True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling [Paperback]

L.K. Ludwig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2008

Featuring the artwork of over 25 leading artists with name recognition

As art journaling grows in popularity (even attracting a new breed of scrapbookers who call themselves "life artists"), there is a movement afoot toward creating more authentic, personal, what some people call "raw" journals. These journals are filled with not just attractive, well-composed pages, but pages that are filled with personal, meaningful content.

True Visions is focused on ways to bring authenticity and meaning into one's art journaling. The book will examine themes and topics common to all while offering activities and exercises to create rich meaningful content. Each chapter will highlight familiar subject areas such as life events, spirituality, childhood, and even an artist's favorite writings. Within each topic, readers are given guided activities and exercises for developing content, provided one or two artistic techniques, and are shown inspiring examples of work by a variety of talented art journal artists.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

L.K. (Lori Kay) Ludwig (Zelienople, PA) works predominantly with mixed media artist books and photography with a strong inclination toward creating personal intimate works. Her artwork has been featured widely in books, magazines, and galleries and is held in private collections. She is also the author of Mixed-Media Nature Journals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592534260
• ISBN-13: 978-1592534265
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #721,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

LK Ludwig creates art and chases her three small children around in a Victorian four-square in a very small town in western Pennsylvania. Many weekends are spent in the woods and at the river, where family memories and art are made while the Allegheny River flows by. With a strong belief in creating around what she knows, nature, parenting, love and life seep deeply into LK's artwork, making it content rich and personally meaningful. Her work has been in a number of books, magazines and shown in various galleries. LK teaches at various venues across the US and enjoys it very much.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars True Vision by LK Ludwig June 21, 2008

By Ellen M. Gibb

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the best book on art journaling to come out in years. Unlike some of the other recent books on this topic, the work presented is interesting, sophisticated, and artful. The instruction is for serious art journalists who have already done some art journaling and is not "dumbed down." The author presents a broad range of work, much of which is by well-known and popular teachers in this genre, but also includes many worthy newcomers. The layout and graphics are inviting and spacious, and the text is worth reading. Ludwig has a soulful and poetic narrative voice. The feeling tone which she brings to her writing is wonderful; she has the courage to celebrate work that goes beyond "pretty." One of my favorite aspects of the book are the in-depth interviews with some of the featured journalists, especially the ones with Juliana Coles and Traci Bunkers. There are many suggestions in the book which can be used to launch new journal pages, many beautiful quotes, and helpful "art activity" suggestions run vertically along the right hand page edge. My only criticism of the book focuses on the poor editing of the text--major bloopers! Captions are attached to the wrong pictures, paragraphs are repeated, lines are missing in one or two cases. The editor who worked on this book needs a scolding for such carelessness! Inspite of errors in presentation, this book is very inspiring and beautiful. A must for any library of art journaling books. I give it four stars.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sharpen your art-journaling tools and get crackin' August 19, 2008

By S. Fishburn VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Maybe it's because my copy is from the second printing, but I didn't find the glaring editing mistakes another reviewer was appalled to find. I noticed a typo or two but that was the extent.
True Vision packs a hefty punch. It will appeal to a mixed audience. There are basic and innovative prompts (on every other page) geared to those just discovering the world of art journaling, or making a leap from traditional scrapbooking to a deeper and/or more complex style. The written material is excellent. L.K.'s observations are thought-provoking and her instructions detailed, which will please everyone. She's collected a smashing selection of illustrative pages from the diverse journals of 3 dozen artists working in a wide array of media/styles. There are in-depth interviews with Katie Kendrick, Bee Shay, Traci Bunkers, Loretta Marvel, and Julianna Coles, artists who have made their names on the strength of their journal pages alone.
In addition to specific techniques like inkjet image transfers and blind contour drawing, there are sections on developing personal 'symbols' and journaling on subjects of global impact. L.K. included a Vision Deck, a set of word prompt cards to spark any art journaler's creative fire.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Art Journaling at a new level July 30, 2008

By Glory Mooberry

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you have ever wanted to keep an art journal, this book is a great resource. If you are already an artist making journals, this will help you kick it up a notch.

L.K. Ludwig's new book is full of interesting prompts and ideas to take you past your fear of the blank page and fill you with excitement, as well as inspiration. The photography is great - the artist journals featured here are exciting and inspiring.

This is not really a beginner's book - "how to prime a page, how to create a background" - it assumes a certain knowledge of techniques and materials. But it has incredible journal pages by featured artists which will have ideas popping into your head and onto your blank pages.

There are plenty of instructions, in addition to the prompts and questions, to help you incorporate feelings and events from your daily life into your jounal. It's an exciting book!