My Love of Journals

When I was a young girl, like many other women I am sure, I kept a diary, but I did find it boring recording the daily events, what sports matches I was playing in, or who I had a fight with, or who I fancied at school, so my diaries transformed into journals instead. My first journal was a scrapbook journal, writing about the places I was going, the people I was meeting and keeping all the little bits and pieces reminding me of the occasions when I had so much fun.
Over the years my journals became more personal and included drawings, cuttings from magazines and anything that would express the way I was feeling. I have kept journals for almost 40 years and still have most of them. Don't ask me how I have managed to keep them with the amount of moving I have done over the years, but perhaps they became as important to me as photo albums so I took special care of them I don't know, but I am glad I still have them.
When my 3rd marriage came to an end in 2005 I buried myself in my journals it was the only place that I felt safe, where I could hide, explode, weep, reminisce about the past that had been so painful for me. I was seeing a therapist at the time, but I was so deeply depressed I didn't have the energy to talk. I needed help but I was exhausted from talking. One day I gave my journals to my therapist and asked her to read them, which she did and as a result she encouraged me to write my book... the rest is history as they say.
I have seen many therapists over the years and could never have done without their wisdom and support, but I wouldn't be where I am today if it were not for my journals and my art either. The three of us became firm friends - therapy, art, writing.
For a long time I have been wanting to share not only some of my own journals but also the journals of other artists that I have enjoyed, either for their content, art, style of writing, creativity, inspiration or what ever.
There are many famous celebrities who journal Oprah probably being the most well known with her Gratitude journals but there are many more and I try my best to buy them for my own collection. I will share some of those too in the weeks to come.

Liz-Borromini Steel

Liz-Borromini Steel

Liz is an architect so I am never going to be surprised at her beautiful work. I have been following her for a long time and she can also be found on Facebook.  I love loose style of drawing and of course her drawings of buildings and bridges is simply breath taking. I seldom read what she writes about because I feel as if I am being nosey, but when I do it is obvious that she is a very committed Christian and spreading His love through her work is wonderful.

Danny Gregory

I had to share this with you. If you like me, cannot go anywhere without a sketch book / Journal then you will love this mans work. I bought a book of his years ago and it really changed the style in which I used to journal.

I have been away for a while and will take some photo's tomorrow of some of the art work that I have been doing and share it with you. I literally cannot go anywhere with out my journals, water colours, pens and pencils, I just love it... writing and journaling is my meditation.

Art Journalling

I blurred the script, not because I care if other people read what I write but because I wanted to share the detail of my water colours. I love this little palette of travelling water colours. They are so small and compact and the colours are nice and strong. I think you can buy them in several different shades, I bought the basics.

Box Journal

Honestly inspired by DJ's beautiful little Fat Books that she makes with the most incredible inspiration and art work I had to make this. Now what?