Customer Reviews

Journal Spilling: Mixed-Media Techniques for Free Expression

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I came across this book just the other day and could not put it down...WOW! I have been art journaling for years and am always looking a new ways to express myself. This book is not only great for beginners just starting out, but also for the "seasoned" art jounalist. I enjoy the way the author writes as it seems like she is talking to you directly with great encouragement and humour. I like alot of the techniques and I have come up with my own jumping off point to take it where I want it to go, making whatever I create my own. I have alot of art technique books and this one ranks right at the top for me.

While I have always been interested in starting a journal, I never did....until I recently received "Journal Spilling"! Of course I love the tone of the book and the art-work - it makes it a fun and easy read. But....I really love how the author motivated me to start (with some very easy steps) and then moves on to some fun and crafty ideas to keep me going. I also think this would be a fun gift for someone who already journals but would like to add some additional elements into their work.

I've had this wonderful book in hand for only a few weeks, but it's already unlocked so many ideas and gotten my work flowing again. I look forward to spending oodles more time with its kindly, steady, positive tone of encouragement. I expect to find it useful whether or not I keep an on-going art journal; there are so many wonderful techniques to play with, and each exploration is likely to lead to multiple new and fruitful trails. I think it will be valuable to artists all along the spectrum of experience, from those just discovering a direction, to more developed artists looking to jumpstart out of creative stalls.

This refreshing, engaging book written in the experienced voice of its author is filled with the book's subtitle" Free expression" exercises, each skillfully presented and immediately putting the journal maker at ease.

It is a book that motivates both the long-term journal keepers, like myself, and the novice, to set up and gather a few supplies and tools, anywhere, and just do it in its opening chapter, Warming Up. In fact, it fosters just what the title suggests, a way in which to create an organic, self defined journal just spilling onto a page from a box of crayons, a watercolour palette or a bottle of ink.

Judgment free, the chapters build on each other, and erase the terror often associated with trying to achieve the perfect page with precious materials. Instead, the Censor takes back stage while the Creator relaxes, explores and produces a seemingly effortless personal journal page(s). The book's chapter, "Taming the Critic" does some of the work, but it is the book in its entirety that grants the reader total permission to move beyond that "do not trespass" sign artists often experience when facing that blank page.

My cacophony of Critics are shrill but midpoint in reading the book, I found myself, "spilling" here, there and in my specially designated "Artistic Attempts " journal--an altered calendar resurfaced with gesso without a moment's hesitation.

Too often, I've weighed myself down with pensive pondering and few art pages. The fact that I was able to venture so freely and spontaneously into a journal spill is testament to the writer's skill and the books value.

Journal Spilling is the "free to be you and me " answer to creating an art journal.

I have practically every book out there on art journaling and when I bought Journal Spilling I expected it to be more of the same that each of the others generally has to offer. Was I ever wrong! Diana Trout has really taken art journaling a step further for me and given me more to reach for and really stretch myself, artistically and soulfully. The techniques are not the same things you find every where else and her words of encouragement throughout really give you that boost to go just a little further and try just a little more. I would definitely say this is the best on the subject for beginners and advanced art journalists alike.

If you own even one or two other books on art journals, altered books, mixed media or anything of that ilk, you're not really going to find anything new in this book. I could have used more "how-to" and less personal stories from the author. Sure, it's a book about a personal thing (keeping a journal), but it would have been more helpful to hear more creative ideas instead of what the author's non-art-related likes, dislikes and fears are.

I've been keeping art journals for 4 or 5 years now and thought I couldn't learn much from this one. Wrong! Although this is a great book for beginners, there is plenty of stuff for the experienced as well.
One of the best things about it is its encouraging, "don't worry about it!" tone. The author really helps you get out of being fixated on making a perfect product and moving on to enjoying the process. Be sloppy, experimental, playful, profound, whatever comes through at that moment.
I liked her chapter on dealing with the inner critic, that gremlin we all have that can sabotage our work and our creativity. I also liked her suggestion to take a word that interests you and ponder it, illustrate it, write about it, whatever.
That's just part of what this book has to offer - as one other reviewer said, I'll refer to it over and over for fresh inspiration.

I rented this from my local library and thoroughly enjoyed it so much that I am planning on buying it soon. Not only will you learn lots, but you will laugh and feel like the author is right there with you. One of my top 25 books of 2009!

I just started teaching this new class and then I order this book, Journal Sprilling and found it very helpful in guiding one to freely expressing themselves.
Laura Lein-Svencner
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I have just recently started art journaling and love Jane Davies book, Collage Journeys. When I got Journal Spilling, it presented me with a whole new fresh approach to journaling. I like the light tone, the inclusion of techniques, and her free flowing style. Having prompts and quotes to start from is a great tool. This is a book I would recommend to someone starting on their journey of journaling.