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True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling
Featuring the artwork of over 25 leading artists with name recognition As art journaling grows in popularity (even attracting a new breed of scrapbookers who call themselves "life artists"), there is a movement afoot toward creating more authentic, personal, what some people call "raw" journals. These journals are filled with not just attractive, well-composed pages, but pages that are filled with personal, meaningful content. True Visions is focused on ways to bring authenticity and meaning into one's art journaling. The book will examine themes and topics common to all while offering activities and exercises to create rich meaningful content. Each chapter will highlight familiar subject areas such as life events, spirituality, childhood, and even an artist's favorite writings. Within each topic, readers are given guided activities and exercises for developing content, provided one or two artistic techniques, and are shown inspiring examples of work by a variety of talented art journal artists.
144 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2008
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731 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 7, 2011
I bought and read this book to see if any of the featured artists could interest me in any new outlooks, and for me I found some. What I got out of this book is that Ludwig wrote this in order to try to capture the what and why of creating authentic art journaling for these artists. Again, the title tells everything, and being the dense boo-bob that I am, I immediately saw that...right after I finished the book, lol.
I was very affected by what I discovered from and about featured artist Katie Kendrick. I feel close to her...we share some things, like being sensitive introverts who require adequate alone time in order to not be overwhelmed by our emotions and thoughts, alone time to process them. Also, I love her vision that she doesn't journal for a chronological record, but a way to tap her connection with the flow of the universe. She embraces imperfection and relies on it.
Anyway, that is one example of what Ludwig gets from her interviews with these artists. Also, the pages of the book are filled with gorgeous examples of their art. I do think that Julianna Coles is over-exposed, for me -- I've seen her same art and comments in 3 different books now -- but if I were seeing it for the first time I'd be appreciative.
Other impressions: the Visual Toolbox sections are interesting little exercises to try -- love the one geared to taking self-portrait photos...love the tip to wear a hat and sunglasses if you are shy. The Visual Deck of words...not so inventive or helpful in my book. It's a cookie-cutter exercise and how authentic is that?
Bottom line on this book imo - I did come away from it with a renewed sense of purpose for being authentic in my journaling, and I think that the artists featured in it that I connected with will be able to help me refresh when needed -- I have them post-it noted and waiting.
I was very affected by what I discovered from and about featured artist Katie Kendrick. I feel close to her...we share some things, like being sensitive introverts who require adequate alone time in order to not be overwhelmed by our emotions and thoughts, alone time to process them. Also, I love her vision that she doesn't journal for a chronological record, but a way to tap her connection with the flow of the universe. She embraces imperfection and relies on it.
Anyway, that is one example of what Ludwig gets from her interviews with these artists. Also, the pages of the book are filled with gorgeous examples of their art. I do think that Julianna Coles is over-exposed, for me -- I've seen her same art and comments in 3 different books now -- but if I were seeing it for the first time I'd be appreciative.
Other impressions: the Visual Toolbox sections are interesting little exercises to try -- love the one geared to taking self-portrait photos...love the tip to wear a hat and sunglasses if you are shy. The Visual Deck of words...not so inventive or helpful in my book. It's a cookie-cutter exercise and how authentic is that?
Bottom line on this book imo - I did come away from it with a renewed sense of purpose for being authentic in my journaling, and I think that the artists featured in it that I connected with will be able to help me refresh when needed -- I have them post-it noted and waiting.
July 5, 2012
I checked this book out from the library, and I've enjoyed it so much, I might need to buy a copy. This was a great into to art journaling for me. Being a writer, not a visual artist, I found the prompts effective and inspiring. The focus is not technical (how to reproduce someone else's style) but liberating (how to discover one's own style). Lots of useful "extras" throughout.
June 25, 2017
I really enjoyed looking through and reading this book it has lots of great color pictures of both authors and other artists art journals. This also had a lot of great prompts for both written journaling and for art journaling. This is a great book for both people who have been art journaling for a while and are having a writer's block / artist block and for those who are new to art journaling like myself who are looking for ideas of how to start. I never used to think of myself as an artist but rather a crafter and I'm just now starting to explore my artist side knowing that I have the creativity inside myself to be an artist. This book has really helped me to figure out where to start taking my written Journal into an art Journal. I also like that not only does this have activities on how to get me started but if you look in the back of the book there is also a list of other books they recommend and so this gives me a jumping-off place to check out other books from the library to get more ideas as I'm exploring myself my artistic side and my creativity.
August 13, 2016
This book provides an indepth look at how we can art journal with more passion and intent. LK Ludwig gives great advice and suggestions on how we can get started, get new ideas and boost our creativity as we journal about things that are important to us. On nearly every page, she includes interesting and often refreshing prompts to get the reader thinking about life, personal artistic preferences, techniques and sometimes just thinking out of the box.
With approachable and insightful writing, she discusses the whys and hows of art journaling and the different things and events that can topics we can journal about more authentically and meaningfully.
The book includes interviews with several well-known art journalers and some tutorials although this isn't a how-to book on techniques. But plenty of journal pages from over 35 artists are showcased; the variety in their style, techniques and subject matter add to the depth of the book. Although I didn't learn very much from the book, I enjoyed reading it and loved the visuals. I think there's a lot in here for everyone, from beginners to advancer journalers.
With approachable and insightful writing, she discusses the whys and hows of art journaling and the different things and events that can topics we can journal about more authentically and meaningfully.
The book includes interviews with several well-known art journalers and some tutorials although this isn't a how-to book on techniques. But plenty of journal pages from over 35 artists are showcased; the variety in their style, techniques and subject matter add to the depth of the book. Although I didn't learn very much from the book, I enjoyed reading it and loved the visuals. I think there's a lot in here for everyone, from beginners to advancer journalers.
September 1, 2016
This book provides an indepth look at how we can art journal with more passion and intent. LK Ludwig gives great advice and suggestions on how we can get started, get new ideas and boost our creativity as we journal about things that are important to us. On nearly every page, she includes interesting and often refreshing prompts to get the reader thinking about life, personal artistic preferences, techniques and sometimes just thinking out of the box.
With approachable and insightful writing, she discusses the whys and hows of art journaling and the different things and events that can topics we can journal about more authentically and meaningfully.
The book includes interviews with several well-known art journalers and some tutorials although this isn't a how-to book on techniques. But plenty of journal pages from over 35 artists are showcased; the variety in their style, techniques and subject matter add to the depth of the book. Although I didn't learn very much from the book, I enjoyed reading it and loved the visuals. I think there's a lot in here for everyone, from beginners to advancer journalers.
With approachable and insightful writing, she discusses the whys and hows of art journaling and the different things and events that can topics we can journal about more authentically and meaningfully.
The book includes interviews with several well-known art journalers and some tutorials although this isn't a how-to book on techniques. But plenty of journal pages from over 35 artists are showcased; the variety in their style, techniques and subject matter add to the depth of the book. Although I didn't learn very much from the book, I enjoyed reading it and loved the visuals. I think there's a lot in here for everyone, from beginners to advancer journalers.
October 17, 2008
I enjoyed the visuals of this book - LK's nature journals are intriguing eye candy and made me want to make one (or several) of my own. But the instructions are sketchy at best, and there were very few techniques in there that I'd be able to do with the sparse and undetailed instructions throughout the book.
June 26, 2008
I really like L.K. Ludwig's artwork and approach to art journaling. Love the approach and content, very inspiring.
September 16, 2009
I really like the quality of this book and how they do not tell you how to art journal, but how to discover your own way of art journaling! Nice sharp pictures and good detail.
August 8, 2012
A worthwhile well-illustrated book about art journaling, with detailed explanations of visual techniques used.
June 6, 2011
very juicy; tons to be inspired by :)
April 16, 2014
If you have gotten stuck in your art journaling, this book has lots of examples, prompts, etc. to help you get going again.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews