The Artistic Journal Practice | An invitation
Journals have long been a constant companion for me. They take the form of sketchbooks, collaged diaries, hand-bound volumes, even loose sheets. Some are dedicated to specific themes, others are catch-alls for lists, observations, visions, drawings. I even collect journals – on a dedicated bookshelf, they await their creative destiny.
More than a practice, journaling is necessary for me. Fragments of experience find their place, thoughts become ideas, and vision crystallizes into action points. To honor the journal experience, I designed one that is sold on Amazon here. Some of my other favorites to use are here.
What I love to do is break open wide the limits of the page, to help others transcend the concept of a “perfect” personal book. When traveling, the pages log everything: colors seen, pasted train tickets in foreign languages, logos off a local business card and sketches of outfits I observed on the street. Instead of treating each page as precious, I give it the input of the moment, and let go of its “perfection” or final state. When back in my studio, I have less external input, and derive inspiration from a written phrase, a collage or just allow for free flowing mark-making.
If you feel the pull to begin or return to your own journal practice, here is a simple start:
- Find a journal that welcomes you—handmade, imperfect, unlined, or lined.
- Devote a few minutes a day. Let the page receive whatever is present.
- Forget perfection. Every page counts, whether it’s scribbled, pasted, scrawled or barely touched.
My belief in the transformative power of micro daily practices has blossomed into a philosophy on how these seemingly modest rituals quietly reshape our lives into something more purposeful.
This living practice forms a key part of my forthcoming book, Micro Daily Practice. If you’d like to jumpstart your artistic journaling with a one-on-one session, feel free to message me on WhatsApp.
