Visual Journaling In Nature

What is visual journaling?

This unique approach to journaling combines the inner reflection of written journals, the creative expression of visual journals and the memory-making of scrap booking with a deeply intuitive, respectful and joyful experience of the natural world. Participants learn about visual journaling styles and techniques, enter into communion with nature, record their responses and share their experiences.

Why do it?

• To enter more deeply into a direct experience of nature
• To walk lightly through the world … yet live more fully
• Because images bypass the mind and directly touch the soul
• Because it’s fun!

What will you learn?

• What supplies you need
• Different options for creating visual journals
• Basic tools and techniques
• How to talk to a tree (and … even more important … how to listen!)
• How to create visual images that are meaningful to you
• What is meaningful and true for you and others in the class

To schedule a Visual Journaling in Nature workshop in your area … Contact

To view slides of Joy’s visual journals, click here  

Getting Started (View)

Paper
Choose one or more of the following formats:

• A blank book or lined journal (Spiral bindings give the most freedom to “grow.” These books expand as you create them!)
• A recycled book, such as music or art books, science, geography or even fiction (you can “repurpose” the book by resurfacing the pages)
• Individual sheets such as watercolor paper or drawing paper

Pencils and Pens
To work “dry,” you can use:

• Colored pencils
• Drawing pencils or pens
• A black marker such as a fine-line Sharpie
• Any favorite writing materials including pen and ink, gel pens, glitter pens, water-soluble crayons, etc.

Paints (optional)

• Inexpensive liquid acrylics. I like using both matte and metallic paints.
• Pearlescent inks
• Gesso or gel medium (If you want or need to prepare the pages before applying paint. Many book pages – surprisingly – do NOT require this step!)
• Inexpensive brushes (A cheap, 1-inch brush from the local hardware store easily loses some bristles and creates interesting “feathered” techniques when applying paint.)
• A container to hold water
• Paper towels
• A cleanable work surface such as a thin plastic cutting board
• Waxed paper to put under pages you’re working on (this protects the other pages in the book)
• A hand-held dryer to speed things up if you’re impatient (like me!)

Optional materials for working with photos and other embellishments:

• Scissors
• Glue
• Small wallpaper roller
• Clear packing tape
• Clear contact paper
• 9 x 13 metal cake pan

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Favorite Techniques (View)

Creating backgrounds with a mixture of matte and metallic liquid acrylics and iridescent inks.

Creating translucent images using packing tape or clear contact paper and water. This works best with magazine images or laser printer copies. (Copies made on ink jet printers won’t work.)

Iconic images: Layering translucent images over iridescent backgrounds to create the feeling of an icon-style image lighted from within.

Playing with windows within the book (using clear transparency film pasted between two pages) to reveal multiple images with multiple meanings.

Creating plant silhouettes on painted backgrounds using a variety of techniques.

Printing with bleach.

Doing rubbings over metallic backgrounds.

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