Whim15 - The Painted Verse

Seek and You Will Find

A Journal Page Doodle with Weaver Writing

I Am the Real Vine

On the last Sunday of International Fake Journal Month I painted a vine and wrote out part of today's Gospel reading.  It doesn't matter where you are in the world, the scripture passages are the same, so I can be in England (working in my fake journal) or here at home and still hear the same thing.  I love that; the lectionary knits us together around the world!

Bible Journaling

I have weakened and bought a Journaling Bible.  In my defense, a new Bible is not a new journal, right?  Technically, mine is called a "coloring bible", because there are lots of printed designs for the times when I feel like coloring rather than designing an illustration of my own.  (I didn't think I would buy one of these but when I went to the bookstore, I found the one with illustrations so much more inspiring than the blank ones.)

These two illustrations are mine.  I love everything about the new bible and the process:

• an opportunity to think more deeply about the verse as I am drawing or coloring,
• the look of the illustrations beside the text,
• the inspiration provided by the words,
• the community of Bible journalers on social media,
• the shape of the margins - just like bookmarks,
• the excitement of learning and doing something new, and
• the enforced limitation of supplies.  This helps to narrow down the dizzying array of media I dabble in.  Many people use clear gesso to prepare their thin Bible pages before journaling.  So far I am just choosing media that will work without this process.

I have rediscovered Repeat Pattern Stacks.  They are perfect for the narrow journaling margins.

Pencil Crayons, Micron Pen

Gel Pens work well too.

Silly Scraps Saturday

April is tax season and this month has disappeared in a blur.  I've been doing a bit of simple journaling of the "cut and paste" variety, inspired mostly by my talented friend Penelope who is teaching an art journaling class at the local community centre.  I haven't been able to attend but she started a fabulous blog full of inspiration!  Check it out if you want to start a simple art journal.

Complete Guide to Bible Journaling - by Joanne Fink and Regina Yoder

When I heard about the recent trend in Bible journaling, I didn't quite get it.  Writing in your Bible?  The thought still sends shivers down my spine.  Then, Fox Chapel Publishing contacted me to send a review copy of this new book, and I hesitated for a few days.  Finally, curiosity got the better of me.  After all, how would I ever "get it" if I didn't read about it?

This is one of the best books on journaling that I have ever read, probably because of its specificity.  Now I "get it", thanks to this beautiful publication and the many contributing artists.  One of the first things addressed in this book is the option to journal inside your bible or in a separate journal, so not only do I get it, but I realize that I've been doing it for years! LOL. 

Also in the first section is guidance on how to choose a bible, should you want to acquire a special journaling bible.  Once I read this, I looked on-line to see what was available, and was stunned to see the number of types and translations available.  This trend is really catching on.

The next section covers the expected journaling tools and techniques that I have seen in other journaling books:  drawing, patterning, painting backgrounds, using stencils, pencil crayons, watercolors, acrylic paint, washi tape, rubber stamps, stickers and die cuts, and lettering.  What is unique about this section is the focus on the specifics of bible journaling:

• how to approach these techniques with thin Bible pages,
• preparing Bible pages to accept wet media,
• using the format of bible pages,
• tips for highlighting and emphasizing the words found in the Bible,
• a longer section on lettering, due to the emphasis on writing God's Word, and
• layout techniques, providing clear instructions on the process of Bible journaling, including deciding what to write, choosing how to emphasize specific words, combining text and illustration, sample layouts, and conceptual illustration.

The third section of the book features 11 artists who each write about their motivation and background in bible journaling, as well as their journaling process.  These pages show beautiful colored samples of their work.  It is amazing how unique each artist's work is!

The next section is a bible journaling gallery showcasing 24 other artists' work.  It is divided into 9 different themes, some focusing on media or technique (watercolor, for example), some on style, some on subject, and some on approach such as outside the bible (for those who approach bible journaling like I currently do).

The final major section of the book is a Bonus Section with over twenty pages of designs (some on vellum) and stickers which you can use in a variety of ways.  You can trace them, copy them, color them, cut them, stick them, use them as tabs, whatever you creatives out there can dream up!  The generosity of the authors and artists who contributed to this book is evident throughout and culminates here, in the final section.

I keep returning to this book to indulge my senses in the beautiful eye candy and to read the inspiring stories of the artists.  The authors and publishers have done a fabulous job on a most inspiring and generous book.