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kay, so the big question is: where does creativity come from? How do we find it?
The use of art journals is exploding. Gone are the days where you stare at a blank sketchbook and are confronted with the fear of making the first mark. Today, sketchbooks can be anything and are used to document anything and everything.
There seems to be this trend in unleashing creativity in everyone, embracing the impermance of art and letting go of the fear of creating. Phil Hansen has created an amazing book "How To Tattoo a Banana" that does just that. Hansen comes up with numerous art projects that use everyday objects around the house. He also has a website that demonstrates some of his ideas.
Most inspiring is his TED talk video where he discussing how to embrace your limitations to create art in his video: The Art of the Imperfect:
Another inspirational artist is Vik Muniz who creates art with everyday objects. He has a great video on TED talks.
1000 Journals
There's a fantastic project that began in 2007 called the "1000 Journals Project", where 1000 journals were left in random parts all over the world and random people were encouraged to do anything in them and then pass them on. Once the journals were returned home, they revealed amazing works of art and windows into such a wide variety of people's lives.
Sketch Book/Visual Journal/Wrecked Journal/Doodle Journal
Your sketchbook is going to be one of the most important parts of this course. You will work in it almost everyday. It's where you think, learn, experiment and play. The most mportant thing is that there aren't really any rules to sketchbooks.... it is your private place to create. My biggest pet peeve is seeing a sketchbook with tons of empty pages, kept all neat and precious. So this is YOUR book. CREATE in it!
A few approaches to makig your sketchbook your own:
WRECK it!
DOODLE in it!
DRAW in it!
WRITE in it!
COLLECT STUFF in it.
The most important thing is that ANYTHING goes.
Bring your sketchbook to class everyday. Use any tools that you wish.
Students will work independently in their sketchbook with a wide variety of mediums. The purpose of the sketchbook is to give students the opportunity to experiment with art making techniques, tools and to further develop their own ideas. Sketchbook entries will be evaluated during each unit.
Your visual journal is like a bank: invest in it and you will have a wealth to draw on. Be playful with your ideas. This journal is more about process than product.
COLLECT STUFF IN IT
Find things. Write about it. There is nothing ordinary about ordinary things.
WRECKED JOURNAL
A "wrecked journal" is not simply about destroying a book, but more about taking risks. Sometimes staring at the white pages is a little too much and makes us afraid of doing something wrong or making mistakes. But when you have a wrecked journal, there are no mistakes. In fact, sometimes things that are awlful end up being our best work. Never tear a page out becuase you think it's not good. Never be afraid to take risks.
The wrecked journal is inspired by the author Keri Smith, who also has a fantastic website here showcasing how others have 'wrecked' their journals. The site even comes complete with a random idea generator! I encourage you to document your own wrecked journal and post some of your stuff on her site!
You don't have to buy the book to wreck your journal. Here are some instructions here! You can also make up your own!
Here's a video of our grade 10 class wrecking our journal from 2011!
Wrecked Journal
Other Cool Books and Website to Inspire!
Keri Smith: "How to be an Explorer of the World", "Guerilla Art Kit", "Wreck This Journal", "This is not a Book" and more!
evidence by Candice Jernigan
Drawing from Life: The Journal As Art by Jennifer New
Speck: a curious collection of uncommon things, Peter Buchanan-Smith
Picturing & Poeting by Alan Fletcher
Street Art Doodle Book by Dave the Chimp
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