Above: Pentel Pocket Brush Pen on a page spread in my handbound journal made of Strathmore 500 Series Mixed Media Paper which is now available in sheets (and is archival). (The journal is approx. 7 x 9-3/8 inches.) I used left over Schmincke gouache from my palette and just kept with mixing purple magenta and yellow and orange. Decorative, non-archival Japanese Masking Tapes were used for decoration. Some journaling text obscured for privacy. Click on the image to view an enlargement.
(Note: I think I've got some mis-numbered superstitions on my blog, but for now as I bring back this series we'll go with 16.)
Every workshop or class that I do someone always asks this refrain throughout the class as each item or medium or paper or material is introduced: Is that archival?
I don't mind that student's ask whether or not a medium or material is archival. I think you need to know the qualities of all the materials you work with as an artist. And frankly if they would wait 5 seconds they'd hear it from me during class, because I always tell people the qualities of things I introduce them to, so that they can use them with appropriate knowledge and the appropriate techniques.
What gives me pause is that often the question is prompted by a desire on the student's part to only use archival materials.
Why? Are you world famous? Does everything you do have to last for hundreds of years? (My friend Greg asked me that once and it still makes me laugh.) Do you really think that your grandchildren are going to slavishly read through your journals? Well they might, but can't they really do that just as easily if the pages have delaminating tape and seeping acidic newsprint? You might argue that they can't, and in some ways you'd be right, but the pages would sure be more interesting with the patina.
If that's not appealing to you—the thought that your artwork is going to disintegrate—then you do need to use archival materials.
But before you go that route ask yourself a couple more questions:
1. For whom am I keeping this journal? I hope you're keeping it for yourself, but that's my preference, it will be a whole lot more interesting to any of your descendents if you keep it for yourself and don't try to write and sketch what you think might be important to them, which frankly you have no hope of doing and they'll notice the fakeness of it and wonder where the hell grandma really was in her mind when she did all this stuff—think about this, every piece of art you make is a bit of information you leave about yourself. Why not tell people what you're really thinking, no holding back?
2. Will I be more likely to create something right now if I just grab things off the desk top and have at it, regardless of whether or not the tape I grab is archival?
If the answer to question 2 is "Yes, I'll get some pages done right now," then I urge you to go for it. If you are concerned, scan your pages afterwards and put them in some sort of digital archive (which of course has problems of its own, but it is a back up).
If you wait until you can run out to the store and get archival artist's tape or a certain kind of medium the moment of creation will pass. You'll be stuck on Saturday afternoon with a 2 hour block of time set aside for journaling and "catching up" (don't even get me started on that) and nothing will feel fresh to you, or you won't remember what you wanted to say, or you won't be able to read your notes, or something else really important will be happening right in front of you which you really need to address and there's no time to journal anyway.
You get the idea. Don't tie your hands behind your back. Use what you have at hand when the moment of inspiration strikes. Let yourself have some fun. Use inexpensive and even crappy materials with abandon just for the sheer fun and play of it. Maybe that's just what you need today.
Instead of Casual Friday have Non-Archival Tuesday.
Use what you've got, right now.
Roz- Love this image and the post- we need to catch up soon- a couple of things...where can you buy that Strathmore mixed media paper in sheets? I have a feeling that I would love it.
And...we sold our house and we are moving to a different one here in the Bemidji area-crazy times ahead. Hugs.
Posted by: Terry Garrett | February 09, 2012 at 05:24 AM
Terry, great to hear from you! I look forward to hearing more about this transition.
As for the Strathmore 500 Series Mixed Media paper—it's just "seeping" out to the stores as they order it so for now you're going to have to keep asking your paper vendors if they have it yet.
I know Wet Paint in St. Paul is going to carry it. I haven't heard if it has arrived yet. But you could email them. I know they will do mail order—or you could come down here and have some cake with me and then pick it up (when they have it).
It's a fun paper. I've finished the journal this and the earlier pieces are from and am now testing another paper (which is also turning out to be good and will appear here soon) but Strathmore 500 Series Mixed Media is going to be one of my favorites.
Posted by: Roz Stendahl | February 09, 2012 at 07:31 AM
So many wonderful bits of ephemera are not archival: labels, ticket stubs, mysterious notes found in the street. I couldn't possibly use them if I worried about their ability to last 500 years. And I do use them!
The worry over what's archival and what's not (at least in terms of journaling -- I'm not talking about formal paintings or prints, etc.) seems to me to be simply another way to delay and fret that the work isn't perfect. I love it when you bust these superstitions!
Posted by: Miss T | February 09, 2012 at 08:25 AM
That's right Miss T, it's just all a way to delay. Even adding those bits of ephemera to paintings can be "managed" either with an I don't care attitude or by treating them first (encasing them in matte medium or other such techniques). But I was at the Russian museum in town a couple years ago and they had a painting from either the late 19th or early 20th (I don't recall which) century and it had a bit of newspaper embedded in the oil painting. If it becomes an important piece someone else is going to have to worry about how to preserve it and that's giving jobs to all sorts of young folks coming up as art conservators. Use something dicey today!
Posted by: Roz Stendahl | February 09, 2012 at 08:42 AM
Totally. And we are encouraged to buy archival, acid-free premanufactured clip art that looks like curling, seeping, yellowed, crumbling paper to make our stuff look cool. WHAT?!?
Posted by: Satina | February 09, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Amen Roz! It needed to be said. Thanks, jacki
Posted by: j.long | February 09, 2012 at 01:26 PM
Great post, Roz, and I agree wholeheartedly!
Posted by: Serena | February 09, 2012 at 02:02 PM
Serena and jacki, thanks for reading and writing in, I'm glad you enjoyed this post. Keep journaling with whatever you have at hand.
Posted by: Roz Stendahl | February 09, 2012 at 09:30 PM
Satina, don't get me started. But then people also buy pre-distressed and worn out jeans for hundreds of dollars (not me mind you as I am hard enough on my clothing as it is and can wear it out just fine).
People often make cool stuff out of the "archival clip art" that looks aged or that they then age themselves with inks and such. I wonder though, what does it all say? If one goes somewhere and actually picks up stuff which is then used in the journal that makes sense to me. Because then the stuff is about the day one actually had.
But I think sometimes people are after a look or emotion and not about capturing what actually happened in their life. If they can get the emotion they are after and the process satisfies them I'm glad. But there are less expensive ways to achieve those looks if that is all it's about.
If they are happy playing with pre-packaged stuff and they have the budget for it I'm also glad for them.
Posted by: Roz Stendahl | February 09, 2012 at 09:38 PM
Happy to see the return of this series, Roz! So does this mean I have permission to use my Inktense? ;-)
Posted by: E-J | February 10, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Great message Roz! I've been wondering these same things myself and really came to the same conclusions. But you did a great job of putting it into words.
Posted by: Cheryl | February 10, 2012 at 03:12 PM
No E-J you don't have permission to use your inktense unless you promise to scan immediately, i.e., within a couple hours!!!!
I hope you have fun.
Posted by: Roz Stendahl | February 10, 2012 at 11:16 PM
Thank you Cheryl. Glad you found the post a good one.
Posted by: Roz Stendahl | February 10, 2012 at 11:16 PM