ART JOURNALING
With Sam Page
Our Instructor-in-Residence, Sam Page, hosted two sessions of their weekly drop-in Art Journaling class for teens! Each week, they created new and colorful journal entries together based on prompts and phrases that explore their feelings and emotions, and memories. They created visual representations of their weeks and just hung out, and built community together! Students participated in interactive Zoom sessions with live lessons, daily art prompts, creative discussions, and opportunities for students to share their work.
Materials Needed:
A journal (any notebook or sketchbook can work)
Various writing utensils (Sam uses a mixture of Posca paint pens, super tip Crayola markers, and some sharpies and colored pencils. The goal isn’t to have a ton of things, just to have a couple of options that you really like using.)
Optional stuff: Ruler (for good lines), Scrapbooking paper, Adhesives (double-sided tape, glue sticks, etc.)
If you missed this class, you can still try out some of Sam’s daily prompts!
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WEEK #1: What is a key?
Watch this video below for a quick introduction to a key and how it works. Create your own key to begin your art journal!
WEEK #2: TAKING UP SPACE
This week’s prompt focuses on confidence and expression. Here we go:
Create a dynamic 2-page spread that demonstrates the simple act of “taking up space” using shapes and colors found in your key.
Does making designs like this help free your mind, express yourself, and build confidence?
Watch the video below for some inspiration!
WEEK #3: EMBRACING MISTAKES
This week’s prompt will focus on embracing mistakes and rolling with them! We want you to work on creating freely, letting go of the idea of perfection, and embrace your mistakes!
Work on a blind continuous/blind contour style drawing of your own (or someone else’s) face
What is a blind continuous/contour drawing?
This is a drawing exercise, where an artist draws the contour of a subject without looking at the paper or lifting their pen until the drawing is completed. The artistic technique was introduced by Kimon Nicolaïdes in The Natural Way to Draw.
Step 1: Fix your eyes on your subject. Maybe it’s yourself in a mirror, or maybe it’s a friend or your dog?
Step 2: Tracks the edges of them with your eyes, while simultaneously drawing the contour very slowly. The edge of their face, their shoulders, their hair. Pay attention to their outline. Don’t take your eyes off of them!
Step 3: In a steady, continuous line without lifting the pencil or looking at the paper, draw the rest of their features.
Step 4: Look at your paper. Doesn’t it look so cool?! Revel in the messy and abstract nature of this type of portrait. Notice how it makes you feel. Did you like the process?
Step 5: Try another!
WEEK #4: COLLABORATION
Do you like to be part of a team? Then today’s lesson is for you! The goal is to work with someone else (in your house or through Zoom). Share your keys with each other and begin to brainstorm how to can use them both to create a 2 page spread about the concept of collaboration!
Remember the key rule to collaboration….listening. Listen to each other! Hype each other up!
It’s ok to disagree about how something should look, but be sure to use constructive criticism and discuss your ideas with respect.
Also, be careful not to get too excited and accidentally take over the project— ask each other questions and be open to all the possibilities that arise when two minds come together!
This program was made possible by CULTUREworks
