Show and Tell - whats in your Studio Journal?

[Fionacupcake]

I tried not to agonise over the discussion title! Hope to encourage all the members to open up their studio journals and talk about their thoughts and processes - the good the bad and the ugly!

Sharon has posted a handy tutorial on how to insert photos into your messages so we can all see what your talking about.  You can find it HERE.

[Fionacupcake]

I took Sharon's Studio Journal class in 2008.

I've had a mixed history with sketchbooks/notebooks/studio journals. I've started one (many many books) with the intention of noting down and developing ideas. Collecting bits and pieces and using it like a scrapbook. Sketching, painting, collage etc etc etc. Immediately setting myself up for failure as it didn't match the wonderful presentation of collection of ideas that I had in my head.

I really enjoyed Sharon's course partly because of the exercises (no need for perfection) and also the extensive notes and examples. But I think it came at the right time for me - my daughter was approaching 2 and I was regaining some 'headspace', she was also interested in arty stuff too, so we could cut and paste together!

Since then I've been knitting more and developing my own business ideas as well as helping my husband with his so my sketchbook can often get abit dusty. I have found I use my daily diary as a note taker, and Evernote to clip ideas on the internet and Ravelry (a knitting/crochet site) to record my knitting plans.

BUT I love pen and paper to record and thrash out ideas, wander and doodle. I'll take some new photos tomorrow but I've listed below some blog posts where I've documented some pages. They're abit old (2009) but I think they give a good idea of how I use my sketchbook.

Sketchbook - 30 minutes with a glossy magazine
Drawing Stitches
Studio Journal - Location Location
Studio Journal - another colour pile

What's in your studio journal/sketchbook?

[Raphaela]

Fionacupcake, thank you for reminding me of using my studio journal more frequently. I took SharonB' class in 2009, enjoyed the class and my new journal a lot but later I forgot about it. I have always returned to it but not as often as I would have liked to.

I use my journal for design exercises, for planning actual or future projects, I put in magazine cut-outs - for themes or just as I find them -, my own photos - I like to take nature photos -, pictures, tips, instructions, links to tutorials of blogs and websites, in short everything that 'speaks to me'.

I have written a blog post with photos today which hopefully will act as a reminder:
http://textileexplorations.blogspot.com/2010/11/studio-journal.html

[Fionacupcake]

you have lovely colours! Makes me want to cut up some colours and get pasting! I took my book out to photograph some pages and realised I didn't have anything new! Its 'just' stuffed with pages ripped out of magazines etc!

I have to say that my blog has become an extension of my journal too - recording and sharing ideas. Plus I never remember to print photos of finished pieces to put in my journal so at least I have a digital record.

I must remember and date my entries like you!

[sharonb]

Hi all I have just written a blog post on my latest work in progress and included a couple of journal pages.
You will find the whole article here (just follow the link)

I thought I would post here too as people might be interested.
this is what it started out like

This is the working design (the actual work in progress is on my blog)

[Ruth Lane]

I also took Sharon's class and really enjoyed it. I have used my studio journal much more since I took Sharon's class. I'm on my fourth one. Here's a blog post link with my latest additions.

[Fionacupcake]

thanks for sharing Ruth its good to be able to go back over pages and I really like the creative designer text, I may retype and paste into my own sketchbook!

[Faith]

I finally made a new cover for my current (first) studio journal. You can read about it here: Fancy's Images' blog

 

[JulieCastle]

I have added a couple photos on my page from my Studio Journal.  I seem to be using it at least weekly and have a number of photos to print out to add to the journal, especially my Church Steeple Study.

I took the class this year beginning in February.  Loved it.  I just got some new pencils for sketching from Blick Art supplies.