Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Make a Mandala Journal

When I first saw this project last year, I knew it was something that I wanted to make.  I've been interested in mandalas and sacred geometry for a while now, and with winter approaching I thought this would be a perfect cold weather project.


Karin Bartimole is a talented artist, and I urge you to take a look at the other videos on her YouTube channel.  This is Part 1 of 4 of her Mandala Journal tutorial.  I love the thickness of the book and the binding method that I've yet to try.  As a bonus, I get to use a power tool!

I deviated a bit from Karin's cover directions.  I didn't use wall spackle, but instead used my Liquitex Super Heavy Gesso.  I'm quite happy with the results; but wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.

All of my pages are rather heavy cardboard.  My first pages were cut from pizza delivery boxes, and the rest of the pages are cut from slightly heavier cardboard.  I used the Korean, Mexican, and Persian newspapers that I was gifted with last month by my son and his girlfriend.  I used the old flour, salt, and water paper mache recipe as opposed to wallpaper paste. (I already had those ingredients in the house!)  It seems to have worked fine, and since I'll be sealing each page I'm not too worried about the durability.

I painted my covers with transparent layers of cadmium yellow, orange, alizarin crimson, bright aqua green, and cerulean blue artist acrylics.   I was really pleased with the outcome, but I kept looking at the front cover thinking, "it's just too plain".  I tried sealing wax discs but that didn't do the trick.  I thought about it and lived with the cover for a couple days when it finally came to me!  I would use a Japanese Kanji symbol!  I did a little research and found the Kanji for "spirit".  I applied the symbol to the front cover with more super heavy gesso and a wooden skewer.  It's drying in the sun right now and will soon be ready to paint.

Here's my first stack of prepared pages - there are 9 pages and the covers.  The stack isn't thick enough, so I'm adding an additional 6-8 pages.  That means mixing more paper mache.  I've discovered that it's not my favorite thing to do, but I keep the promise of  "The Power Tool" foremost in my mind to help me through.  I can't wait to bind the pages together using the slip knot technique shown in Karin's video.


I'm really having a great time getting my book ready, and I know it will be a comforting "go to" as the temperatures plunge and the snow flies.  I'm already brainstorming a second book made in this fashion, filled with Asian inspired papers, ephemera and haiku that I've collected over the years.  I hope you find this technique useful in your art journaling, and as always, I hope you're in the mindset of  "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Finally, the rains have left, the sky is clear, and the trees behind my house are dazzling and sparkling in the warm glow of the sun.  So are my spirits!

Something Old, Something New

Now that I have a YouTube channel, I've spent a considerable amount of time looking at other art channels and I have come across some wonderful eye candy and a wealth of information! I never tire of watching how other artists create their works of art and I always come away thinking, "Wow! I want to try that technique!", or "Wow! I have to get some of those!"

One such video that I came across was "Teesha Moore's Amazing 16 Page Journal".  Talk about exciting!  I was really drawn to making my own journal and she made it look so easy!  One of the things that impressed me most about the making of her journal is that there is NO waste of paper.  (I'm really big on not wasting art supplies or any other materials, food, etc.)  My almost totally right brain would have NEVER thought of using a sheet of watercolor paper in this manner.  Here - have a look for yourself!



Isn't that great?  Be sure to watch part 2 to assemble and she also has subsequent sections on her different layers: paint, collage and pen work. ( Just double click on the video above and it will open a new window direct to YouTube.)

I immediately headed out to my studio later that day to see what kind of watercolor paper I had.  I really wanted to try one of these journals and I am always looking for ways to refresh my work and nurture my creativity.  This project was screaming my name!  I found just what I was looking for as I rummaged through my sleeves of paper; 2 sheets of Lanaquarelle watercolor paper with beautiful deckle edges!

That was the beginning of my handmade journal, "Teesha Moore style".  I've had a great time playing with my journal using Teesha's techniques.  Here are a few pics of what I've done so far.  It's going to take awhile for me to complete so I'll post more pics as I progress.

This is my cover and the inside left flap.  The flap isn't complete yet. (click to enlarge)

These pages aren't complete either, but I like where they're headed.  As I'm working in this journal, I'm quickly realizing that I really don't have a whimsical spirit.  I see more of a macabre side emerging and I'm having a great time with it - I've even started assembling a second journal as I feel my own style meshing with this technique.

Like Teesha, I used watercolors for my backgrounds using only one color per page.  In the new journal I'm assembling, I've blended 2 and 3 colors per page.  In both cases, I applied the paint BEFORE I assembled my pages.  I did this because I'm impatient and wanted to be able to lay the sections out and paint lots of them at once.  This method is working great for me.  You'll have to determine which method works best for you.  Another thing I changed was the binding thread (I don't remember what Teesha used).  I used hemp cord because that's what was available to me.  It seems to be working fine but I'm keeping a close eye on the knot to make sure it doesn't work loose.  I know I can also add a drop of super glue to make sure it stays knotted!

I hope you'll try some new journaling techniques.  It's not about trying to duplicate the look of another artist but it's about stepping out of your comfort zone and keeping your work fresh.  For me, my normal journaling method is like eating a perfectly prepared 5 course meal; every bite savored and quietly enjoyed to it's fullest.  Teesha's method is like a food buffet to me; lots of choices and flavors to explore, a taste of this and a taste of that.  Both meals are enjoyable but a steady diet of either becomes boring and predictable. 

Step outside of your comfort zone and create in a way that's different from your norm.  Look through your supplies and see how you can take something old and use it in a new way.  Try making an "Amazing 16 Page Journal" and as always,  "Happy Creating!" 

To see more of Teesha's work, visit her website full of eye candy!