A Book of Quotes: Art Journal Inspiration with Editor Amber Demien

I am pretty new to the world of art journaling, although I’ve been doing it all my life.  As a child, I remember watching my mother write in her journal; mostly she jotted down passages from a poem or her favorite lyrics of a song. It seemed to me that her journal was a place of pretty words, even if they weren’t really hers. You see, some people collect buttons and some people collect stamps, but my mother collected meaningful and inspiring words. So imagine my delight when Amber Demien, the Managing Editor of Art Journaling, told me about her idea to create a journal where she planned to gather all of her favorite quotes.

Clearly, there’s no “one true way” to write, paint, or draw in an art journal. A journal is a safe place for self-expression, no matter what form that expression takes. Flipping through the pages of our July issue of Art Journaling, I am simply amazed at each and every creation I see. There are so many unique ideas and all of them are thoughtful and beautiful in their own way. We’re very fortunate to have Amber join us here at Somerset Place because her particular idea for this art journal is something that anyone can do.

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Considering my line of work, it probably comes as no surprise that I love quotes. I love flipping leisurely through books of quotes and perusing quotes websites (two of my favorite websites are quotegarden.com and goodreads.com). I keep a folder on the desktop of my computer at work so when I unexpectedly come across a quote online, I can save it to inspire me again on another day. This is also a great mental exercise while at work, when I need to take a short break from whatever I am working on: I pop on over to a quotes website, and soak up some words of wisdom.

During my most introspective moods, I tend to bury myself in a good book; but if that isn’t possible, swimming through a sea of quotes is the next best thing. I turn to quotes to be cheered up, to be inspired, and sometimes I even exacerbate a bad mood by reading quotes on melancholy topics … which I don’t recommend. Quotes can also serve as advice. Recently, I fell out of touch with a close friend who had moved away. My efforts to stay connected weren’t returned, and I was left feeling hurt and rather bitter about friendship in general. Wondering whether my expectations were too high, I searched for quotes online for some advice about friendship. I must say that I found many quotes that offered me perspective and comfort, some that encouraged me to be hopeful and optimistic, and even some that justified my bitter mood. Here is one of my favorites: “Growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I’m glad for that” ~Ally Condie.

 

~Photo by Vivienne McMaster from our Autumn 2013 issue of Somerset Life

I’ve spoken with many artists who feel similarly about quotes. Sometimes a world of inspiration can be found in the words of others — words can be a key that opens up a door inside of you. I’ve been working on a small collage journal lately, but haven’t added one word to it — not because I haven’t wanted to, but because I felt that this particular journal was meant for something different. It dawned on me recently that this journal would be the perfect place to collect my favorite quotes — much more meaningful and permanent than a folder in my computer. Since my epiphany, I have daydreamed about my son picking up this journal in the future, reading through the many wise, inspiring words, and experiencing the same profound impact that they had upon me. I can’t wait to get started.

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Thanks so much for sharing this unique idea with us Amber Demien. I am sure most of us have our very own collection of quotes, either stashed away in a drawer somewhere or saved on a Pinterest board. This is a good way to incorporate all those important words into a creative space where they’ll always be within reach.

 

Want More Creative Ideas for Your Art Journal?

For more creative project ideas, as well as tips and techniques from well-known artists, check out our July issue of Art Journaling.