Raw Art Journaling

When I wrote my first book, one of the things that surprised me most was the complete focus on pictures rather than the words. It wasn't like my publisher and editor (Tonia Davenport, before she got married) neglected the words, I'm not saying that. I am just saying she reinforced the idea that artists like to look at the pictures (!) and often do not read.

Quinn McDonald's book, Raw Art Journaling, is one you want to read. 

I even read it and trust me, I am guilty of the 'look at the pictures' behavior.
There are so many gems of knowledge in this book along with extremely useful exercises. The concept of a 'Raw Journal" is easy enough....or is it? It is about creating imperfect art....ahem, that is rather hard to access, eh? About accepting the fact that we are all flawed, mmmm, another potentially tough concept. About being free to mess up. How often do we allow ourselves to do that!
In the able hands of Quinn, these topics are tackled with intelligence. She offers stories and exercises and examples, tips and more. It is important work. Because, as artists, this eventually, this leads us to "Making Meaning." And I love that idea. Love, love love it.

I recently spent an afternoon with Quinn's book and was particularly drawn to a section called Pouring Emotion Into Lines.  Quinn talks about ways to express emotion with your lines, via thickness, loops and repetition. She includes several easily accessible exercises for making 'Confetti' lines and 'Free Floating Bubbles."
I knew I wanted to play around with that section of the book.
Rather than starting with the white page, I had some hand painted paper on hand and decided to work right on top of that page. My friend Mary Nasser was at the studio and I am grateful to her for photographing my process.

The process itself was somewhat doodle-like, yet not. Quinn talks about not trying to make a design, but rather allowing the lines to flow. Er, I think she means disengage that ever present brain.....a task easier said than done.

I drew the lines and the bubbles and just kept moving along in the book, sort of piling up exercise on top of exercise. It was relaxing and playful. Fun! And working this way made me think about painting because it was so fluid. And I know that lovely paintings would result by applying these same ideas. 
In order to celebrate Quinn's book, I have an autographed copy to give away!!! Not my own (duh) because I won't part with it, but Quinn gave me another one.
Leave me a comment below and I will do a drawing a week from today.