Art Journaling - the Secrets to Creativity

Art Journaling and the Secrets to Creativity Material List

One of the fun things about Art Journaling is experimenting. Bring everything on the list but feel free to substitute or use materials you already have. I will tell you my favourites and give you approximate prices.If you don’t have any of this at home it could come to about $100-$140, but most people will already have some of these supplies.

• Unlined journal, approximately A4-A5 size. I find the smaller size less intimidating, but it’s up to you. The paper should be a good weight, preferably 140- 150g. My favourite is the Daler Rowney Ebony sketchbook, about $17 - $25. In my experience, most people prefer the bound book journals over the spiral bound.
• Waterproof black pen for writing. I like the Staedtler pigment liner ($7) Copic or the Micron ($4). I would probably go for .1 in size as I like kind of a thin line. Go thicker if you prefer.   Or use a pencil.
• Glue stick. The yellow UHU glue stick ($3-$4) works best in the journal.
• Scissors with pointy ends so you can make fine cuts. I love Fiskars, but any sharp scissors are good.
• Old magazines, old books, postcards and other images for collage.
• Gesso. Can be the cheap kind (about $7) but I prefer the middle road stuff like Matisse or Liquitex (about $15 - $17 for 500 ml) because you use half as much.
• At least 3 bristle brushes 2cm-3cm wide, $2- $3
• Acrylic paints: I would recommend mid-price or student quality paints such as Chromacryl or Matisse at $4-$7 a tube rather than the super cheap stuff from dollar stores. Do not bring ‘open’ or slow drying acrylics – you will be hanging around waiting for them to dry. Colours: red, green, yellow, orange, blue, purple and raw umber. And then get some colours just because you love them.
• Scalpel with a few blades: $11   
• blades about $1.50 each
• Cutting matt – any is fine
• Sticky tape
• Plastic ruler
• Palette: Disposable or a plastic one. Get one with a large flat mixing area, and avoid ones with lots of small places to mix (those are for watercolour). I found one at a dollar store for $3. You can even use disposable plastic plates.
• A few pens for writing and doodling: acrylic paint pens, like Posca, are fantastic $4.50–$6 depending on size. Stay with fine to medium sizes in colours you fancy.  The three colours I use the most are white, black and red.
• I find the Uniball  Signos Gel pens .7mm or 1mm good for writing. Again I use the black, white and red the most, but I also use other colours like blue, green, orange and pink. They cost around $10 for an package of 5 in assorted colours.
• Or singly for around $2.50.
• The white one is a little different and costs about $7, but is one of the better white pens.  
• Paper towels
• Cloth rags
• Container for water
• Apron
• I will be bringing along some special papers etc that you will need. Bring another $5 for those.

Feel free to bring extra art supplies if you have them. You never know what you might feel inspired to use.

Other optional supplies you might have around the place: watercolour paints, crayons, coloured markers, water soluble colour pencils, double sided tape and/or decorative tapes.

Don’t bother with chalks, pastels, charcoal or oil crayons –they just smudge all over your journal.

I look forward to seeing you on January 14. Feel free to phone me if you have questions: Zom 6684-9312