Word of the Year Art Journal 2023

VIDEO: Imperfect Pages: Checking in with My Word of the Year

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Today I am checking in with my Word of the Year.

I started by filling out the quick check-in sheet from my workbook and then I started on a double page spread in my Word of the Year Journal. I had no real plan so I used the bits and pieces on my desk to collage down as a background. Then I pulled it all together with a layer of gesso followed by a pretty green color.

I found these images that conveyed how my word feels so far. The idea that I am journeying home. I altered one photo with some paint pens to make it feel a bit more whimsical and then just glued down the other pages. My title came out really messy but for some reason it felt perfectly imperfect that way.

I am thinking of going back and adding some journaling around the photos but either way I am happy with this page.

I was hesitant at first to share this page because it’s not really anything special. No amazing techniques or art created but that was exactly why I decided to share it.

Creativity should be first and foremost for us.  A way to express something, release something or maybe-as in today’s page-just some playful time with no expectations. I hope this little video below might inspire you to have a play in your journal.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Music by Saint Stephen – 50’s Milkshake – https://thmatc.co/?l=352EAE2D

Video: Art Journaling in My Word of the Year Journal-January

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I am in my studio today and working in my Word of the Year Journal.

As of writing this my page is in what, Juliette Crane calls “the ugly stage.” My brain is busy judging it and telling me, “you can’t share this page-you need to make it look better!” It’s so hard when we feel stuck in our creativity so I thought it might be helpful to share what I’m doing.

I reached a point where I needed to let things dry before I moved on so I took a walk-dropped off my rent check, used the restroom then came back into the studio-made another coffee, and sat down to work on something else.

This may not seem like a plan but in my past experience, when I take a little break and come back, I realize that the page isn’t as bad as I thought and I often have some new ideas and a resurgence of energy to keep going.

Sometimes, I still feel stuck and that’s alright too. In those cases you can:

  • Turn the page: Leave that page for now and go to another page in your journal and start over.
  • Cover it all up with paint or gesso. I love gesso for this-it’s almost like an eraser on the page and you can start over. Depending on the page, some of the colors and textures from your first attempt may still show through giving you some great dimension
  • Collage over it: Often times when I am feeling stuck in my own abilities to create art collage is a cozy blanket that restores faith in my own creativity. Not to mention you can be inspired by the images you are using. When I started this page I was looking for some collage elements and I saw quite a few sketchy faces in the magazine and that inspired me to do my own.

Even though I wasn’t loving the page that I was creating-I was still enjoying the process. This is the first spread I have done in my Word of the Year journal and it felt so nice to be playing in this journal. If you watch the video below you will see that when I came back to the page-it completely changed. I ended the page with adding my favorite symbol-a heart. I also plan to go back and add a small note about what I am feeling about my word and what’s going on in my life at the moment.

I thought about working in this journal from front to back but it just didn’t feel write so I am going to write down the date and then add my note so I have a reference of what was going on in my life at the time. This is going to be a really big year for me personally and professionally and anchoring in my word and watching how it supports me is going to be so much fun.

I love this practice because it’s more than just picking a word and thinking about it here and there. It’s really connecting with the word and what it means to me and how I am actively applying it to my life. Have you picked a word? I would love to hear your word and if you are journaling along with me.

Wishing you a lovely day!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Video: Making a Word of the Year Art Journal

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I am sitting cozy under a blanket watching one of my favorite movies of late, “Jungle Cruise.”  I absolutely love Emily Blunt and how she portrays such a confident woman in Lilly. This is the second time I am watching this when struggling with feelings of anxiety and there is something about this movie that just makes me feel cozy and calm.

That and writing to you.

I hope your year is off to a wonderful start and that you are moving at exactly the right pace for you.

I had planned to get more work done last week but it looks like this week will be the start for my new creative schedule.  I am excited to share more creative inspiration with you and on a bit more of a regular schedule.

I am kicking off with the Making an Art Journal for our Word of the Year video I promised in last week’s video. If you would like to watch me make a colorful, textured art journal then you may enjoy the video below.


I am committing this year to a regular check-in with my word of the year. I created enough pages in the journal to do a double page spread each week but I have also created the grace inside the journal that if I don’t check in as often as I would like-that’s alright too.

Our journals are meant to be places where we can show up as we are when we need. I am not looking at this as a”have-to” item but rather a “get-to.” Something that deeply nourishes me and the dreams I have for 2023.

And they are some big ones!

I would love for you to join me. Whatever you are feeling for this year. Whatever you are hoping to experience or achieve this year I would love for you to join me. You can subscribe to my weekly newsletter-where I will share all the latest videos and content by clicking the link here. I cannot wait to hear what some of your big dreams are for this year. Please share them in the comments below.

If you would like to purchase my Word of the Year Workbook you click here to go to my shop.

 

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante