Skip to main content

July/Travel Journal

Dare I ask, what is a travel journal?


I will be the first to admit that I ventured down this road without the slightest clue as to what I was getting into. Back in June, as I turned-in my IRB application and took a break from dissertation writing I decided a change was in order. Not a permanent one, oh no. Just a small change lasting the entirety of the month of July (give or take a few days). That is how I began down the path of making the journal.
Initially I referred to it as my July Journal. The one I would toil over the course of the month of July and my pending travels (to the country of Texas and back to my humble Florida). My very first was last year at this time, that book was made in an accordion style from 1 sheet of paper. In it I documented the events surrounding the AATA 2013 conference in Seattle.


The nitty-gritty: book measures about 7.5”x3”x?(its still growing)
Cover: I used cardboard sections cut from a found box for the cover & chose to cover the back cover with a decorative paper scrap. I ran lengths of cotton string through the sides of a candle to 'wax' it.
Guts: The pages are in 4 sections each of a different color and paper type. Added pockets form discarded envelopes. Used coptic stitch to bind it all together (this was my 2nd time at that too so it came-out loose. The Stress Relief Recepie Book was my first coptic endeavor.). Tutorials can be found all over the web (ie. try YouTube).

As I later found-out a travel journal is just as indicated by the name: a journal where the adventures of a specific nature are brought together. A collection of visuo-sensory memories. To that I would add, that this collection of memories stands separate from the otherwise ‘daily’ journal.



A quick browse through Pinterest can lead to a myriad of styles and ideas for gathering travel memorabilia. I’m quite certain it can be accomplished post-trip, however I think the fun and challenge of it all is to have the journal on site. To have it exposed to the energy and hazards of the trip. To have it catch the coffee stains and greassy drippings from that awesome pizza or handpie from that place you’ll yearn to visit again (or avoid like the plague).


This July/Travel Journal which was started in Florida and traveled to Dallas then by means of Austin made it to San Antonio. We made it back home to Tallahassee soon enough.  As it is still a work in progress it will continue its adventure seeking ways.

Completing a travel, time limited, or otherwise themed journal can extend into the work place, internship sites and even the classroom. 

 Here's some ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

  • using only recycled (or found) materials (ie. using cardboard, cereal boxes, mailers, used envelopes, old art, cloth swatches, etc)
  • using items acquired during a trip (making the book after returning)...binding the items themselves to each-other versus buying a book and then adding them (nothing wrong with that either)
  • creating a book of specific dimensions (ie. extra long, or square, or triangle, etc) 
  • brown paper bags of varying sizes.. colors.... they can be bound as-is or opened-up, cut, and bound
  • using naturally died paper (as posted previously)
  • using maps, postcards, etc

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March Days of #creativedeed365

and it continues! #creativedeed365 continued through the struggles of march with lots of support from the Facebook group, family, friends, and even spouse. After the first 2 months of #creativedeed365  with Gretchen Miller , March began with a plan. Using the stained cards from Murphy in the Art Space  which were already cut into 3"x 3" squares I set out to conquer Marchs' 31 days. One day  card at a time. Much like the prior months I prepared the back of the cards with the # of the card and date plus a blip about the creativedeeds. Each day I found a few minutes to create the entry. Saving the cards for distribution once I was in public spaces such as the local university, coffee shops, or restaurants. This month I saw a couple pop-up on Instagram from people who found them and then found me through the #creativedeed365 tag. I was surprised by how exited I was at realizing where these cards had made-it to. Glad they were in good hands. Through the making of ...
1 comment
Read more

Capturing a Moment: Gelatin Printing

Lets just get right down to it, you've either tried it and loved it or you're currently wondering what I'm talking about. Gelatin prints that's what. A few years ago a student introduced me to the wonders of using homemade gelatin as a printing plate (sugar free kind). As it turns out it is a very versatile work surface that brings an element of intrigue and play into the work space. When my clients first hear I'll be bringing in gelatin, they seek out napkins and forks and eagerly away the obviously tasty snack. The sound of dreams shattering as I pull-out the gelatin plates is audible (if only short lived). Soon everyone is poking and wiggling the gelatin and wondering what we'll be doing with it. Play is an important aspect of what I do. So is creativity and genuine interest. These things are however harder to come-by in adults than their younger counterparts (who jump-into explorer mode instinctively).  Sometimes I have to coerce these attr...
1 comment
Read more

Arting-Out Stress on Paper: The evolution of a piece.

Every once in a while I tell myself to just go "art-about-it". Since I can remember I have loved going elbows deep into art supplies. Becoming an art therapist made my love of art closer to an addiction (the art supplies are everywhere!). Recently I was prompted by a student to create what "stress" looks like to me.  The resulting image was a bit jarring to me, it didn't sit well. It made me feel 'unfinished'. Created with watercolor and TomBow markers and water. When there is a mismatch between the image and my emotions the best thing for me to do is get back in there and work it out. With this particular image I decided to document the process in case I ruined it. As these things go, some emotions tend to be messier than others and "stress" is one of those that has a consuming energy about it. Splashed watercolors on it and added salt, then streaked some colors out. Moving-on. As an image is 'worked-on' some of the origi...
Post a Comment
Read more