Blank Page Fear – It’s Real!
Nothing, it seems, is more intimidating that a blank page in a mixed media journal – or in Photoshop for that matter. Nothing is more frustrating than wanting to create something but not knowing where to begin. All that white staring you in the face. Daring you to mess it up. All those supplies waiting to be used. What to do? Where to start? 
Well, I have discovered that the best thing to do is just start. Counter-intuitive, right? Strangely enough, once you get started and give yourself permission to just play, interesting things start to happen. I like to play the “what if” game. What if I spray some ink here? What if I make some marks here? It’s amazing how the mind gives in and let’s go if you tell yourself it’s just play. Smush paint on a page and then just do whatever comes to mind. Stencil; finger paint like a school kid; scribble – it really doesn’t matter because it’s just a background, not a finished piece. It can always be covered up later, right? So what if you hate it? It’s just paper and as Dina Wakley always says, “they’ll make more paper”. When I feel the need to retreat from the troubles of the world, my go to art project is making mixed media backgrounds. It doesn’t require too much thought; I can pull out my favorite colors and a couple of stencils and just play. I find that sort of art-ing relaxing and freeing – and I end up with a “pre-made starting point for a journal page, when that muse strikes – or at the very least, something I can rip up and use as collage.
Art Play Dates
Something else that is so much fun is art-ing with friends. Unfortunately, my mixed media/art journaling friends live quite far away. Last week my pal, Jana Holden, both had the creative urge and made a Skype art-ing play date! We set up our devices so we could see each other and laid out our workspaces then spent almost three hours (!!!) doing a lesson from one of Dina Wakley’s books, Art Journal Courage. We each did our own interpretation of the lesson’s steps, using (as it turned out) similar colors. The process started with making a mixed media background using acrylic paints, spray inks and stencils. We added some foliage using Stabilo pencils and then painted them in with more acrylic paint. We each added a bit of journaling and a few finishing touches and voila! Mixed media art journaling pages! What do you think? We had so much fun (lots of giggling) that we’re going to try to do it at least once a month!
In Mixed Media, Like All Art, Creativity Breeds Creativity
So what does that have to do with mixed media backgrounds, you ask? I usually scan my art in progress, in case there’s something I want to use for my digital art journaling products. Because we were Skyping I didn’t want to take that time, but within a short time I was regretting that decision. I had so much fun with Jana and we loved our results so much that I couldn’t resist trying to make some backgrounds using some of the same techniques. This time, though, I recorded my process so you can see how quickly I was able to make two mixed media backgrounds. I know they’ll end up in one of my art journaling digital kits or maybe even some of my commercial use products. Grab your beverage of choice and take a look.
Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful work!
You’re very welcome! And thanks for the nice words!
This is so inspiring! I wish I had more paints! LOL
Thank you for the share, Vicki! I always enjoy your videos!
Thank you, Su! I’m always thrilled to hear from you!
I almost always suffer from blank page fear lol and I also have a bad habit of comparing my work to that of others and wishing I was as good as ‘them’
I have never had a skype-arting session, but it does sound like fun!!
Thank you so much for the background paper!!!
I have that very same problem, Robin. It seems very common amongst creatives. Thats why I like Art Journaling though – somehow knowing there are no real rules help me let go of that insecurity!
thanks Vicki! these are gorgeous!
You’re welcome, Kelly! Thanks for stopping by my blog!