The Journal Junkies Workshop: Visual Ammunition for the Art Addict

As a high school art teacher I can tell you that this book made an immediate impact on my advanced classes where we have been working on visual journaling. The techniques are straightforward without being cookie cutter, step by step directions. The writing prompts are incredibly helpful. Whether you are a high school student stumped about what to journal next or a seasoned artist just looking for a spark the prompts in this book will definitely foster creativity and give you direction.THANK YOU to the authors for making this book a little less feminine than the typical books on this subject. I've had my fill of vintage, shabby chic, flowers, princesses and butterflies all collaged within the depths of some shade of purple and pink. This book will inspire all levels of artists both male and female because it embraces chaos and emotion rather than repeatedl examples of perfect traditional art. In other words, journal about what's going on in your life that day, that moment, rather than sitting down to journal something that is an exact genre of what everyone else considers "in". If you buy this book hoping to find recommendations on the latest scrapbooking trends, hottest circle cutter or what to go buy at your local craft store etc. you won't find it. You will however find out a ton of ways to make your own one of a kind cool art using everyday items like bubble wrap and a simple $3 set of watercolor paints. You'll be painting with the edges of a 3x5 card or saturated string. Your art will improve, your creativity will improve. Take it from someone who is trying to "teach" creativity to 17 year olds. They love the approach because they are in charge of how they make their art. I challenged kids to find their own non-traditional art tools after reading this and they responded loudly. They loved the challenge and you will too. I have purchased 7 journaling books to help get ideas for my classroom but if I had purchased this first I would only have one.

I have kept written journals for more than 20 years, but at some point I realized that I wanted my journals to contain more images and color. I always had added copies of photographs to my journals - but I wanted to learn to make art in my books. Art that make me remember my feelings at the time more completely when I went back to review my journal books years later.I have been doing visual/art journaling for several years now. Oddly enough I still keep a more private written journal but my visual albums are just as I had wanted them to be. I am still learning and growing though so I am always on the lookout for new books about journals and art journaling.There are so many wonderful techniques out there to learn! I learned about "The Journal Junkies Workbook" from a recommendation on Amazon - after all of the years that I have been using Amazon they have found some real winning titles that I have been glad to hear about from them.I am a book sniffer and paper 'fondler'. If I am planning to use a book a lot I like to enjoy the feel of the paper, the scent of the paper and the typeface used in the book. This book utilizes a great quality paper with a smooth, semi-gloss finish. I have found that most titles published by North Light Books are really well produced. Great quality and very attractive. What I especially like about the techniques in this book is that they are, for the most part, simple techniques that are well executed and exceptionally well illustrated. A fast look at the Table Of Contentwill give you a good idea about the scope of this book. Check out the forward on page 7 written by Kathy Eldon - very moving. Most of the included techniques are pretty straight forward and not overly labor intensive - illustrating great ways to use generally easily available tools in inventive ways. I am truly enjoying this book and I think that you would like it too - if you have an interest in art, visual journals, art, journals, collage or mixed media design.

Here's the thing: North Light Books appears to be heavily tilted towards the female author and reader. Whether it's self fulfilling or that the world thinks only women read and purchase books like this, I'm not sure. BUT I can say that I, though female, do not necessarily do feminine art. If it says 'goddess', 'soul', etc, if it has any of that pseudo spiritual lingo and cute work, it is definitely not for me. I was very excited to see a North Light book by guys and I hoped it would be truly inspiring and edgy. In my opinion, North Light has plenty of journaling books in the catalog already that cover the how-to aspect. I'm not sure that this book offered anything new...I have seen all the techniques a few times in other NL books. The only thing really different was that it was a guy. So, the image he chose wasn't a sweet little girl and it wasn't vintage looking. I did appreciate the perspective and seeing the demos without all the cutesy art. But I was expecting a little more work sample and less 'this is a way to make a background'...I would say, that if you are on a search for a journaling book and really don't know any techniques to get going and are still afraid to just do what you want, and all that cutesy goddessy type of thing turns you off, this is the book you should get. If you already have quite a few, you probably don't need anymore.I wish NL would push a few more books by guys out there just so I can get to work that isn't easily identifiable as feminine. A little balance would be nice, North Light. Not all of us want lacey vintage sweet work. But, before you award publication to another artist, please make sure they really are offering something different.

I have a lot of books about art journaling and this is one of the ones I wish I hadn't bothered buying.On the upside it does explain all the basics and there are step-by-step photos of techniques, so for beginners it gives the information you need to get started. The problem for me is the style of the authors' pages (and there's nothing else - no guest artists in this book). Their work is just not to my taste in terms of composition or finished look, so it's completely uninspiring for me.I treasure my collection of art books but this one will probably be passed on.

If, like me, you've been tempted to start visual journals of your own but haven't really been sure where to start then this is an excellent, informal introduction to get you going. I've often been put off by the 'girly' nature of many other journal guides and found this to be a refreshing alternative to the hearts and glitter type. You don't need to be a fantastic artist to keep a visual journal and this book will give you great prompts to start making marks on those pristine clean pages!

I need to qualify here - I KNOW I WILL LOVE THIS BOOK - however the copy i received was poorly printed with words missing off the edge of pages...As it is an arty book I contacted the author to make sure it was not (as i was sure it wasn't) an artistic device and he confirmed that it must be a poorly printed book- I have yet to reorder ...BUT I WILL

What I really like about these guys is that their art journaling is not girly-pretty - there is so much girly-pretty-goddess type art and art journaling around at the moment, and that's fine, but this style of art journaling is very different and very refreshing.

This book says that it is 'Visual Ammunition for the Art Addict' and that is exactly what it is! I love art journals and scrapbooking but needed some new inspiration to make my pages different as mine were getting sameish and this book helped.