Blank Canvas Blog Hop Journal

9/20/2014

I love a blank page. A new journal waiting for me to go on an adventure. I don't fear the blank page, I see it as an invitation.

When I create my own journals I love to start by filling them with pre-made backgrounds so that I can just pick up the journal and create.

Moving past the blank page is rather simple for me, but it wasn't always. I used to sit and stare at the blank page for hours. I would find myself almost crippled by the thought of starting.

This was true in my writing and in my art.

Now, I love the idea of a blank canvas, page, screen. It's an invitation for me to begin. An invitation for me to try something new or rely on something old. It's a place for me to let go, give in, and simply show up as the artist/writer I am.

Here's a short video of my creative process when I make a blank journal with a few pages.

Enjoy! And leave a comment below to be entered into a drawing for a seat in my next art journaling course -- Conquering the Blank Page -- starting in November 2014.

How do you start with a new, blank, journal?

Want to be entered into a give-a-way for a free seat in my upcoming e-course -- Conquering the Blank Page? Here's how:

1. Sign up for my newsletter if you haven't already.

2. Follow me on Twitter AND tweet the link to this blog posting -- make sure you use the hashtag #TheBlankCanvasHop and mention me!!

3. Leave a comment below telling us how you start your new journals.

**Do all three to increase your chances. Closes on September 23rd.

When you're done here check out the full list here>>>

15 Comments

Rita McGregor link

9/20/2014 11:38:47 am

I'm not on Twitter or Facebook.
I have a hard time with those blank pages. I sometimes use prompts to get going or just start with a background kind of like you did. Your deck is great for prompts. :)

Sherri

9/20/2014 12:37:44 pm

The last journal I started was from a book I made myself. I wrote on the first page noting the date the book was made and noted that it was the first time I had sewed the pages into a book using my sewing machine. Proceeded to draw on the next pages.

Karen link

9/20/2014 01:55:54 pm

Loved having a whole book of ideas to face the blank page! I like to start by using gesso &/or gloss medium to create texture. It takes paint in a different way from the paper/

Cynthia Patton link

9/20/2014 01:58:07 pm

Love this! Thanks for sharing. :)

Nicole link

9/20/2014 04:18:02 pm

Wow, Kiala! What a wealth of techniques and ideas. This looks like so much fun. I do love to do backgrounds first and then come back to that later. I have actually never made an art journal but I think you are enticing me. Thanks for sharing

Bindu link

9/20/2014 09:21:10 pm

I usually start using my markers to draw few shapes. Then, if I don't fell to continue, just close it, then come back later. Going back and forth is the way for me.

Fiona link

9/21/2014 12:35:47 am

I really enjoyed your video. I subscribed too (G-G- Gaia). Thanks for sharing your ideas. I already did a page with the other masking tape background effect you showed us the other day.
I'm new to art journalling and my current journals (yes I have two!) are very different. One is a re-purposed text book from when I taught English. In this I always gesso or collage first (often both) as I have to cover up words and pictures. The other is a sketchbook left over from college, which I hadn't used hardly, and in that journal I often begin by randomly painting and making marks, or writing on the blank page (heard about that one on this blog hop!). So I will definitely be using your ideas in both these journals. Thank you!

KimG

9/21/2014 01:18:18 am

I like to make my own journals too. Thanks for the great tips for getting color and texture on the page.

Tori Deaux link

9/21/2014 02:35:06 am

This is a brilliant idea! I've got some gorgeous hand made paper journals that have been sitting here for YEARS because of blank page syndrome -- approaching them with the goal of of un-blank-paging it? That'll work! Yay :) Thank you for this, Kiala!

Teresa Richardson

9/21/2014 10:42:38 am

When I start a new journal, I take several colored pencils and scribble/doodle on the first page

Darlene Campbell link

9/21/2014 02:48:17 pm

Thank you for the chance to win! I start a new journal by writing/sketching on the inside page...almost like a dedication for how I intend to use the book. I rarely prep backgrounds but after watching your video I want to do that.

9/21/2014 02:55:36 pm

Whoo hoo! Did them all!

jan link

9/22/2014 02:13:38 am

Kaila, these are great ideas for conquering the blank page. You speak of how each page "invites" you to respond to it. I'd love to see some of your finished journal pages.

Dariela Cruz link

9/23/2014 03:53:35 am

I loved watching your video, it just makes me feel like going and experimenting with paints and all. I think I need that. After this hop I'm loving a blank canvas!!