Artists' Journals and Sketchbooks: Exploring and Creating Personal Pages

by Lynne Perrella

Creative souls want and need a special place for recording and decoding their interior world—a place to download all their creative ideas, a place to remember the events of the day, or a place to doodle, to draw, and to dream. This book is for all these people—it's an engaging and intimate glimpse into the personal pages of a wide variety of select artists and journal keepers whose works not only provide visual delight and inspiration but evidence the intensity and devotion that such personal journals invite.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Journaling, Crafts, Writing, Photography, Creative

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2004

Reviews

[Darby · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Indulge your artistic intuition as you plan and create vivid and revealing visual diaries and sketchbooks." That is from the back of the book and I think it really is a good summary for the book.

I did like this book but I liked it more for the images then the actual written words. This book gives some tips and techniques but in a much different way then Collage Discovery. Collage Discovery gave step by step clear instructions on good techniques. Artist' Journals & Sketchbooks gives more a general overview of techniques but not real indepth step by step instructions. Such as Collage Discovery gives you several different ways to do transfers and actual how to step for each. Artists Journal & Sketchbook tells you that there are 9 ways to do transfers and give you 1 actual step by step how to of transfers. So for me it wasn't really a how to book but a book that says there are lots of different techniques a person could use in their journals or sketchbook. It is a book of this is about your exploration to uncover your creativity making your artist journal or sketchbook something new and fresh.

I do need to say the images in this book are inspiring all on the own. Each image really gave me tons of ideas that just keep spinning to new ones. So just for the images alone this book was worth picking up.

I have read this book 4 times and the last being Jan. 25, 2009

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good idea book/peek into the art journals of a number of artists. What's particularly interesting about this book is it was published in 2004 - apparently the term "art journal" was just gaining traction.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful full-colour book with lots of photos and ideas for journalling. I'm sticking with 3 stars because, although pretty and interesting to look at, many of the ideas require expensive materials or art experience. I like to tend toward dollar store materials and inexpensive, household items.

If you are looking to create a journal as a gift for someone else, this book would be a great starting point as there is a whole chapter on making your own from unique materials (ie cloth, metal, etc).

[Recynd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually like this book alot; however, it's more for inspiration than an instruction manual. I love Lynne Perrella's art, and I can spend hours looking at this book. Truly, I seem to keep returning to this one, and I wouldn't part with it.

[Kiersten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't stop going back to this for more creative ideas!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this case, you can tell a book by it's cover.

Lots of inspiration and information, very colorful with lots of ideas and practical tips, this is one of the better books on journals and mixed-media that I've read.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting peek into the journals of other artists! There is a huge variety of different styles, materials and techniques included to provide lots of inspiration for your own explorations. A good one to keep in the studio for days when getting started might be a struggle.

[Barbara Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be somewhat lacking, maybe because I bought 1000 Artist Journals Pages first. For the money and views of various artist I found the other book a better fit for me.....

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book based on its title and I was not sure what to expect. Within its pages are some excellent ideas on how to use everyday items you own to create work that is inspired by your daily life. I also appreciate just how many artists Lynne Perrella introduced to me through this book.

[Sarah Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are getting into mixed media and art journals this is a great book for you. This book is brightly colored with lots of pictures and really stimulates your ideas and creativity. It has some tips and techniques on various things from using pictures, text, paint, texture, etc. It also gives examples of other artists journals and sketchbooks to give you ideas on how you might want to create your own as the possibilities are endless. Highly recommend and will look at it again in the future to refresh ideas that I might have not tried yet.

[Tamara Hala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book 11 years ago and it really helped me in the beginning years of art journaling. I found it on the shelf recently and re-read it and found it equally inspiring and helpful. This book is a really great resource for beginners and seasoned artists.

[Sharon Flachsbart · Rating 4 out of 5]

incredibly inspiring book. I would love to have time to try a number of the effects that are described throughout the pages. this author is amazing in color, image, effect and over all composition of a page.

[Jakeyfatdog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of great ideas and lots of tips. More art journal than sketchbook but still great if you want to expand sketchbook work away from "just drawing"

[Rebecca Havenstein-Coughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me want to get going on some of those art journal projects that have been rattling around in my head.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

remarkable

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4.

[Kathy Hauck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty!

[Arty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good concepts for use in altered books and collage art.

[Verna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! There is plenty of inspiration and examples; everytime I looked through the book I would find something new. A great book to keep for reference!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Love Love this book. Why can't my art look this way????

[linda]

excellent

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saw this in a crafting magazine's e-newsletter and it's really good to inspire artwork and journal creation. Definitely work taking a look at even though many of its ideas are too challenging for me.

[Jeanne Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to buy this one. Numerous examples that inspire you to want to do it yourself. Also lots of details of how to do it yourself.

[Manintheboat · Rating 2 out of 5]

It looks like you made it with your feet.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book art ideas! Somehow I ended up with 2 copies so if someone wants this I can trade for another book on book arts.

[Kaye Dewar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynne perrela is always a go to for inspirations in painting and collage mediums. Excellent resource!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book for a beginner. There are numerous new products on the market today that are not included in this edition.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely visuals. Very inspiring!