Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric [Paperback]

Violette (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2009

Follow Your Bliss

Whether you're looking to express yourself creatively for the first time or have found yourself in a creative rut, you'll soon be following your inspired voice with the help of Journal Bliss.

With the guidance of author, Violette, you'll learn to express your thoughts and feelings like never before in your own art journal. Not only will Violette inspire you with her own journal pages, she'll teach you techniques for creating your own unique pages.

You'll learn to:

• Create juicy backgrounds and whimsical borders for your pages to help get the ideas flowing
• Love doodling, even if you think you can't draw
• Make image transfers of photos or even your own artwork
• Develop your own fanciful lettering and so much more!

Create freely, express yourself and enjoy the journey with Journal Bliss!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Violette's work can be found in North Light's Living the Creative Life and Kaleidoscope, and she is frequently featured in magazines including Creative Home, Cloth Paper Scissors, Somerset Studio Stamp It, Artella and many more. She teaches art-journaling workshops and has an active Web site, www.violette.ca.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (April 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600611893
• ISBN-13: 978-1600611896
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.4 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #293,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Violette was born in Casablanca Morocco under a full moon in 1954. Her parents immigrated to Canada a few years later taking with them their adventurous spirit. Violette's creative spirit and eccentric ways have been featured on Weird Homes TV show as well as many others. She has always been drawn to imagery and pallets infused with juicy sunshine, positivity and glitter! Violette uses her art as a vehicle to spread her message of joy and creative freedom. Her passion is to inspire others to embrace their creativity.

Journal Bliss is Violette's first book. She appeared in Rice Freeman Zachary's popular book "Living the Creative Life"

She lives in British Columbia Canada with Mr. G in a purple magic cottage. She has two grown children Jessica and Ryan both highly creative individuals.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding! April 2, 2009

By Susan Bleiweiss VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

There are a lot of journaling how to books out on the shelves these days but this new book by Violette stands out above them all. Page after page of Violette's wonderful, whimsical and engaging artwork along with prompts, tips and creative techniques to get you started on creating your own art journals. Even if you're a practiced art journaler you'll enjoy this book because it's impossible to flip through it and not be inspired by the imagery. But there's more here to be inspired by than just the artwork. Violette covers a ton of techniques starting with silencing your inner critic and then moves into creating groovy backgrounds, image transfers and fanciful lettering as well as doodling and bodacious borders. I highly recommend this book, it's a must have for anyone interested in art journaling.

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars A Little Disappointing March 17, 2010

By justasking

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This isn't going to be popular with Violette's fans, but after reading the reviews, I was excited to buy this book. All I can say is, take a look at the author's artwork very carefully, because the whole thing is full of the same exact style, page after page. I respect that every artist has a particular and unique style, but I thought that there would be more instruction, or prompts for writing, etc. And admittedly I don't care for this particular look, so I maybe shouldn't have purchased the book, but it seemed like there would be more to it that I would have a good time with--like maybe Violette would have given us some more ideas about what to write, or shown us how to draw particular things. I'm keeping the book anyway, and maybe I'll find my own style out of what I like and don't like in her artwork. I would have liked this book so much more if the "look" of the pages had some contrast. I appreciate that she makes everyone feel like they, too, can create and be an artist, but some of the "imperfections" in the handwriting just seemed a little too beginner (or perhaps repetative, or purposely sloppy) for me.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have!! April 17, 2009

By Sunshine

Format:Paperback

I was so inspired after my first time through this, I worked on my art journal non-stop for HOURS (normally my attention span doesn't allow that). The art is beautiful and full of spirit, this will be one that stays on my art table!

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Was So Impressed That I Bought Two! April 16, 2009

By DJ

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Violette's first (and hopeully not last) book, "Journal Bliss", breaks away from the pack and the usual fare of today's overdone, dark, vintage-ridden pablum with this refreshingly delightful collection of user-friendly techniques and engaging text. Like Violette's philosophy on both life and art, her imagery is original, not borrowed or stock, so inspiration awaits on every page. Whereas some books for artists bore the reader with too much or too little amounts of text, her ideas are communicated through page after page of colorful art, which the visually oriented creative will love. I bought two copies of this informative eye candy; one for personal use and one for a gift. And I may be back for more...

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing! January 17, 2012

By Jane

Format:Paperback

Honestly, this book was really disappointing. I got this book because of it's great reviews. But I have to say I don't get it. The title of the book is "Journal Bliss. Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric." The problem here is that there are NO PROMPTS! Yes, there are VERY BASIC ideas on some journaling techniques, but if even if you are a beginner you've probably heard of most of them. In addition, this book doesn't seem to be geared for the beginner because the descriptions of the techniques are vague with small drawings instead of instructional photographs.

For an intermediate or advanced journaler this book doesn't have much to offer. It basically consists of stories and journal pages from the artist, which didn't relate to me at all. You could easily read this book in one sitting and walk away with more information on Violette and how she lives her life then art journaling or prompts.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful April 16, 2009

By Kate

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I just got my copy of Journal Bliss and oh I was delighted. Violette has a book that is perfect for beginners and advanced journalers. The lively illustrations are bright and colorful. The book is not all just a pretty face though as Violette teaches you lettering, drawing faces, making transfers, decorative backgrounds and more. I particularly like her ideas on borders and making art on envelopes. Then there are the sections on the actual journaling with wonderful prompts and how she interpreted them. I liked the section on symbolic stories. I think I'll be doing some pages on that theme soon. I highly recommend this book, it is wonderful, refreshing and full of inspiration.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Save your money January 28, 2012

By Isadore Ann VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you're a fan of this artist, you'll enjoy this book. If you're looking for real information that will help you in your art, this isn't the book for you. There are no techniques really laid out, and the suggestions really aren't all that creative. Disappointing.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome! February 15, 2010

By C. J. Ahmed

Format:Paperback

I purchased this book for inspiration as part of a group of female artists in new York.
We have decided to embark on an "altered" book project and I was fortunate enough to come across this amazing artist Violette on line. I haven't been the same since! She is an awesome
talent and shares all of her wonderful secrets in this book. I can't put it down. She instills
confidence and courage in artists of all ages. It will remain a treasure in my collection
and this is one book I can't lend out! As a result of her "lessons and gentle suggestions" I have become absolutely fearless and feel so much more free with my art style.
Violette is wonderful and so is Journal Bliss. Every artist should own a copy.
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