Journal Revolution: Rise Up & Create! Art Journals, Personal Manifestos and Other Artistic Insurrections [Paperback]

Linda Woods (Author), Karen Dinino (Author), Rosie O'Donnell (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 24, 2007

Rise up and CREATE! No borders, no boundaries: truth, journaled wherever you find it. Grab your mess kit - we're starting a Journal Revolution.

Overthrow your inner critic's tyranny of fear and rules, and discover fresh techniques and inspiration to rant, whisper, beg, stomp or sing your truths. Celebrate your rough edges with a revolutionary new approach to art journaling, as you learn to vividly express your uncensored emotions and boldly record your deepest secrets.

Each chapter pulses with honest humor, art and writing guidance, and easy ways to create vibrant, edgy art. Once you've been through basic training, you'll practice these Tactical Maneuvers with dynamic projects such as Feel The Beat: Your Life Soundtrack personalized CD covers, retro-looking Fauxlaroid pictures worth a thousand words, and framed canvas Writings on the Wall. Along the way, Sound Off! exercises help you trek confidently into new territory.

Featuring a bonus gallery of art by Rosie O'Donnell and members of the Art Army, Journal Revolution will have you marching to the beat of your most creative drummer, knowing that everything in your life really is part of "the journal."

Editorial Reviews

Review

Journal Revolution inspires with vibrant and edgy pieces and simple techniques. Journaling and scrapbooking take on a whole new meaning, achieving the latest trends of intense urban emotion inspired by honesty and wit. -- --Somerset Studio Magazine

You'll find plenty to love. ---Skirt! Magazine

Review

You'll find plenty to love.

This is unlike any book on journaling you've ever read. Become part of the Revolution!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (September 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581809956
• ISBN-13: 978-1581809954
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even better than Visual Chronicles! September 19, 2007

By Suzanne Finer

Format:Paperback

Lets start by recognizing that these girls really know their stuff. To imagine that Journal Revolution is a "how-to" or a "scrapbook idea book" is wrong; everyone should "get" that this, like Visual Chronicles, is a free-yourself-of-inner-angst/give-yourself-permission-to-express-the-inner-artist kind of book and then some! The excellent use of examples, the colors utilized in the presentation, the projects themselves: mind-expanding!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is an artist, who wants to be an artist, who thinks they cannot possibly be an artist: you don't even have to want to be an artist to get the gist of this baby! So go for it; invest the less-than-$20. and jump-start your creativity. This is the one to go for.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A 'MUST HAVE' BOOK October 8, 2007

By Sondra L. Caserio

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

WOW.
It's hard to describe in words the "WOW" feeling you get as you pour over the opening pages of this book. The writing is easy to read, with detailed instructions (but no hard and fast rules to memorize and follow) and written in a lyrical, poetic manner that makes you open your eyes to the beauty in the smallest every day things, and, more importantly, the beauty in your own unique way of looking at the universe. It is full of practical tips for HOW to journal, a wide range of ideas for materials to use and gives you lots of mental jumping-off points to move your process along. If you ever have looked in wonder at the artistic journals of creative people and wondered if you might have the tiniest bit of ability to make something beautiful yourself, READ THIS BOOK!!! It will give you the freedom and courage to pick up a crumpled piece of paper, the nearest writing implement, a glue stick and JUST START. It isn't pretentious. You won't need any art experience at all to follow it's instructions but even WITH an artistic background, you will find something new and inspirational to get your butt in gear! Art isn't always 'pretty'. And freeing you from the need to make something perfect is just ONE of the gifts this book's authors has in store for you! Just get messy, have fun, and write down your own personal truths.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fan-freakin-tastic! September 23, 2007

By Donna V.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

From the cover of this book, I expected a 'revolution' in colors and style, and I hoped to see journaled art with different subjects or styles than in all the other books. Wow! Journal Revolution delivers. The authors are so funny, so the writing and the art made me laugh out loud. The writing and art also made me explore my self, my city, and my life, and see how to create scrapbook and journal pages that are totally me, not "me," done as some other artist would do it. The book helps you create in your style, using your fonts and your colors and your own words instead of quotes from a book of quotes. Very freeing, very inspiring!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Journal Revolution Rise Up and creat September 28, 2007

By D. Lewis

Format:Paperback

Another fabulously written book by Linda and Karen,
The pages are exciting and the artwork is messmerizing. I have laughed over and over. Well written, full of fun. The pages really jump out at you. Linda and Karen can walk anyone down the path to ART. Their simple plans and layouts work for the beginner to novice. I always learn new great stuff and Linda has built uo mu confidence in mixed media. Thanks SISTAS for another fabUlous Art book.

Sherrie Byrd Lewis
Willow Moon Market

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Journal Revolution Review November 6, 2007

By Dorothy Gale

Format:Paperback

I recently purchased this title and was really pleased with this book. It is a refreshing alternative to have some insight that is edgier, angrier, and more modern than some of the other popular titles out there on journaling right now, it truly is a ''Journal Revolution and I would recommend it highly to anyone who is interested in creating a visual journal that is more visceral, and not just pretty/cutesy. Also! I loved the fact that there wasn't one pointy hatted or winged figure in the whole book, rock on Linda and Karen!!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars For getting UNSTUCK, return to the basics February 11, 2009

By Yahtzee! VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I have to preface this review by saying that I was an architect by trade and education, though the economy saw to THAT career choice, and as such, I spent many, many years leaning toward perfection. That is to say, every drawing, every bit of lettering, every line had to be as close to perfect as possible.

In the early 90s, everyone switched from hand drawing, hand rendering, hand lettering, to compterized. While we all mastered autocad, photoshop, illustrator and such programs, we never noticed we were losing our ability to be free and sloppy and random.

So, several years later, I'm now a nurse, but that's beside the point, I am finding myself drawn to the "human" stuff in art work. The uneasy, uneven scrawled lettering, the crooked lines, there's beauty there. Just as now I see the human side of things far more (being at the bedside, perhaps, rather than being sequestered behind a drafting table or computer) I have learned to like this hand-made look.

This book reminded me of the sort of stuff kids can so easily do, that we adults have long forgotten--how to have FUN with the media. Whether you're cutting paper and gluing it on the page, or applying paint with a big brush or a sponge, or coloring with crayons, this book reminds you to above all, have fun, experiment and let loose.

My striving for perfection was a dragon to be slayed. My pages were so neat, my brushwork so caligraphy-like, my papers trimmed so perfectly--I was all pent up and unable to begin or to finish or to even SEE what I wanted to do.

My art journal is very different than my travel sketch book, or my professional portfolio, my digital renderings or drafting work. My art journal is full of exploration and experiments and as a result, it's very interesting.... It's also been very theraputic in knowing what I really think about things, and what I want to do.

I have Linda and her sister to thank for loosening me up.
I'm looking forward to many more of their books. Read more ›