Journals

On a thread for my journaling forum someone brought up the subject of listing your journals and it got me to actually list mine.  I hadn't realized just how many I had until I counted,  Here's my list:   1)  A moleskine journal for drawing which I started a few years ago thanks to Danny Gregory--mostly reality based drawings.  This is how I learn to "see"   I keep this one by my bed at night.  I draw before bed.  2) I have a homemade agenda which I write dates in, doodle in and keep a small diary in, for example I'll write down if my daughter missed school or if I have to call someone or if I have an appointment.  I also doodle in this and  do mixed media.  I got this idea from Geninne Zlatkis and her agenda journals she post on her blog.  I carry this one everywhere! 3) My mixed media journal.  The one I post here.  Writing, collage, poetry etc.  It's made from an old converted book found in the trash.  It's become too big to take with me places so I work on it about an hour a day in my studio.  4)   I just recently started an abstract art journal which is mostly painting but also zentagles.  This is for relaxing.  This is also an altered book.    I work in this in short spurts.  5)  for writing I  have my blog.  This counts as a journal, right!  6) I also have a watercolor journal that I work in very sporadically.  I started it in 2002 and it's still not full!  It's  so formal and academic and that's probably why I don't like it.  It's stuffy.

My next project is to start a dream journal.  Sometimes they end up in my regular journals but I'd like to start a new one just for dreams.  I read where you should have a notepad by your bed to document them first thing  upon waking in draft form and then a second one to record in more detail after being fully awake.

I am fairly new to journaling.  It's only been about three years since I started my first drawing book.  I hope I'll keep it up and have a collection of journals like Janet Lowry one day.  It's so fun to look back through them after they're finished.