Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books [Paperback]

Linda Woods (Author), Karen Dinino (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 11, 2006

The real news of our lives is not in newspapers. We must chronicle our own adventures and achievements, our brilliant observations and our comic relief, our best friends and our greatest embarrassments.

Visual Chronicles is all about YOU: your dreams, your memories, your daily routines, your greatest loves and your secret pet peeves. It's all about getting to know yourself better, savoring the wonderful ebb and flow of your everydays, and celebrating it all in visual mementos of your life journey.

Sound fun? Heck, yes! Sound hard? Not a bit. Each chapter of Visual Chronicles quiets common fears such as "Nothing happens in my life." or "I'm just not artistic." with projects such as the "My Day Unfolds Journal", and "Experiments with Composition." Inside, you'll learn that journaling doesn't take big chunks of time - just bits and pieces here and there, whenever the spirit strikes. "Get Going" exercises offer instant ideas such as listening to the conversations you have with yourself or recognizing that meaningful ephemera is a part of each and every day. Soon, you'll see that inspiration awaits all around you: a midnight trip to the store, a favorite scarf, an unexpected phone call, junk email, your breakfast plate . . .

Don't wait another second. Make creative journaling a part of your everyday life, busting through self-doubt, time clocks, piles of laundry, and every other roadblock along the way. With Visual Chronicles, you'll be inspired to tell your story the way only you can!

Editorial Reviews

Review

What a dynamite combination! ...A terrific way to start the (art journaling) journey. -- Somerset Studio Magazine

"This is the only book you'll ever need, to learn how to scrapbook in a way that is uniquely yours." -- Rosie O'Donnell, The View, October 19, 2006

In this book, plump as plump can be with illustrations, the authors guide you on a whirlwind trek of empowerment. -- RubberStamp Madness Magazine

It will inspire the intimidated artist within and it's filled with easy projects and practical tips. -- Skirt! Magazine

From the Publisher

Many people know they could benefit from the therapeutic act of journaling, but the dread of not knowing what to put on the page stops them. Finally, Visual Chronicles provides a no-fear guide to expressing one's deepest self with art and words. Sisters Linda Woods and Karen Dinino start each chapter by debunking a journaling myth, such as "I am not artistic." They then offer:

• Exercises that encourage readers to chronicle their thoughts and lives with painting, sketching, stamping, collaging, and writing; • Friendly projects, including the Personal Palette and Mini Prompt Journal, to make each entry easier to start; • Inspiration for experimenting with colors, shapes, ephemera, communication styles and more.

The unique combination of diverse artistic elements makes this book a must have for artists, crafters, scrapbookers, and writers.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (March 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581807708
• ISBN-13: 978-1581807707
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

194 of 218 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A real let down, April 12, 2006

By 

textile fiend (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books (Paperback)

I ordered this book as kind of an 'add-on' because I was getting a couple of others, saw it had been bought by people who had bought my other choices, and had great reviews. Because there are so many positive reviews for this book, I was really looking forward to it. I was very disappointed with it as a casual buyer, but can understand that it would appeal to many people. This review is really just for people like me, who might buy it not fully realising what they're getting, and be disappointed.

To understand where I am coming from, the books I *do* like include 'Drawing from art: the journal as art', 'The journey is the destination: the journals of Dan Eldon', and 'Artists journals and sketchbooks: exploring and creating personal pages.'As you can see, my interest is in art journals rather than altered books, but I really feel that this book is aimed squarely at scrapbookers who want to start making some more personal work. The book is directed towards multi-taking parents (meaning Moms); there are many references to taking supplies to the kids' ballgames, or worrying about the kids knocking the paint over, and it takes a cute, encouraging, enthusiastic tone that alas, soon felt like fingernails down a blackboard to me.

So, aimed at a COMPLETE journalling beginner, who has done some scrapbooking, but feels that's just not enough any more, then this is a great book. It will talk you through some basic things, and give you the confidence to find your voice. If that is you, then stop reading now, because now I'm going to criticise it. Go read some of those other nice reviews instead.

Ok...

I hated, simply detested, loathed, this book. If there was a no-star option I would have picked it.

A) Why are the authors talking to me as if I have recurring brain damage? Is it because I am a Mom? Are Moms dumb?

B) Do the authors have shares in scrapbooking supply companies? Why do they recommend taking, as an portable travelling ESSENTIALS kit, to take *everywhere* with us; a glue stick, fine-tip premanent pen, scissors, paintbox inkpad assortment, Peerless Watercolour paper cards, coloured permanent ink pens, mini stapler, cosmetic sponges, water brushes, alphabet stamps, mini pump-top water bottle, pre-painted background paper, tape, 3"x5"index cards, and two mini idea-journals you have made. You're kidding me, right? But THEN, they suggest an expansion pack; gel medium, acrylic paint, ruler, flat brush, shipping tags, paper punches, favourite rubber stamps, decorator paper. And she suggests that apart from travelling out with this, you "take it from room to room in the house". Yeah - me and the team of sherpas! I'm not arguing that that isn't a great bunch of supplies to have at home, but you know, you can journal with just a pencil and the journal. That's pretty much all you need to take with you to the kids baseball game. It fits in your jacket pocket!!

C) Journalling is all about examing yourself, your life, and your surroundings, and being honest. The authors do not feature journalling at all. These are scrapbook pages, in a book. They put an ink or paint background down, cut up pictures and glue them, then add stick-on lettering and some rubber stampings. Where is the honest examination! Show me something real! The things that really annoy Linda, or 'push her buttons', are bad eyebrow waxes and holes in the fingertips of dish washing gloves. How Desperate Housewives can you get?

OK, i better stop before I get mad. I'm glad so many people like this book, and i HOPE that it will encourage them to continue journalling. Just remember, to live an authentic life you don't need a tote full of art supplies; just your voice and a pen!

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Art Book for People Without Any Art Skills, April 19, 2006

By 

Lee Goldberg (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books (Paperback)

I only say that because I am the definition of that headline -- but VISUAL CHRONICLES made me want to sit down with glue, scissors, and some old magazines...and make something fun. I'm not an artist, but Linda and Karen made me feel like one. This book is inspiring, funny, creative, and wonderful -- and that's if all you do is look at the pictures. The writing is a class above most instructional art books, full of wit, character, wisdom, and enthusiasm. VISUAL CHRONICLES is for artists, aspiring artists and people-who-didn't-know-they-were-artists of ALL ages (and it's a treasure trove of projects for you to do with your kids!).

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this book!, April 25, 2006

By 

Gloria Page "Author of ART STAMPING WORKSHOP" (Columbia, Missouri) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books (Paperback)

I have never "art-journaled" before. Have I wanted to? Yes. Have I talked myself in and always out of it? Yes. What I am totally connecting with in Visual Chronicles is the tone of the approach. How can Linda and Karen possibly know all of my reasons/excuses for not giving it a go? They seem to be looking inside my head or something!

The way they approach everything in the book, whether in words or art, is with a loving light touch. There is heart & humor in this book and I deeply feel that, with all that goes on in our lives and in the world, both are so needed.

Linda and Karen, I am reading every word. There is so much to reflect upon, laugh over, learn from and use in real life. You share an attitude and then explain techniques and applications through exercises that are fun and insightful, not intimidating. THANK YOU! I know that so much goes into creating a book. This one is touching people's lives, I can tell! Great editing, fab layout, terrific content. Now I need to DO something with all this inspiration!