Mixed Media Techniques for Art Journaling

Transcription

1 Mixed Media Techniques for Art Journaling a workbook of collage, transfers and more Edited by Kristy Conlin north light books Cincinnati, Ohio CreateMixedMedia.com

2 Collaborative Drawing: Exquisite Corpse from Journal Fodder 365 by Eric M. Scott and David R. Modler If you want to add an element of structure and surprise to this sort of activity, incorporate the game Exquisite Corpse. The Exquisite Corpse (also known as the exquisite cadaver, rotating corpse and exquisite character) is a method used to assemble an image through systematic collaboration with other people. The technique was invented by the Surrealists in the early twentieth century and was a popular parlor game among artists and writers of the period. Fold a piece of paper or napkin into multiple spaces and create a drawing of some sort in the first space. Fold the paper so the initial drawing is not visible, and pass it to the next contributor. After he or she adds to the drawing, pass it around, allowing others to add to it in the same fashion. It doesn t have to be a group collaboration, and you can just pass it back and forth with one other person. Usually folding a piece of paper into four sections is enough to have fun with this game. Of course, putting the results into your journal may be the most fun of all. Materials list paper or journal selection of drawing utensils Tip Try the Exquisite Corpse technique with collage or paint or writing prompts instead of drawing to add a different twist to the process and results. 1Fold a piece of paper into four equal parts so that you have four rectangles in a row. In the first rectangle, draw a design. The Surrealists would often create bodies, so the first 2 rectangle was always a head. Allow just a little of the drawing to continue over into the second rectangle. Fold the paper so that the drawing doesn t show. Pass the folded paper to someone else, and allow 3 them to draw in the second rectangle using the marks as starting points. The key is to not look at what was drawn in the first rectangle. Again the drawing should continue a little into the next rectangle. Fold the paper so that the first two drawings cannot be seen. 76 Repeat with the last two rectangles. You can pass it 4 back and forth between two people, or you can pass it among a group of four. Reveal the resulting image.

3 Add your first Exquisite Corpse endeavor to this page. Color it in, tear it down, embellish it, use it as a writing prompt. 77

4 Returning the Compliment: Mail Art Postcards and Artist Trading Cards from Journal Fodder 365 by Eric M. Scott and David R. Modler The exchange of small works of art with our friends is a wonderful way to share our journey with other artists. This exchange feeds creativity, prods your studio practice and enables you to share ideas and techniques with your artistic accomplices. You stay connected to these people even when you are divided by great distances. Mail art postcards and artist trading cards have become very popular forms of sharing and exchanging artistic expressions between people. These pieces can even be glued into the journal as evidence and documentation of the relationship and connection. The idea of the mail art postcard is to create postcards to actually mail to your creative collaborators. Just as you might send a postcard from a vacation spot, you send a small piece of art. Use any medium that is durable and can withstand being sent through the mail. Collage, acrylic paint, drawing, watercolor paint, digital art and mixed media are all appropriate. You might want to seal your postcard with an acrylic medium as a layer of protection before you mail it. Make certain that the work of art is the correct postcard size, include your friend s address and the correct postage and drop it into the nearest mailbox. It s a delight to get these little surprises in the mail. Of course, the idea is to exchange these cards, so that once your friend receives your card, he or she creates one and mails it to you. Artist trading cards, also know as ATCs, are another way to exchange small works of art. This cultural phenomenon started in the late 1990s in Switzerland and has grown in popularity ever since. The premise is simple. You create a small work of art that is exactly 2½" 3½" (6cm 9cm), and you trade it with someone else. Artist trading cards are never sold. You can trade them through the mail, or you can trade face-to-face. There are books, websites and resources out there if you want to learn more about this art form. From which books, websites and other resources do you draw inspiration? Record them here so that they may live forever (and so you don t have to worry about losing those little bits of scrawled upon paper). 78

5 Sketch out your postcards and ATCs before you create, or attach the ones you receive from your collaborators. Tape them staple or add a pocket or envelope for their safe keeping. They ll now be with you always! 79

6 Tag Teaming Strategies: Collaborative Journals from Journal Fodder 365 by Eric M. Scott and David R. Modler Another way to maintain the connection with your fellow artists and fuel the inspiration is to share journals. This idea may scare some because of concerns that the others may mess up our work or we may mess up theirs. But if you have the time and energy, collaborative journals and round robins are wonderful ways to fan the flames of collaboration and inspiration. A collaborative journal is a single journal that is shared by two or more people. The idea is that it belongs to all equally. Quite often the collaborative journal is shared between just two people as documentation of their shared journey and friendship. The journal is mailed back and forth, or it is exchanged face-to-face. The participants may decide that each will keep the journal for a set amount of time so that the collaboration doesn t stagnate and stop if one person keeps putting it off. In a truly collaborative journal, it is not only the book that is shared, but every page is shared. Each person can add something to a page worked on by others. There is no idea of my page and their page. The artwork, style, and words begin to interact, and a genuine dialogue between the collaborators takes place. 80

7 This would be a wonderful build a lasting, intimate and artful relationship. Think mother, sister, friend, cousin. Who might you want to share a collaborative journal with? How many people would be the right number? Just two? Three? More? What would you journal about? Would it be mostly art? Writing? Collage? How often would the journal move to the next person? What kind of a journal would it be? 81