Click image to get your copy!

This issue, entitled the ‘No Stress Guide’ is even better than the last! It’s got loads of articles, lots of images, a reader’s gallery, 2 book reviews and an interview with the wonderful Tracey Moore.

The zine costs just $5.00USD and profits from this issue will go to UCSF’s Art for Recovery program.

Missed Issue #1? You can still get copies here!

(scroll to the bottom of the page to choose an issue.)

For the latest info about Art Journaling: It’s All Good

follow us on Twitter @ArtJournaling

In this follow up workshop to the popular ‘Bookbinding 1‘ we’ll be concentrating on sewing and measuring techniques that you’ll be able to take forward into much more difficult classes later on. Building basic techniques now will help you keep your work neat, tidy and professional and allow you to concentrate on learning new styles instead of fussing about how it looks.

For a minimum of expense and with no experience you can make a simple, multi-signature book with a pretty hand sewn binding and a great, collaged, mixed-media cover that can be adapted for any occasion.

Once you see how easy it is to put a good quality book together you’ll wonder why you didn’t learn a long time ago!

You do not need to have done Bookbinding 1 to do Bookbinding 2.

Want to sign up? Click here!

Workshop Information

• Registration opens – today
• Workshop opens – Monday 19th April 2010
• Workshop available – indefinitely
• Style – On Demand (all materials uploaded and ready immediately)
• suitable for – Absolute beginners of all ages. Younger children should be supervised when using sharp tools and blades

Workshops in this series

Bookbinding 1: Tools, Materials & Techniques

Bookbinding 2: The Art of Measuring & Stitching

Bookbinding 3: Getting Creative & Doing Your Own Thing (Coming soon)

FAQ’s

Yes, this class is completely different form the Coptic workshop, which was more complex.

It’s not available through Artfire because it’s a commissioned workshop for Shabby Cottage Studios.

Can’t say I like sharpies any better after this (especially since they bled through the back of my page – grrr) but it was fun to have a go.

Here’s what the pages look like so far.

Art Journal Page: Halloween LHS

Art Journal Page: Halloween RHS

In Part 2 I’ll be doing some more collage work and adding more bits of colour, then some journaling.

In the meantime I’m putting the finishing touches to a couple of PDFs and working on my NaNoJouMo pieces. Oh and watching Teesha’s videos of course, just like everyone else. OK, OK, I’m on my 4th go round. But honestly, I love watching other people art journal. If someone set up a TV channel of just videoing people art journaling and painting and drawing and every so often they stopped and told you about the techniques and materials they were using? I’d subscribe. In fact, it would never get switched off.

This from the person who’s last TV watching session was at Easter for the Doctor Who special.

We’re starting on Halloween with the first of 9 weeks of videos that will take us all the way through to New Year’s Eve. The aim of these 9 weeks is to create a themed keepsake art journal using a variety of techniques. We’ll be looking at things like creating frames for written pages, 3-D Collage, stencilling and stamping (and I’m not talking card-making techniques from Create-It-TV channel here), drawing Celtic Knot-work, calligraphy with dip pens and much much more – because I generally think of cool stuff along the way and throw that in too.

Every week you get at least one video to download, at least one pdf to download and there’ll be some templates and stuff to use along the way as well.So… questions…

Can I join after the workshop starts?

Yes you can. You can join anytime. My classes stay open after the videos go up, you can hang around as long as you like, take as long as you like and generally mingle with others doing the class for as long as you want. The advantage to signing up on the start date is that you get one thing to work on each week. But if you like to have everything at once that’s fine, you can join on January 1st next year

I wanted to make my own book for Eve to Eve but I missed your Cryptic Coptic class. Will you be running it again?

I don’t need to – it hasn’t finished! See above answer, which applies to all my classes. Links to the current workshops are over there —>

I have a slow Internet, will I be able to download the videos?

You  should be able to yes. I provide a HD video which is huuuuge and a ‘medium quality’ one which is smaller and quicker to download. I have a high speed storage space thanks to @sonniesedge,  so download speeds aren’t capped too badly. If you really struggle email me and I’ll do what I can to help. You can also watch them online.

I’m a beginner. Do I need experience of art journaling?

Nope. What’s the point of doing a class you already know how to do? If you can figure out that art journaling is basically a journal, with art in it, you know enough to do the workshop.

I’m not a beginner. Will it be too easy?

Nope. I put plenty of stuff in there and the knot-work especially is pretty challenging. There will be written prompts, art prompts, new techniques – you should have enough to challenge you. Plus there will be some discussions for you to get involved in too which should keep you busy.

Do I have to be able to ‘do art’ as in drawing and painting?

Nope. There’s a whole lot more to art than drawing and painting. Although, if a 5 year old can paint, what’s your excuse?

What sort of book do I need?

That depends on what sort of media you like to use. If you’re into wet media like paints and such, you need watercolour paper. If you prefer collage and a pen, then thick drawing/cartridge paper will do. I generally recommend 140lb paper. If you want to make your own book cheaply, you might enjoy the Cryptic Coptic workshop.

I saw in your video you talked about tarot, astrology and goddesses. Is this basically a Book of Shadows?

Well, mine is yes. But you don’t have to copy my book to use the techniques. I will do a short video separately on the subject of my page each week, which those who are interested can watch. If you’re not into all that and you just want the art and journaling to apply to your own book of (insert your theme) that’s fine, you can skip the subject videos and go straight to the art journaling.

What supplies do I need?

Whatever you have. More info on the supplies list on the workshops page. Bare minimum you need a book, a cartridge, fountain or dip pen, a glue stick and some collage material. Plus the usual tools like pencils, rulers, scissors etc. I use very few specialist supplies.

Will you be doing touchy-feely-emotional stuff?

No. I don’t do touchy-feely-emotional stuff, I leave that kind of teaching to the experts like Willowing. I teach techniques. I give you ideas. I show you how to use my techniques with your theme, I will even help you brainstorm ideas for your page if you really can’t see any way to get your Celtic Knot-work into your recipe journal. I don’t believe you have to be into touchy-feely-emotional stuff to create something spiritual. In my world, spirituality does not require a particular religion, way of thinking, counselling or anything else of that nature. Spirituality requires you to recognise that you have a soul, and make friends with it. To treat others in the way you would want to be treated yourself, to show kindness and respect to others and to connect with something other than your own ego and wants. One of the ways you can be spiritual in your everyday life is to be creative. So you’re pretty much already there. However, the pdfs will include some ‘further thoughts’ bits and pieces for those who want to give a bit more thought and feeling to their work.

Is your special offer still on? What if I’ve already paid for one class and want to do another? Can I pay in  £s or €s because of the exchange rate?

The special offer is on til New Year’s Eve – do Cryptic Coptic and Eve to Eve for $75 (saving $15). If you’ve already bought one and want to add the other later, just email me rhomany{at}gmail{dot}com or IM me on Ning and I’ll invoice you for the balance. Ditto if you want to pay in £s/€s (I used XE Currency converter for all exchange rates)

Have more questions? Still not entirely convinced? Follow me on Twitter and let me talk you into it. I have to do it for Jackie anyway!