Pathways and Portals - An Art Journal Page

As an art journaler I'm always looking for ways to grow and push myself artistically. One of the areas that I know I can develop more is collage. So earlier this year I took an online class with altered book artist, Virginia Simpson-Magruder. She taught us how to establish a daily creative practice using collage. I learned so much about the ends and outs of collage and even started a small collaged journal. 

So when I thought about bringing guest teachers on board, I knew immediately that I would ask Virginia to join us. She has an amazing daily creative practice and her style of teaching is wonderfully fresh and authentic. 

​Here's the challenge Virginia gave me: 

TODAY'S CHALLENGE -- from Virginia Simpson-Magruder

I use images of pathways when I am journaling or working in my altered books. In fact I created an entire altered book course called "Altered Book Portals" around using portals -- windows, doorways, gates, paths, stairs -- as a way to see your world, your interests, and your dreams.  

Paths have always beckoned to me -- whether it be a woodland path, a deer trail meandering through the trees, a freshly mown swath of grass, a bricked garden path, or stone pavers around the corner of a house. Paths speak of new beginnings, old familiar routes, unexplored territories and well-traveled roads.  

The challenge is to create a path through one or several page spreads in your journal and use the path as a journal prompt:

• Where am I going on this path?
• What is at the end of this path?
• How do I feel  as I travel it?
• What are the physical sensations that accompany me as I walk this path?
• What magic will I come across that will enchant me?  

You can add an image or two to your journal pages and then journal around them. Or you can create a story that is sparked by these images.  Or you could build an accordion fold into one of your journal spreads that is created by connecting several  photos of a path that elongates across the length of the accordion fold -- and then journal about the steps you would take along this path.

​Here's what I did:

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How can you use a pathway in your next art journal page? Or maybe you've used them in earlier art journal pages. Either way, let's see how pathways show up in your art journal. 

There is only one more day remaining for the blog hop. Make sure to check out all the teachers. Some of them are giving away seats for the class!!! 

HERE'S THE LINE UP
December 1 -- Mimi Bondi -- MimiBondi.com
December 2 -- Cindy Gilstrap -- Junque Art Studios 
December 4 -- Tiare Smith -- TiareSmith.com 
December 7 -- Julie Baker -- Creatively Onward 
December 8 -- Amanda Trought -- Reality Arts 
December 9 -- Andrea Gomoll -- Cre8tive Cre8tions
December 10 -- Nicole Piar -- GhostKitten.com
December 11 -- Lisa DeYoung -- Mountain Mermaid Studios 
December 15 -- Kelly Johnson -- Wings, Worms, and Wonder 
December 16 -- Tori Weyers -- DrawRiot.com
December 17 -- Sadelle Wiltshire -- Tangle Vermont 
December 18 -- Barb Owen -- HowToGetCreative.com
December 21 -- Hali Karla -- HaliKarla.com
December 22 -- Yuko Miki -- Honeyberry Studios 
December 23 -- Lisa McLoughlin -- Lisa McLoughlin Art
DAY TWENTY-EIGHT-->December 28 -- Virginia Simpson-Magruder -- Kentucky Girl Designs 
December 30 -- iHanna -- iHanna.nu 

​Are you creating with me this month? 
Tell me so I can check it out. Follow me on Instagram -- @kialagives and use the hashtag #journeywithin2016 -- see you there. 

Are you joining us for the class? 
Let's make journals and be in community together. CLICK HERE TO JOIN US.
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See you there.