Art Journal Inspiration from Guest Artist Ivy Newport

A special thank you from Somerset Place to Guest Artist Ivy Newport for providing this amazing art journal spread for today’s blog post. 

Hello there! I’m Ivy Newport and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be sharing with you today a recent art journaling spread that I did.

For me, art journaling is a visual way for me to express myself, experiment and play! Without the pressure or expectation of a finished piece of work this means of creative expression is both relaxing and cathartic.

So let me show you how I did it…

First of all, I LOVE using old, antique ledgers for my art journals. Sure, I have to tape them up and do some repair on them but the gorgeous vintage writing, old paper, and worn texture just makes me happy so I gently use them with the respect they deserve. They are pieces of history after all — since when can you get a dozen eggs for 15 cents! You can often find these ledgers on Etsy, Ebay, or at local antique stores.

Here are the supplies I used for this project:

• • Assorted craft paints
  • White gaff tape
  • Fine tip paint applicator
  • Black Stabilo pencil
  • Titanium white acrylic paint
  • Matte medium
  • Collage materials
  • Sharpie Meanstreak in white
  • Micron pen .05 black
  • Clear gesso
  • Clay tool to scratch into paint
  • Pental ink brush – black

• Assorted brushes
• Wax paper
• Vintage Ledger

STEP 1: Prepare Your Book

I use white gaff tape down the center of the page and then use clear gesso to prepare the paper. I often glue a few pages together with matte medium to create a more rigid substrate too. I like to use wax paper in between my pages while I work to protect the rest of the book.

STEP 2: Pick Your Colors & Collage Materials

While this all dries, I like to select my color palette. I love using color palettes to help define the theme of my spread, make my color choices easier and achieve color harmony and balance throughout the composition.

Based on my chosen color palette, I pull ephemera, photos, and words from my rather large collage stash that suit that family of colors. I also select paints (often acrylic craft paints) to use in the mix!

STEP 3: Collage

I begin to collage these papers in my art journal using matte meium as my glue. I try not to overthink this step (or any of them really!) and just allow myself to intuitively make decisions.

STEP 4: Paint Party

After I’m happy with my paper placement, I begin to rub paint no with my fingers. It’s messy but this helps me connect with the spread physically and I find it very relaxing. Plus, I love the soft blending that results from this technique.

Step 5: Mark Making

After I have some paint down I begin to use my black Stabilo pencil or black Micron pen to go in and sketch details and add contrast. This creates focal points and areas of interest. Again, I do this rather intuitively and trust in the knowledge that if I don’t like something I will simply collage or paint over it. This frees me up to explore mark making, random sketching, and writing.

*TIP*

To create a more fluid workflow, I often surround myself with my favorite mixed media materials — ink, charcoal, paint, etc. so that I can simply grab them as I feel the pull to use them. This is such a great way to really enjoy all your mixed media materials!

Paint over magazine images to make them your own. They can be great visual prompts to add further depth to your spread.

STEP 6: Keep Moving

I move around the spread working on areas that call to me and leaving alone others that need development. I try not to get hung up on one particular area but rather keep moving. This not only allows your mind to wander and relax but it creates a more cohesive finish.

*TIP*

Remember an art journal spread is not a finished piece of art on a canvas or board that will be hung on the wall, so let yourself get loose and remove expectations of the work. Let it evolve organically. (It also helps to have a really cute kitten next to you helping you work! lol! That’s my new kitten, Leo, next to me!)

STEP 7: White Details

I absolutely love to add fine white paint details and marks to my pieces so I often use my Fine Tip Paint Applicator to do just that! If you don’t have one of these you need to get one!

*TIP*

These days most of us have countless photos on our phone. Consider getting these printed out to use in your art journals. It’s very inexpensive and such a wonderful way to use personal images in your work. Coat with a layer of matte medium or clear gesso and you can paint right on that photo too! Also look for words, phrases, song lyrics, etc. that resonate with you. These can make powerful statements in your work.

Here is the finished spread. I absolutely loved creating it on a rainy afternoon!

 

I hope you enjoyed reading about my process for this art journaling project. I hope you will pick up your own art journals and go create!

 

Thanks to Stampington and Company for inviting me to post on your beautiful blog!

xo,

Ivy

ivynewport.com

 

Guest Artist Ivy Newport has been published in Somerset Apprentice Spring 2015, Somerset Digital Studio Spring 2015, Artful Blogging Summer 2013, Somerset Digital Studio Spring 2013, and Somerset Apprentice Spring 2012.