Journals As Inspiration
Victoria does it. I do it. Marieke Berghuis is huge into it. Irina Troitskaya makes her living from it. And Jason constantly blogs about it and even creates the goods to do it. So I ask you, do you journal?
I maintain several. One is a written one, a "diary" of sorts that I've actually been writing since I was 7 years old. Then there are the more artistic journals where I draw and paste words and images that tell a story of what I'm feeling at that moment. These are a bit more personal, so I don't share them with everyone. Finally, there are my inspiration books that contain hundreds of clipped pages that inspire me or my work. These I freely share with anyone that is interested.
Victoria Smith of SFGirlByBayAside from being an amazing spot to catch all of your thoughts, dreams, fears and I-can't-believe-I said-that moments, journals give you an outlet to plug into, a place to collect everything that you 'see' in your head and translate it into the pages of a book through words, images from magazines, photos, stamps, ticket stubs, fabric and paint swatches, wrapping paper, anything that can help you tell a story or create something to inspire you. You can create books according to category, i.e. bedrooms, baths, living rooms, outdoor spaces or by object, like art, chairs, or whatever it is that you are passionate about.
Marieke Berghuis of Treats + Treasures
Russian Illustrator Irina TroitskayaI encourage you to start a journal of your own. You'll absolutely love doing it. If you don't like to write, and many people don't, then go for more of a visual journal like some of those shown above. It's quite relaxing to sit down and cut + paste your thoughts into books. You'll be surprised by how much you'll learn about yourself. If you'd like to get started, click here for a DIY guide on how to create your own Look Book.
Have fun, explore, enjoy, JOURNAL!