Category: Creative Living Activity

July 31, 2016

A Creative How-To Tutorial: How to Make a Journal From Magazines

When you collage as much as I do, you have a lot of well-loved, well-used old magazines lying around. Turning them into journals is ever so much better than tossing them in the recycling!

Here are some quick and easy written instructions for turning your leftover magazines into a special place for your creative expression, In the video, I take you through the entire process, step-by-step. I hope you’ll discover a new love, just like I did!

Thank you so much to Shannon Green for introducing me to the concept of using a magazine as a journal and to Dede Willingham, who explained how to create one in one of her Coffee and Art in the Morning videos.

Supply List

Two magazines. Generally ones that are have a slightly heavier paper work better. (I love using the Stampington & Company magazines for this project.)
Gluestick or tape adhesive
A wide decorative tape for binding
Scissors (optional)

Creating Your Magazine Journal is Simple

Start with two magazines. If you are going to add paint or collage to your magazine journal, anything that will add some dimension, it helps to have a fair amount of pages removed. This will create some space between the covers for the bulk that you are going to add.

Remove the front cover of one magazine and the back cover of the other.

Lining them up as best you can, glue together the exposed last page of the magazine with the back cover removed and the exposed front page of the magazine with the front cover removed. If the glued together pages show some ripples, smooth them out using your fingers, a bone folder or, as I do, a soft cloth on the tip of your index finger.

Use your wide decorative tape to create a binding down the spine of the two attached magazines.

Voila! You’re done!

Tips for Making the Most of Your Magazine Journal

Experiment with ways you can use your new journal. Be brave! These are wonderfully unprecious as they are made from materials you were likely going to recycle anyway!

I love to use my magazine journals for collage. I have an en masse journal, a glue journal (I call it a “picture book”) and a dream book for gathering images that speak to my dreams. I have had hours of fun gluing images in, leaving visible any pre-existing parts of the magazine that I love. I generally use glue sticks (UHU brand) and have found that with a heavier magazine paper I don’t get too much rippling. Working with glue tape and using smaller images, especially if you have thinner paper, can help keep things smooth. For example, I always use glue tape if I am putting in a whole-page image.

Try using a magazine journal as an art journal. Rip out a page and test how it takes paint. Use a first layer of gesso and see how that works. With a wet medium, you are sure to get some rippling but how much and whether you’d like to work with that is a very individual choice. If it’s too much for you, you can always stick to using dry mediums. Have fun testing how your various pens, pencils and mark-making utensils work on magazine paper. Sharpies work a treat!

You can also use a magazine journal as a pre-illustrated writing journal. Write your daily thoughts, ideas, gratitudes in all of the spaces you can find. Try light-coloured gel pens on dark-coloured backgrounds. Discover how your writing takes on a new dimension when it is paired with the found imagery of your magazine journal.

The possibilities are endless!

However you use your journal, it’s a great idea to work a little at the front and then a little at the back and then a little at the front and a little at the back. Jumping around the pages and balancing out your usage this way will keep the binding strong and square. And if you really like your pages to lie flat, you can be a little compulsive like me and take some time at the beginning to give them a nudge to open either with your fingers or a bone folder, again alternating working from the front and the back (See the video.)

When I discovered the process of creating a magazine journal, I was immediately hooked. I made three that weekend and immediately started using them. I love the feel of these journals in my hands and I deeply love that I am making use of every last bit of the magazines I buy, especially the ones that are a bit more of an investment.

What Ideas Do You Have for Using a Magazine Journal?

July 19, 2016

Take It To Your Journal: How Has Creativity Transformed You?

A Question to Take To Your Journal:
How Has Creativity Transformed You?

(inspired by the Creative Living with Jamie podcast featuring Sara Naumann)

March 6, 2016

Finding Shapes in Your Neighbourhood

[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Church.jpg’ attachment=’5082′ attachment_size=’full’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
As a novice drawer, it’s been good for me to find simple creative practices for encouraging myself to draw. One fun and easy exercise that I’ve come up with (and one that encourages my photography too) is to collect shapes when I’m out and about and then draw them in my sketchbook or journal.

This week while on a mail run for Give a Girl a Journal, the window of this church caught my eye. It inspired me to pull out my camera for one block and see what shapes I could find.

One neighbourhood block. Five pictures. Lots of inspiration.
[/av_textblock]

[av_one_half first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Shape-Church-Window-300×300.jpg’ attachment=’5068′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_half]

[av_one_half min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Sketch-Church-Window-brighter-300×300.jpg’ attachment=’5073′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_half]

[av_hr class=’invisible’ height=’10’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
One of the gifts of drawing is the way it inspires us to actively look at the world around us. When I first noticed this window, I saw only the simple pie shapes. When I got closer, I noticed more detail. When I started drawing, I noticed more detail still!

As well as opening up our vision, drawing invites us to practice decision-making. Now that I had noticed all these levels of detail, what did I draw? Would I realistically render every bit of what I saw? Would I pick the simplest shape? Something in between?

Each of us will make different choices in different moments with different subjects. Drawing gives us the opportunity to exercise those muscles and in so doing discover something about our creative voice.
[/av_textblock]

[av_one_half first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Fence-Curls-300×300.jpg’ attachment=’5074′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_half]

[av_one_half min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Fence-Drawing-300×300.jpg’ attachment=’5075′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_half]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
One of the first things I realized when I started to explore drawing was that I had a really small visual vocabulary. In truth, it was still the vocabulary I had as a kid, which makes perfect sense because that was the last time I had drawn very much at all.

With reading and writing we are constantly expanding our language vocabulary, our facility to comprehend, create and recreate letters, words and sentences. We can do the same with our visual vocabulary. Getting out and collecting shapes is a fun and unintimidating way to expand your range, right on your own doorstep!
[/av_textblock]

[av_one_half first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Draw-Branches-300×300.jpg’ attachment=’5069′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_half]

[av_one_half min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Branches-Drawn-brighter-300×300.jpg’ attachment=’5072′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_half]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
This expansion of our visual vocabulary can come from looking at the world around us but it can also happen when we look at art. In many of the drawing books and classes I’ve encountered, artists have depicted trees and plants with lines that are dotted with little circles. The first time I saw this I thought to myself, “What plant actually look like that?” When I went out looking, apparently many of them! LOL!
[/av_textblock]

[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Dot-Branches.jpg’ attachment=’5071′ attachment_size=’full’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
It’s fun to discover what you can create by looking for the simple shapes in whatever is in your line of sight. Starting to see objects as combinations of circles and lines and squares and curves can suddenly make them seem possible to draw.

As you discover these simple shapes, experiment with different ways that you can create with them. These life-inspired motifs can become embellishments for your art journal, simple symbols for your doodling or the beginnings of interesting backgrounds and textures!
[/av_textblock]

[av_one_half first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Arrow-Down-300×300.jpg’ attachment=’5080′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_half]

[av_one_half min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Drawn-Arrows-300×300.jpg’ attachment=’5081′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_half]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
You can start with a basic representation of what you see and then riff on that shape. Let yourself expand the possibilities and your range with a little bit of playing. You never know what you’ll discover! (As a Sagittarius, I’m surprised I haven’t played with arrows more!)
[/av_textblock]

[av_one_half first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Pavers-square-300×300.jpg’ attachment=’5077′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_half]

[av_one_half min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Pavers-Drawing-300×300.jpg’ attachment=’5078′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_half]

[av_image src=’https://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/JRS-Colour-Pavers-.jpg’ attachment=’5079′ attachment_size=’full’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
And you don’t have to limit yourself to line. You can add colour to the mix too. Play with different colour stories – realistic, monochromatic, random. It’s just a little doodle in your sketchbook or journal. There’s no way to get it wrong!

Whether you find drawing as intimidating as I do or whether you’re looking for a fresh way to play, I hope that collecting shapes becomes a fun way to expand your visual vocabulary as a part of your creative practice.
[/av_textblock]

[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’How to Collect Shapes’ color=” style=” custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=” subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=”][/av_heading]

[av_iconlist position=’left’ font_color=” custom_title=” custom_content=” color=” custom_bg=” custom_font=” custom_border=”]
[av_iconlist_item title=’Pick an Area’ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue836′ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Pick an area in which to look for shapes. It can be a block when you’re out for a walk or it can be a corner of your own backyard. It can be the top of your dresser or the inside of your purse. It can be the subway car or the waiting room. Everywhere you look there are shapes to be found.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’Gather & Draw’ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue836′ font=’entypo-fontello’]
If you have a sketchbook, a journal or a sheet of scrap paper (basically, anything to write on) you can go directly to it and with a pencil or a pen (or anything you like to write with) gather the shapes you see. If it’s easier, take some photos. Gather as many as you like and then transform them into simple shape drawings later.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’That’s it!’ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue836′ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Notice what catches your eye. Notice what shapes your hand enjoys. Have fun, enjoy the process and trust that as you look for shapes and draw them, you are growing your visual vocabulary, practicing your mark-making and strengthening your creative voice.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[/av_iconlist]

July 28, 2015

Art Day: Shapes & Stencils, Watercolours & Words

Every Sunday is Art Day at our house! Since the kittens have arrived, we haven’t braved a wet medium – until now! We spent the afternoon exploring a colourful watercolour lesson from Lynn Whipple and The Year of the Spark!

We had fun with stencils and shapes.

And watercolours.

There are about a million things we could do with these beauties!

We added words.

And will eventually string these all together.

I think the colourful table shows what fun we had!

And if that’s not enough, there’s Shannon’s smile!

What will you create this week?

July 21, 2015

Art Day: When Your Busy, Keep it Simple

Every now and then a week comes along where things seem too busy for our regularly scheduled Sunday Art Day. With both the Creative Projects Seminar and Sparkles LIVE! coming up, as well as several special events (including Shannon’s birthday on Thursday), this was one of those weeks. I sadly asked Shannon if we could postpone until next week and she was, of course, understanding. And so, I worked and worked and worked and then around 3:00, I sent her a text, “Hey, want to spend an hour creating?”

We grabbed some simple supplies, mostly coloured pencils, and projects we’d been working on and tucked in. We coloured and chatted and before we knew it, we’d had some art day fun. It was just what I needed to dive into the week ahead.

Even a little creative time makes a big difference.

June 30, 2015

Art Day: Colour Mixing, Colour Matching & A Value Study

Every Sunday is Art Day at our house! This week we dove into the newest Year of the Spark lesson by Lynn Whipple.

We started with practicing colour mixing acrylics, using the primaries, black and white.

We mixed the secondary colours and then played with going lighter and darker.

Next we did some colour matching. When we were done, I used all the leftover paint for some art journal backgrounds. I love how this one turned out.

Next we moved into a value study, using just a light, mid and dark to create a simple object.

I worked on my favourite mug and Shannon painted Coney, this week’s Art Day mascot!

This simple exercise was a great practice in seeing and creating with light and shade.

It was an incredibly rich and productive Art Day!

What Are You Going to Create Today?

June 18, 2015

Treasure Hunting: My Yard Sale Finds – for $20!

As creatives, we love to discover treasures.

We’re like magpies looking for sparkling beauty, creative inspiration, mind-expanding ideas and delightful photo ops! And I found it all at the neighbourhood yard sale! With a budget of $20 I was able to pick up some great finds, from collage materials to clothing!