This post is inspired by my recent painting session of flipping through my journal, looking at old paintings and saying, what if I added more color here or this detail there?

I have a journal. I never understood what a journal was. Am I just playing around with color and techniques? Should I have different paper for portfolio work? The idea of using one sheet of paper just to doodle seemed like a waste of paper.

I took a course by Adolfo Sera, Suzanne Allard and am learning that art journals are a wonderful way to bloom and grow as an artist!

Here is a before art journal page.

I love the flowers and the vase but the colors, especially the gold just wasn’t right.

Here is the after-journal page.

The yellow with the orange and pink flowers warms me like the sun. I really have to work with this color again! Oh, and my newly acquired Cobalt Turquoise is a dream!

An art journal

• is your sacred creative space where anything goes
• helps you learn that art takes time
• helps you realize that if you don’t like the color layer over it
• helps you realize that your art is actually pretty good

As I sat literally flipping the pages of my journal, I realized that my paintings aren’t a lost cause. The paintings simply were not finished. As you sporadically add details on random days you learn to trust your senses, you align with them, your confidence is right where it needs to be and then your confidence blooms right before your eyes!

You become that kid who when asked,” What inspired you?” How did you come up with this? The answer is always a brilliant,” I don’t know. I just painted.”

The point of an art journal is that it allows you to just paint. Making art is where the magic happens.

Interested in more painting ideas and talk? You can subscribe to my blog and be part of a garden where wildflowers grow. I do like the sound of that!

Thanks for reading. Comment if you like. It is always fun to learn about new art.

With Love, Mireya