Every person has a point of view. A voice. A light that needs to shine. If we don't share our unique perspective, it can begin to get lost within us. We can be left feeling unfulfilled. This is why I art journal.
Art journaling allows me to reconnect with myself, take my mental pulse, and nurture areas of my soul that have been neglected. I love art journaling! I truly cannot say enough about what a difference it has made in my life. I have learned so much about myself and what makes me happy. I have also discovered a beautiful community of like "souled" people. Throughout this process, I have been built up by allowing myself to be vulnerable. I have created beautiful art by allowing myself to create ugly art. Now I want to encourage others to begin this incredible journey in their own lives.
If you are new to art journaling, here are a few things you will need to get started!
Journal
There are several different types of journals that work well for art journaling. Pictured here from bottom to top is: Dylusions mixed media journal, moleskines, and an old planner. Moleskines are a bit pricey, but if you get one make sure it's the sketch book that has the purple sleeve around it. I purchased mine at Barnes and Noble. When I bought the Dylusions one, I got it at Hobby Lobby and used my 40% off coupon, so it wasn't too bad price wise. You can also find mixed-media sketch books in the art section of hobby stores. They work well too. Personally, I love my Moleskines and use them the most often. They are larger enough to play with supplies, but not so large that it feels overwhelming.
Gesso
Gesso is a paint like substance that when painted onto the paper, it prepares the surface to accept other mediums. I always use gesso on my pages before doing anything else. It makes the page sturdier and I have found it helps the paint retain it's vibrant color. The few times that I haven't used it, I was not as pleased with the results. Gesso is definitely worth it! It's normally about 12.00, but again, I always go to Hobby Lobby and use my 40% off coupon.
Paint
I use paint ALOT in my journals, but it can get pretty expensive. When I first started out, I bought the cheap craft paint. This allowed me to be able to experiment with colors without worrying about wasting expensive paint. When beginning the art journal journey, I would recommend first getting 3-4 tubes of craft paint in colors that you are naturally drawn to and that compliment each other. Craft paints are usually $1.50/tube so they don't break the bank and you will be more likely to use them freely. The beauty of art journaling is that if you don't like a layer, you can always cover it with another layer. It's much easier to cover up cheap paint, because it doesn't feel like as much of a waste and layers are a crucial part in the learning process. Once you feel that you have more experience, you can branch out to the more expensive, artist grade paints, such as liquitex or golden.
Paint brushes
I use paintbrushes a lot when painting in my journals. You don't have to buy the expensive ones either. You can start out with just a few brushes of different sizes. Some round and some flat. I've bought them before in a pack for students. They are cheaper that way. Even cheap brushes can last awhile if you clean them off with water each time you use them.
Writing utensils
One of my favorite things about art journaling is the actual journaling itself. This is where I can just let go of all of the clutter inside my head. I know that only I will be reading it, so I can be completely honest with myself, releasing feelings and thoughts that I wouldn't necessarily broadcast to the world. There is so much power in writing down your thoughts, especially when they are hurtful or do not continue to serve you well. Getting them out helps you to replace the negative thoughts with positive ones. The positive comes from the joy of creating something unique and beautiful.
Old magazines/catalogues
Lastly, grab a few magazines or catalogues. I sometimes get mine from Half-Price Books. These are great for pictures and words to go along with your painted backgrounds.
I hope this list helps you get started on this amazing journey! In my next post, I will be showing you how to create different backgrounds for your pages. Until then, experiment, have fun and just enjoy the process!
XOXO
Nicole
Our next trip was to the Baton Rouge Zoo. It happened to be raining that day, so we basically had the whole zoo to ourselves. Our daughter loved it and it seemed to cheer her up. Keeping her busy was the key to battling the loneliness of being the new kid. 
I was so inspired by the entire experience. Addison had a blast and we learned so much about our new state. This last picture is of an old, abandoned duck blind that somebody built. I just thought it was cool looking. Once I got back home, I quickly dove into some painting. I can definitely feel the spirit of LA making its way onto the canvas.
