Woolgathering :: 2007 :: August

You Are The Truth - update

So far I have to say that I am enjoying playing with the travelling journal. I do find it very scary, the idea that this play of mine will be going out into the world for others to see. Even scarier that the journal is not going on to a complete stranger but somebody who I feel has a pretty good knowledge and understanding of me. I am sure it will be a case of “same old, same old…” and this is indeed part of what this journal entry is about. I think.

I found it was very helpful to actually write down my fear of the blank page. I have a plain white page that carries, in small writing, that expression. Hey presto, the page is no longer empty! So I made a larger mark, before carrying on to try and do a real spread.

Entries in the You Are The Truth journals have no upper or lower page limit. This is good. Because I seem to have become carried away, and am actually having fun. I think what I am really doing is a multi-page entry, rather than several discrete spreads - as in: there is a development and (I hope) a coherence to what I am doing. We shall see.

What I have learned thus far:

Making a mark is easier than I thought it would be…
… except for the fact that I don’t seem to have a writing implement that behaves properly on the decorated page
Drying time is a pain
Sticking a few pages together to provide a stronger page is a really good idea - wish I had thought of it sooner
Nothing really matters - it’s just creative play
If one keeps on going, then it all becomes freer, looser, easier… more creative
I am ready to make my own journal and do this on a more regular basis

So far I have: the pair of “fear” pages - which are not decorated pages; a spread with coloured background, acetate print of digitally altered photograph, stencils, and rubber stamped words plus some written words and bullet; a second spread with background, physically altered photograph, stencils, rubber stamped words; a prepared spread of coloured background, for the main Journaling. I hope to complete this last pair tomorrow and then get the book off in the post later this week, if all the pages are dry enough.

This activity appears to have rekindled an interest in rubber stamps. I found myself looking at a few sites last night and wishing that I hadn’t spent all of my money from last Christmas.

Next, I must complete that mono collage.