A Handmade Easy To Make Blank Artist Journal

I thought I'd share this very easy way to make your own artist journal with your favorite papers.  This method probably won't do for those who enjoy binding their own journals, but if you're a lazy artist like myself it's the perfect way to own an artist sketchbook made with the exact paper you love to work on.  For me when working in watercolor Arches or Fabriano Artistico are the papers I love.


What I've done here is tore a few sheets of Arches 140 lb. CP paper into a size that I like to work with for watercolor sketches.  I also added some plain white writing paper in between those pages to write my notes on.  I wound up with about 30 pages in all.  If you prefer Hot Pressed paper, toned paper, Bristol Vellum, or a combination of several different types of paper for your work this method will work fine for any paper you can dream of.  And, of course you can make these journals for any medium you like to work in be it colored pencil, pen, collage, whatever...


When you've chosen and cut your favorite papers to size, put them in a neat pile.  For watercolor paper I like to have any deckled edges I have showing on the outside of the book.  Once you have all your papers stacked the way you want them to be in your finished book head on over to your nearby Staples, Office Depot, or any similar office supply store.  Ask them to bind your book with a plastic spiral.  


You can use a different paper for your cover, too, as long as you've made it the same size as the rest of your papers.  For example you can use a sheet of watercolor paper and decorate it before or after it's bound with collage, acrylics, etc.   They will be happy to provide you with a clear plastic sheet for the top of your book and a heavier plastic sheet on the bottom for firmness when you are sketching outdoors and aren't resting on a table.  

I've made these books in various sizes, although there is a limit to how large you can go depending on the length of your store's spirals.  The spirals do come in various widths, however, so you have leeway as to how many pages you can add to your book.  It's probably best to check with your local store for sizes with a phone call before you begin.  Here is an example of a couple of small ones I made...

The book on the left is made from Arches WC paper and the book on the left is made from Fabriano Artistico paper.

This is the Arches book opened up.  As you can see it lays flat and is easy to work on when bound with a spiral.

Well, as I mentioned this method isn't for everyone.  But,  for those of us who just aren't into binding our own books, but do still want to have a journal of our favorite papers to work in this does the trick nicely.  Happy arting!!

STRATHMORE ONLINE WORKSHOPS-ARTIST JOURNAL

In March of 2012 I started the free Cathy Johnson's Artist Journal Workshop on the Strathmore's Online Workshops website.  Their home page is here.  The workshop I did was available to do for anyone until August 2012.  But, they offer three month-long free and very extensive art workshops every year by well known artists in their field of expertise.  They begin in the early part of each year and are available to do up until August of that year.  I highly recommend checking them out!


On the first day of the workshop I went outside to sit on my front porch to sketch and paint geraniums.  But, as soon as I stepped outside the beautiful sky caught my eye and I just had to try to capture that instead.  The clouds were plentiful and huge, puffy and moving fast in the deep blue sky.  Not only were they moving quickly in the sky, but they were also moving and changing shape within themselves at a rapid speed.  They looked like boiling steam or flowers opening up right before my eyes.  It was an amazing view.  I wasn't able to capture it perfectly, but here is what I did capture....

A few days later I was able to get back to the geranuiums, so I did an ongoing series of buds to bloom.....

Again, I encourage anyone to join this annual series of workshops, if possible.  It usually begins in January/February of each year.  You will learn a lot from experts in various mediums while you're having fun doing it.  I also find it to be a great inspiration to get the creative juices flowing.  Have fun!