May 4th  2015          5:30 am           sunrise

Goals:

• Carry journal & supplies with me and work from life.
• Create small thumbnail sized art using watersoluble ink for line and watercolor for wash.
• Pay attention to design as the art is placed across the spread… balance.
• Journal one gratitude each day and see if a story would emerge as the month went on.
• What type of person would create this journal?  Someone busy.  A young mother balancing family demands and her desire to be herself.  No real story needed, just a daily entry conceived as part of a year long project.

Results:

• Hated the paper (Richeson’s Finest Studio Watercolor – CP – 135 lb.).  It was fine for the art work but was irritated with every word I wrote.  Tough on pens… too rough.
• This was the second year in a row using the same small-sized journal but there was too much writing this time.  I found I really missed the white… too little negative space on the page.
• Project fit easily into my day… the art thumbnails took only a few minutes; thinking & writing actually took a little longer, especially at the start, as I worked to get a grasp on my character.
• Loved the spontaneity and unpredictability of working with watersoluble ink.  Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t, but it was always fun.
• Loved designing the spread for balance and eye-appeal.  Thinking of that design choice also had an effect on what I painted.  Some days design drove the subject choice, others, the subject drove the design.  I also thought of the book as a whole and made sure the thumbnails varied from spread to spread.
• all events were drawn from my memories.  They actually have occurred but all names and relationships are fictional and years have passed since the actual events.

2016?  Oh yes!  But I definitely will work in a larger journal with smoother paper.  Thanks Roz, this is a great art project creativity project!

If you just came upon this post by chance and you’re wondering what all the fuss is about please visit Roz Stendahl’s Official International Fake Journal Month site.  And if that appeals, please check out the Blogs, Flickr, Instagram and Tumblr sites of the other fantastic “fakers” who also participated.  You can find links to their work in the sidebar on Roz’ IFJM site

It’s been a wonderful April;  join us next year.  I guarantee… you won’t regret it!