.

I share most of the artwork I create and the art projects I am involved with on this blog. But one thing I have never shared before are my personal journals. I do not journal daily, weekly, or sometimes even monthly. But I do journal. And I find there are definitely times when I feel the need to journal. One of the things I like about journaling is the fact that there are no rules. I can do it my way, in my time, in my style. And because I journal with no expectation of my pages being seen, it is very freeing. My journaling style tends to be different from my art. But it reflects me nonetheless.


So why am I talking about this now? It is because Create Mixed Media has started The Open Page, a group on Flickr for journalers.


You can join the group, upload your journals and journal pages, and take a look at everybody elses. It is like an open door into the heart of the artist.

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My personal journals are always handmade. Once they are bound, I begin by painting the pages with a wash.


The next step for me is to add images. In my current journal I am taking my images from an ever-growing pile of torn pages from books, magazines, newspapers, and the like.



My last step is adding the journal writing itself.




All the pages in my journal are at different stages, so there is something to work on no matter what I am in the mood to do.

Head on over to The Open Page on Flickr. You can see more of my journal pages and add your own!

37 comments:

Pat Quilty said...

love your journal pages Seth. Thanks for sharing.
patq

Maureen said...

Thank you for the peek. You put so much creativity into your journals.

Kathryn Dyche said...

Wow, thanks for sharing. I always feel so priviledged seeing others journal pages.

Ro Bruhn said...

It's always good to see how other people journal, yours is a great source of inspiration as ever.

Kelly Kilmer said...

I love these, Seth. Thank YOU for sharing!!

Karin Bartimole said...

fantastic Seth - I love getting a glimpse into your personal work! Thank you so much for sharing this facet of your process - I'll check out the The Open Page soon!

Lisa said...

Very intriguing..like peeking into someone's window!

I think one must be very disciplined to journal..my methodology is a random piece of paper with scribbled handwritten notes that I often can't decipher after the fact...

mansuetude said...

Sweet.

My journals are either all writing or scratches smudges paint little frags. Two separate worlds.

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

Seth you have been so generous to share your journals in their progression...it is almost as if I am sitting down beside you in the studio and hearing your voice reveal their stories. I feel honored having your friendship and sacred art marks in my life. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Leslie Avon Miller said...

You are such a fun artist guy!

Lynn Cohen said...

journals are so personal...I feel honored to be welcomed in to see and hear what's on your mind.

i love the hand made books as the jumping off place for sharing your
SELF.

thank you Seth.

Unknown said...

I love the idea that the pages are at different stages so you can go from one page to another. I've always journalled page by page, so I think I need to give something like this a try. I like how some of the images are just there looking out into the space and one day the words will appear beside them. Fascinating post. Thanks.

Marit said...

Seth, I'm happily surprised to see you make journal pages too. Instand recognision on a Friday morning! I'm heading over to the Flickr group now, and add some pages of my own. See you there. Hooray for art journalers! Enjoy your weekend!

Laura said...

Oh so rich is everything Seth...

Julie Shackson said...

Lovely images Seth; thanks for sharing!

Caterina Giglio said...

wonderful post Seth... and so very brave for sharing the written words too... I am always obscuring my text... awesome big eyed buddha... that image will stay in my head... and thanks for the Open Page!

Bill said...

Thanks for sharing your awesomeness! (I hope someone didn't already say that. I'm at work and don't have time to read the other responses.)

Rebeca Trevino said...

this is inspiring. i have tried journaling in the past, but have not had much success. thanks for the tips and ideas on how to move through it. i think maybe i can now try again.

just wondering, what kind of paper do you use? hand made paper? water color paper?
thanks, seth, this was great.

Anonymous said...

no rules, no expectations, a personal outlet that's never shared, that's all true for me too, I posted a few any who and it will be fun to see what others share, thanks for the link

Kris said...

These are great Seth. Being a closet journaler myself, I really appreciate
your effort in sharing here!

Ricë said...

You're fabulous. We love you.

ArtPropelled said...

Seth I so appreciate your sharing of these pages. It is often a surprise to find I'm on the same wavelength of friends i meet in the blog world..... though it shouldn't be a surprise at all.

Pam McKnight said...

thanks for sharing Seth. I go through journal spurts. This has been an "Off" journal time for me, but with all the talk about journals lately...I think it is time to start again!

Barbara Hagerty said...

Your pages are fabulous Seth, and authentic! Thanks so much for sharing them!

Parabolic Muse said...

Hey, you. Thanks for finally sharing your journal pages with us! I mean, what have you been DOing?!!

It's scary for me to share them. But I'm liking me some Flickr, so I may join. Thanks for giving me another addiction.

Your pages rock. I think everyone should dedicate at least one of their journal pages to me.

You probably haven't heard this, so I felt you should know.

Mary said...

ah Seth, such great pages, thank you so much for letting us get a glimpse of them.

Paula said...

I'm so glad that I popped over here! I really enjoyed seeing a bit of your process, and oh, yes, I'll be heading over to that Flickr group!

Nettie Edwards said...

Seth, I've been away for so long, I really feel out of the loop but returning here and reading this post has really excited me. i have begun muxed-media journalling and seeing your approach has made me realise that I don't have to have one page completed before I begin another, that I can journal across the entire book. Thanks x

Harnett-Hargrove said...

I like to work this kind of sketch-it-out, fill-it-in kind of perimeter thingy, too. I had suspicions, thanks for the confirmation. J

GalleryJuana said...

Journals can be very personal. I can only imagine the trove of images you have! Thanks for giving us a peek at your process and your inspiring pages.

rivergardenstudio said...

Dear Seth, I saw this post before, but wanted to come back and really look again and to read your words. I absolutely love these pages, especially when I look closer.
I am captivated by the playful colors and designs and how they stand beside your words... thoughts and dreams that seem to just pour out from your pen and around the images.
My favorite is your page on synchronicity. It is very magical, like you!

Anonymous said...

Seth it is so cool to see your journal pages, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them! Very cool. You write a lot more in your journal pages than I do. Which I really admire.

KEEP JOURNALING AND KEEP POSTING!!!

azirca said...

You have beautiful handwriting, it's so neat and legible. Mine is chaotic and at times indecipherable, even I have trouble reading my scrawlings!

Kathy McCreedy said...

Hey Seth...
I never knew a. that you journaled or b. that you made your own journals! I am annoyed... next thing you're going to tell us is you made the paper and ground the pigments, AND that you are a superb cook!!! (I kid you)
I'd love to know how you bind your books... I've always wanted to make my own journals, but regardless of how many books I have on the subject, I've never actually bound a book and I'm frankly intimidated by the idea. Thank you for sharing your terrific journal pages with us, once again, I've been inspired!

Anonymous said...

love your peeks! i journal too, and will check out this group. it's funny -- sometimes i don't touch any of my journals for a year. later i'll spend weeks working on three in unison. fun, isn't it!

thanks so much for sharing!!

Kathleen Harrington said...

Ooohhhh! I am drinking in the journal pages. The Winging It All the Time one is so apropos to my current situation, hopping from homeless shelter to homeless shelter. I will keep your page in mind when it is time to wing it again in a few days. I wouldn't be surprised if the new Flickr group becomes one of the biggest on the web. Scissors Glue Bits Pieces Pens Paint, here I come!

Gillian McMurray said...

Fantastic and thank you for sharing them with us. I've tried to journal. Really, I have. But I just couldn't. I used to write in a diary regularly and I keep a nature notebook these days but they aren't as beautiful as your pages.