When I do art journal pages, my main purpose is to write.  I love doing art to create a page to write on, but I don’t create a piece of art in my journal. I create a page that allows me to write because writing is the way I document my life. I write about my experiences, my gratitude and I write about problems and issues I’m dealing with.

What I want to share through Creative Clown is both the art I do on pages and the writing process.  I want to share this because it truly has made my life much, much richer and has helped me move forward and have a much better life.  The problem I’ve encountered in being able to share this with you, is this: my writing process is intuitive so it’s been difficult for me to know how to share this process.  But this morning as I was writing in my journal, right in the middle of writing about an issue, I could see the process I was using.  I was able to break in down into explainable steps. I’m excited that I can finally share it with you.

Here is the basic idea, but you need to keep in mind, that it is a process, so as you are going through the steps, things will arise that will affect the flow, so go with what comes up for you.  You may get off on another thought or have other things you need to write.  This is a guide only.  Below the guide you will see where I have shown an example of how I used the guide.

1.  Write out the problem in a few words.

2.  Who does it affect?

3.  Who is responsible for finding a solution?

4.  Who might help me find a solution?

Before you go on to step 5, go back to step 2 and under each person you listed, answer “How?”
Go to step 3 and under each person you listed, answer, “Why?”
Go to step 4 and under each person you listed, answer, “How?”

5.  Possible solutions.

By the time you get here, you probably have thought of some solutions.  Write each one out, but leave space under each one.
After you’ve written each possible solution, go back and  under each one answer “Is this a good solution?” and answer it yes, no or maybe.
On the ones you write maybe or no, answer the question “Why not”.

Again, I want to stress that this isn’t nearly as linear as it appears in an outline.  It’s an intuitive process and if you can just follow the guidelines, while allowing yourself to go where it takes you, you will find solutions. That is why it’s important to write the first four steps, before you go back and answer the questions under each area.  By the time you’ve written those first four things, you will already be getting answers, but it’s not really a question and answer type process.  Just write out the problem and who it affects, etc without stopping so that you will already be naturally seeking solutions.

Here is my example of how I used the process with a particular problem:

PROBLEM:
I can’t find my style in art – I like too many different styles to settle on one.

WHO DOES IT AFFECT?
Me
How?  I spend more time worrying about it then painting.
It keeps me from selling art.
It takes away my confidence.
I am not making money.

Randy
How?  He doesn’t have me as a happy partner when I’m worrying about this.
I’m not selling art and bringing in money.

WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO FIND A SOLUTION?
Me
Why?  It’s a personal thing. No one can tell me what my style is.

WHO MIGHT COULD HELP FIND A SOLUTION?
Artists I admire
How?  I could look at their anrt and see how they incorporate different looks, colors and media into one style.
I could write them and ask for guidance.
Randy
How?  Tell him what I’m struggling with so I’m not dealing with it alone.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
View the work of artists I admire.
Is this a good solution?  yes

Write artists I admire and ask for guidance.
Is this a good solution?  Maybe
Why?  I feel silly and intimidated.

Talk to Randy.
Is this a good solution? yes

Spend more time painting.
Is this a good solution?  yes

Put art up for sale whether I have a style or not.
Is this a good solution?  yes.

If you use the process I’d love to hear from you.  I’m happy to discuss it with you if you get stuck or need help with it.

Lastly, I”m going to show you an image of a journal page where I’ve worked out a problem.  You’ll see that I don’t use an outline, I just write in a natuaral way that takes me through the steps.

Click to see larger image

Alphabet of Gratitude

I believe that graitude is a necessary part of living an emotionally and spiritually healthy life.  It isn’t always easy, though, to recognize what we are grateful for especially when things aren’t going well in our lives.  Sometimes we need little tricks to help us find things that we are truly grateful for.  The reason these tricks are necessary is because when we find the gratitude, we find the gifts, blessings and even choices in our lives, and that leads to peace and joy.

When I was in junior high school, my best friend, Erin, taught me a trick to use the alphabet when trying to remember someone’s name.  She told me to go through the alphabet as I tried to think of the name, and when I got to the correct letter, I’d remember the name.  And I’ve used that little tool ever since.  When I am having trouble falling asleep,  I chose a category such as food, cars or furniture, then I go through the alphabet and name one item for each of the 26 letters.  So, that led me to the alphabet of gratitude.  If I’m having trouble being grateful for anything, like the days when all I can see is what’s wrong in my life, I can choose a letter and start naming things I’m grateful for that start with that letter.

Today, let’s start with “A”.  Do a journal page, or a blog post listing all the things you’re thankful for that start with “A”.  If you want, you can expound on each one by writing a little bit about why you’re grateful for each item on your list.  If you’re creatively inclined, you might want to add some drawings or collage about some of your items.  Spending a little time, even a few minutes, will help set this gratitude in your mind for the day.  You might even find that as the day goes on, you’ll think of even more words to add to your list.

Update on Easy Transfer

Yesterday I shared a tip about using t-shirt transfer paper for transfers on collage.  I told you that I heated it with an iron to remove the backing.  Last night I discovered that it doesn’t have to be heated.  Just let it dry well after printing and you can peel the paper right off!  I’m in love with this technique.  I like the transparent look of transfered images, but used to dislike all the time and mess of making a gel medium transfer.  But this method is quick and not messy at all.

Photo A Day

Today my photo is of one of the Christmas gifts Mister gave me.  It is a carousel stand to hold paint.  It hold so many bottles and is easy to get to because it spins around.  It is helping me keep my table neater because it’s so easy to put the paint away when I’m done.

I made a new journal for the On My Word mission.   For the past several months I’ve gone back to using cheap composition books for my journal.  I find that I work more readily if I don’t pay much for the journal.  When I use watercolor paper or a more expensive sketch book,  it makes me feel like I have to make each page really count for something.  That’s not the point of a journal for me.  The point is to express my emotions, explore what’s going on inside, and document my life.  So, the comp books allow me to just express myself without worrying about “wasting” pages.

This is the cover I created for the new year.  My word is acceptance and I’m aiming to totally accept myself, just as I am right now.  I’m tired of trying to be better; trying to be like someone else; trying to be what someone else wants me to be.  I’ve spent a great deal of my adult life trying to improve.  And I have.  I have changed some things about myself that I wanted to change.  But now I’m ready to just be me.  If I never change another thing about myself, I want to be okay with that.  So, the cover represents the masks that I wear or try to wear, and how I am ready to shed them all.

Over the past few years I have chosen some women to “watch” and learn from.  Women that seem confident in who they are, and who accept themselves.  These women are not perfect, they have flaws just as we all do.  But they don’t seem to have the fear of others not approving of them, that I have.   So, here’s to bravery and boldness in my life, and my actions.  Sharing this with you, my readers, is a step in being authentic for me.

I wrote on the last page of  my current journal last night.  The cover on it is one of my favorite’s.  Writing in my journal is such an effective way for me to sort out reality from the crazy thoughts in my head.  As thoughts circle around my mind, thinking only sucks me into the whirlpool. But writing helps me get it out so I can organize them.  Once they are organized I can determine what is important, what is just crap and what needs attention.  Journal writing has kept me sane for a long time.

I am starting a new journal today, in anticipation of the “Oh My Word” Mission for 2010.  If you don’t know about it, you can read it here.  My word for next year is Acceptance.  I chose that word because I want to learn to accept myself just as I am today.  All of me.  But since choosing the word, I’m finding out that it is also about my accepting others.  Just as you can’t love others if you dont’ love yourself, you can’t accept others if you don’t accept yourself.  It is going to be an interesting year to discover all I don’t know about acceptance.

If you are participating in the Oh My Word mission with me, be sure you have a blank book of some sort to write in, OR a blog.  As I offer ways to focus on your word, you will need a place to record your reactions and thoughts.  I know several of you have posted your word, but if you dont’ have a word yet, just remain open.  Spend some quiet time listening.  I know that seems impossible right now with the holiday activities, but it only takes a few mins to listen.  While you’re driving, or brushing your teeth, just focus on being open and ready to hear your word.

This course was my first journaling course and it has been enjoyed by hundreds of people over the past four years.  This course is great for a beginner to art journaling.  If you’ve been journaling a while but need some inspiration or creativity sparks, this is a course for you, too.

The 12 week course provides two lessons each week.  One of the lessons focuses on an art technique.  The other teaches about self-exploration through journaling.

Examples of the lessons:

Making rubber stamps

Coptic binding

Mandalas

Naming ceremony

Dreams

Gluebooks and Grunge

Lettering

Doodling

Background techniques

Symbology

This course introduces many art supplies and unusual items that can be used in your art journal.  The lessons include pictoral tutorials with step by step instructions for all techniques.

Most importantly, this course encourages you to make art journaling your OWN process and have fun.  There are no rules for journaling and this class will help you jump right in and feel free to explore.

All classes are presented in a special group on my Ning site.  You will be invited to the group upon registration.  In the group all members will interact and be able to ask questions and receive encouragement throughout the class.  If you want, you can post pictures of your journal pages and share your process while taking the class.

What some students said about the class:

This is the first class I ever took, pertaining to Art Journaling, and I can’t recommend this class enough, especially if you’re a beginner.  I know how overwhelming it can be, to want to start an art journal, and not be sure of where to start.  Zura is a gentle guide and teacher, in teaching you just what you can do with that sketchbook or journal you just bought.  This class will teach you some wonderful art techniques to use in your art journal, and I love how Zura teaches you to just play with all that wonderful paint and ephemera you have.  I think the most important thing she teaches, however, is how your art journal can be such a creative and fulfilling tool in exploring who you are.  Her class reminds me a bit of Lucia Capacchione’s book “The Creative Journal”, in that an art journal can be the place where you work out your life.  And really, with the prices of online classes these days, $40 for 12 WEEKS of 24 lessons, for a class that will jumpstart a practice that will serve you and your life, is just nothing.  I can’t recommend this class enough.
Kristina Winnett

I have taken all of Zura’s art journaling courses, and I highly recommend them! Each lesson is packed full of information and inspiration galore! Whether you’ve kept a journal for years or you’re just getting started, there is inspiration for everyone! These courses are a tremendous value and the information you learn will have you creating wonderful journal pages before you know it! So, rush over to the sign-up button right now and take fun art journaling, you’ll be glad you did!!!
Lynn

I

The next class begins on July 9th.

$40.00

I have just updated all the classes on a page, with new descriptions, and new starting dates.  All my classes will be offered at various dates in July, so take this opportunity to have some summer fun.  You’ll learn some things and meet some other artists in the online class groups.

Schedule of Classes:

Happy Feet begins July 1st

Creative Ways to Pray for Those You Love begins July 1st

Fun Art Journaling begins July 9th

Fun Art Journaling Continued begins July 9th

Happy Feet begins July 1st

Waking Up to the Real You begins July 15th

Journaling Prompt Cards begins July 15th

Find Your Personal Symbology begins July 22nd

For detailed information on each class, including price, go to the Classes page.

In my fun journaling group today we were discussing what types of journals we prefer and how many different journals we each keep.  Some of my journals are still packed away, but what I have with me you can see in this photo.

The colored ones on the left are from a time when I was searching for the kind of journal I liked.  None of them are completely filled.  Then I found sketch books.  I love that sketch books are cheap, spiral bound and a nice big size.  I completely filled several of them.  Those were the first ones I ever filled before changing to something different.  But, as I’ve expanded the art techniques I use in my journals, I’ve found that the paper in the sketch books just can’t hold up to the abuse.  So now I prefer watercolor paper.  I have a few that are just watercolor paper pads.  But most recently I have bound my own books with watercolor paper.

I like at least an 8 x 10 in size.  Any smaller and I feel confined.  I combine art and writing on most of my pages so I like lots of room!

What type of journal do you use?  Do you use just one, or do you keep different journals for different purposes?

P.S.  I’ve fallen down on taking a photo every day.  So, I’m counting this as my photo today

I have recently been evaluating where I should be spending my time in building my business.  I have felt pulled in many directions for a while now and want to focus my efforts in the way that will help my readers and customers the most.

Art journaling is a broad topic and it is covered by many wonderful, creative people on the ‘net.  So where do I fit in?  What do I have to offer?  What are my unique gifts in the sphere?   I have two dear friends that help me sort through these tough questions and we’ve spent many hours recently trying to answer these questions.  Together here are the answers we came up with.

• I focus on the emotional/spiritual outcome of journaling more than the art process.
• I am passionate about the journaling process and want to share that with everyone
• I have so much fun creating in my journal that I don’t worry about doing it “right” and I love to make a mess and encourage others to do the same
• I have compassion for those  that have fears around digging deep into their hearts and creating what someone calls “art”.
• I contribute a great deal of my own personal growth to journaling and love to share that journey with others.

So, with those things in mind, I am going to begin to focus more on the ways journaling can help anyone learn more about themselves.  I will help anyone that is interested use journaling to have a good look at what is beautiful about them, as well as the things that they might not feel are their assets.  This process will be fun and hopefully will feel safe.  It’s a gentle way to comfort your pains, work toward the goals you have for yourself, discover your passions and gather the courage to go where you want to go.

You will see me focus my blog posts, newsletter and the products I sell more toward self discovery and healing than in the artistic process.   It is a creative process for me and will always include paints, glue and all the fun stuff, but those will be playthings rather than something to master.

So, stay tuned for the adventure we will create together – The Creative Journaling adventure!

I have read a lot of blog posts lately with suggestions on how to get to know your mate, or how to be a good listener so you learn more about others.  I like this idea because I really do want to know other people better.  They fascinate me.

But, I’ve been wondering, do we need to focus on getting to know others if we don’t really know ourselves?  I like to have journaling prompts in card form that I can carry with me.  If I don’t have anything I feel like writing in my journal I can pull out one of the cards and use it to get me started either writing or creating a visual journal entry.

If you are interested in creating your own deck of journal prompt cards, check out my e-Course here.

Here are some questions to use on your cards, or just as prompts in your journaling, that will help you get to know yourself a little more deeply.

1.  What is your greatest failure?

2.  What is your dream job?

3.  What is keeping you from working at your dream job?

4.  What have you always wanted to do but haven’t done?

5.  Who is your hero?

6.  What was the best day of your life?

7.  What makes you truly happy?

8.  What is your biggest weakness?

9.  What is your biggest strength?

10.  What do you wish people knew about you, but don’t?

11. What do you hope people say about you when you die?

12.  Who is the proudest of you?

13.  What is your saddest memory?

14.  Do you have a secret you’ve never told anyone?

15.  What would you like to accomplish in your life?

I just read this post on Terri’s blog about the strands of potential in each of us, and how life can push that potential back into dark places.

One thing I know for certain, from my own experience, is that if we hiding part of ourselves – any part – or holding back anything, we are not being authentic.  And if we are not being authentic then we cannot find that magic within us that is our unique magic.

I have journaled the most in my life when I have been alone.  Or when I have been lonely.  There may have been people around but they did not feel safe to share myself with, so I used my journal.  That was very healthy and has served me well.

However, over the past year or so, I have been blessed with lots of people around me who are very safe as well as helpful and encouraging.  None of these people live near me so my communication with them has been email, IM or on the phone.  I jsut realized today that I have let that communication take the place of journaling.  I don’t want to give up my interaction with my friends, but I know that there is a void where journaling needs to be.

Sharing on a deep level with a trusted friend is something that cannot be replaced with anything else.  If that person has your best interest at heart, their perspective can often help you see something you’d never see otherwise.  Also, that level of sharing is a bond of love that is one of the most beautiful things on earth.  I am so blessed to have so many women friends, and a guy friend as well as my kids that I can share with like this.

Today, however, I have some things in my mind that I know I can’t even talk about yet.  I need to journal in order to sort it all out.  To get a little deeper to identify what it is that’s bothering me.  Sometimes I feel something like a goatburr sticking at me but I don’t know what it is that’s wrong.  I just know that this feeling is a warning that something’s not right.  Until  I sit and write all about it, the truth isn’t going to show itself.

So, it’s back to journaling, for real.  I want to clear out anything that’s in the way of my unique magic. I want my golden thread of uniqueness to have a clear path to shine.