Week after week

Week after week I create a page in my  “Chronicles” art journal. It’s the perfect place to play in, reflect on the past week and wind down…

I have been keeping (just writing) dairies since I was 10 years old, but the daily writing somehow stopped when I gave birth to my son (1992.) I wrote every now and then but not on a regular base anymore, and ultimately the writing stopped completely. However, after a few years I began to miss ‘documenting my life’ but I could not find a proper way that worked for me until I discovered the art journals of Judy Wise. The way Judy combined art with her daily stories spoke to me right away and I started my own ‘weekly art journal’ in April 2010. I simply called it ‘weekly art journal’ back then, but I changed the name to “Chronicles” in 2011 after I saw Michelle calling her personal journals that way. I liked that title instantly and I still do.

My way of working on the spreads changed over the years though. In the beginning I started by preparing the spread on Monday (creating the background and add the first images and text) and added some more to the page every day. After a few Months I found out that this way of working in the journal did not work for me. The spreads looked disjointed by the end of the week. Also, unexpected events could happen during the week and when it did, there was no room left on the pages to write about it because of what I added already. Another ‘problem’ I bumped on to was that the ‘feel’ of a week could change when the days went by. For instance, I would start with creating a bright, green or yellow background on a sunny Monday and then it would rain from Tuesday ’til Sunday… things like that changed my mood and by the end of the week the spread had the wrong ‘feel’. In the beginning I also felt the ‘obligation’ to journal about the things that happened on the dates… I did not ever skip a date (even when nothing mentionable happened.)

So, what’s different now?
I create my weekly page in one session at the end of the week (or later.) I have a piece of paper in my journal, on which I jot down the daily events so I won’t forget what I did on that date. When I start the new page, I read my notes and decide what I want to focus on. I also choose if I want to write a lot or keep it without (much) text. Sometimes the week can be described with a quote that ‘sums it all up’.

It all depends on the mood of the week ánd on my mood at the moment I start creating. I don’t limit myself anymore and I practice techniques, use pictures that I like (that don’t necessarily have something to do with the events of that week) and write as much or as little as I feel like. I pick colors depending on my mood or the weather. I use all kinds of techniques. The Chronicles art journal taught me to relax, loosen up, enjoy the process and play. Looking back on my Chronicles journals it is a mixed bag of pages and I like it that way!

Here are the latest pages

The Chronicles of Marit – Week 16

The Chronicles of Marit – Week 17

Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it that you still come over to read my blog in these busy and speedy ‘Facebook era’… I wish you a relaxed weekend.