Above: Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and gouache. The background of this page spread was prepainted with acrylic ink (the reddish brown color). Next, while watching "The Dog Whisperer" I sketched his pit bull Daddy. Then I used zinc white gouache to cover the background around the dog. (Titanium white would have provided a more opaque coverage but I had zinc white out on my palette.) I wrote in the quote from Cesar Milan (the statement is true for people as well as dogs). The notation at the side about this being the last sketch in the journal was made as a memory aid for me because this spread had been skipped over and I did many sketches that night. Click on the image to view an enlargement.
On April 30 I wrote an initial wrap up for International Fake Journal Month. (Initial because I hadn't finished the contest yet or posted all my pages.) As usual, the completion of a fake journal causes me to think about journaling in general. I wanted to share with non-fake-journals here a bit of that wrap up. I wrote the following as encouragement to participants, but it captures my view of the journaling process, the goals I have for my journaling, and why I think it is important to journal—
Every page of your fake journal might be complete shit. You might have just created 30 pages of the ugliest sketches and paintings and idiotic writing on the planet—it still doesn't make your internal critic right. It's a step, one that you took, despite the chattering of that internal critic. Future steps will be easier because you took one. (And this will continue to be true every day you take such a step.)
You hold in your hands a document which says "I allowed myself to create; I allowed myself to take risks." I think creative risks are like loose rocks on a hillside. We scramble over them, slipping at times, at other times finding sure footing, so that we can get to the top of the hill and have a better view.
I think having a better view (of ourselves, our creative process, our place in the world, the larger world, the people in our world) is what regular journaling is all about.
Why do you journal? What goals does it meet? What benefits do you derive from it? It's good to ask these questions. The answers will be unique to you and tell you something about yourself.
Remember: just because it has great benefits doesn't mean it can't also be fun!
Roz, I'm a big fan of the Dog Whisperer! You should e-mail this to Cesar - he would love it! Another artist he helped did a painting of Daddy for him - you can see a video of it here http://www.dogtipper.com/blog/2009/10/dog-whisperers-daddy-immortilized-by-artist.html
Posted by: Sandi Hester | May 10, 2010 at 07:51 AM
Sandi, I've seen the episode where a painter gives him a 5 x 7 foot or larger painting (I'll check the link later to see if that's the one you're mentioning), and it's a wonderful painting. I doubt Cesar would like this one though—Daddy's muzzle is too long, the look isn't quite right. But I am glad you enjoyed it.
Posted by: Roz Stendahl | May 10, 2010 at 05:13 PM
For some reason I missed the episode but came across an article about it. I think you're wrong about Cesar liking it - I think he would LOVE it and would be honored you took time to paint his beloved Daddy. It's a GREAT painting! We're about to get a new puppy so we've been Cesar fanatics lately soaking everything we can up :).
Posted by: Sandi Hester | May 11, 2010 at 09:36 AM
Sandi, have you seen the episode where Cesar selects 4 new puppies (maybe it was three, but I think it's 4) to train, Mr. President is a bulldog, Junior (another pit), there's a lab and I don't remember if there is a fourth.
Anyway, lots of good puppy info for Cesar puppy fanatics! Have a great time with your new puppy!!!!
Posted by: Roz Stendahl | May 11, 2010 at 11:46 AM
Hi Roz,
My comments about my IFJM experience are now posted on my little blog.
Before participating, there never was an answer to "Why Journal" so I didn't. Now I think I am starting to get some answers. To record, to ponder, to remember, to make sense of, to try new things, and especially to create.
And you're right - I do think mine may be complete sh*t but I smile when I look at some of it and wonder where I got some of the ideas from and all-in-all, I am thrilled with how it turned out.
Best wishes,
EVA
Posted by: Eva-Jane Lark | May 11, 2010 at 11:56 AM
EVA, I'll go check it out and post about it on IFJM blog. Thanks for the heads up.
I think you bring up a wonderful aspect of looking at journals—the wonder at where some of these ideas pop up from.
I know I would be very bereft in my life if I didn't have all the fun ideas that keep popping up in my journal to entertain me!
I'm so glad that you found the fake journal a good experience.
Posted by: Roz Stendahl | May 11, 2010 at 12:32 PM