The Prepared Journal

This process and project oriented class will teach you a fun, and stress-free way to colorfully transform an ordinary printed book into a journal or artist’s book. Using the style of a gluebook for a jumping off point, we will create visual and tactile layers with collage, painting and stamping, metamorphosing a book into a finished work of art in itself, or the basis for a visual journal. Many people let their fear of the blank page keep them from journaling. By preparing the book in advance, it is ready whenever you want to journal, with the colorful pages inspiring you to let it all out. The way that we prepare the book will make it easy to use anywhere whether you are traveling or in a coffee shop with just a pen, or at home with all of your supplies. I’ll teach you techniques to meld collaged items to be part of the page and how to layer paints to get a rich, textural surface. I find this whole process very rejuvenating and exciting. Although you may not get your whole book completed in class, you will leave with the knowledge and inspiration to finish up your own.

Supply List

• Old book, any size with a spine about 1” to 1-1/2” wide, preferably without glossy pages
• Anything you want to put on your book covers (outside & inside)
• Basic Tools: Scissors, Glue stick, Exacto knife, steel ruler
• Cutting mat
• Various coloring materials and writing tools: Acrylic paints (cheap craft paints are fine), water soluble oil pastels, watercolor crayons, markers, etc.
• Brayer
• Small container of gel medium
• Small container of gesso
• Paint brushes for gel medium and painting
• Water container for painting
• Collage material: anything goes—bring a small bag for yourself and a small bag to share in the communal stash
• Permanent stamp pads (Staz-on works best!) and stamps
  
  Optional:
• Hair dryer or heat gun to speed up the drying process.
  
  I will provide baby wipes, wax paper, paper towels and various color-making supplies for you to use in class.