Blog: Art Journal

Art Journaling Demystified – New Online Class

AJDemystified0101

Join me for my  Art Journaling Demystified Class!

This class is for everyone who wants to start art journaling and wants to learn the basics on how to do this.

In 3 hours of video lessons divided into 6 Lessons, I show and demystify for you

  • what kind of art journals are out there,
  • explain the basic supplies,
  • and color theory,
  • backgrounds and
  • layering techniques and
  • how to finish up an art journal page.

During the lessons you will learn a lot about all kinds of materials, mixed media, how to create texture and design principles.

I will share with you why I’m doing things, how I got the idea and what works and what doesn’t seem to work.

Sign up now for Art Journaling Demystified starting May 1st, 2015 .

Looking forward seeing you!

Nat

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I am the Boss of Me …or In My Art Journal Today

NatKalbach_NotTheBoss01

Attn: You are not the boss of me…I am the boss of me and my art

Hach …isn’t art journal an awesome way to get stuff out? I just told someone in an interview that art made me a calmer person and part of this is because I can let out a lot of things through my art :)

 

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This page is actually a page that was a demo page in tow different classes and then I finished it up at home.

 

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I so love the Liquitex Cadmium Orange Hue 2 – so vibrant. I scratched through some blots of spray paints with the bamboo sketching pen, which I had also used with black acrylic ink to outline the woman on the page. I also used a needle point canvas star with the spray paint- fun – love the pattern this creates – also when you flip the stencil later over.

Here is a supply list:

nSupplies



Hope you have fun creating today!!!

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Joi@RR

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    Ahhh – orange is my fav. Would you believe I have always loved it. Forty-three years ago it was orange gingham for bridesmaid dresses – hehehehe!!! Have to get some of your hue 2 orange Nat! Great colors in this project. Your sentiment is so true. Seems I always have someone telling me how to see what I see – which is not what I see at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great work. Have a super fine weekend. j.

    Reply

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Don’t be a Later …or In My Art Journal Today

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Note to myself: Don’t be a later

Nat Kalbach ;)

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I am such a huge procrastinator sometimes – for fear I might be failing big time. I am telling myself, I can do this later. In some parts of my life I am a huge later. Time to be a NOW ;) I used to be a NOW – LOL- and it lead to all good things ;)

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The lettering for the NOW was done with some wood blocks and acrylic paint. Then I used Liquitex Markers inside to pop it up a bit and outlined the outside of the letters with a fineline applicator which I had filled with Liquitex Soft Body Paint and some drops of Liquitex Ink . Love the fine and dimensional effects you get this way. The woman’s face is a stamp I carved.

Here are the supplies I used for this spread

nSupplies


Have an amazing day!

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Joi@RR

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    Now is good Nat – it spells WON – backwards!!! At to me… you are always a WINNER at everything you do. I like this pages because of there is lots of white so your incredibly artistic doodles show up so well. The colors are nice – clean – like a new beginning – no build up – open – free – ready for a NEW NOW! j.

    Reply

  • Sabine Schneider

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    Oh, ich bin oft auch ein later…..Tolle Seite!!!!
    Liebe Grüße, Sabine

    Reply

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Good Bye …. or In My Art Journal Today

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I had a good time creating this grungy art journal page.

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I used a fluid writer pen filled with acrylic ink for some scribbles and journaling which at parts I converted into marks by using a painters knife brushing over it. A different way of hiding some journaling instead of painting over it. I like it- I think I will use it again ;)

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Here are the supplies I used:

nSupplies



Have a wonderful day!

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Joi@RR

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    Oh my gracious sakes alive Nat – you started my morning off with such a fright when I saw the GOODBYE. Heheheheh – you GOT ME!!!!! Whew! Just so glad it wasn’t true… can’t make it without viewing your artist endeavors. And of course, your journal page is wonderful. I so wish my journal looked so awesome!!! Just love the layers and THE GIRL… she is so fun. HAPPY EASTER! j

    Reply

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Playing with Gesso and Acrylic Ink

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I love colors and I love texture …and I love adding both of it into my art journals, which is pretty easy :) Here is a fast forward video on how I create texture with Gesso and then add the super vibrant and pigmented Liquitex Inks to emphasize the texture even more.

Playing With Gesso and Acrylic Ink from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

Hope you liked this little playful video :)

nSupplies



Please note: I am an official Brand Ambassador for Liquitex, but all my ideas are my own and the opinions, comments and my love for their products are genuine!

Have a wonderful day

Nat

Comments (14)

  • Sabine Schneider

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    Liebe Nat,
    Wow! Gerade zur rechten Zeit ein kleiner Schubser von Dir!!!! Gleich ausprobiert und ich bin super Happy mit dem Ergebnis! Danke Dir für die immer guten Tips!
    Liebe Grüße, Sabine

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      woot woot, freue mich, dass Du es gleich ausprobiert hast :) Danke, Sabine!

      Reply

  • Michelle LaPoint Rydell

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    Hi Nat! Love your journal page! The video was awesome! So inspiring! I think it’s time to bust out my gesso and inks! Thank you!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you Michelle- so good to see you – and happy you bust out your gesso and inks !

      Reply

  • Tracy

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    Wicked awesome! Love the colors and watching you do the lettering!

    Reply

  • Joi@RR

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    Just could watch you create forever Nat. This is SUPER FINE FUN in every way. I don’t have the acrylic inks yet but ohhhh how I want them! One day soon. Loved this…. love you too!!! j.

    Reply

  • rebeccavt

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    Just what I needed to watch this morning! Love your technique, the colors, the interesting tools, AND the music. Nice! Thanks!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      thank you Rebecca :) glad you liked the music too – always hard to choose :)

      Reply

  • Kathy P

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    Totally, totally awesome, Nat. The things you did to texturize your paints were fantastic…going to try this today! Thanks for the ongoing inspiration!

    Reply

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I Just Want to …. or In My Art Journal Today

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“I just want to spend the rest of my life laughing”

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I painted the background of my art journal spread and then used various left overs from mono prints I had done on deli paper and watercolor paper. I collaged the papers onto my background with Matte Gel Medium. Especially the Deli Paper fuses nicely into the background and is an awesome paper to use for collage.

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I used Markers for the image and the journaling and highlighted areas with the white Signo Pen. I actually liked working with a very light background and adding darker focal points to it- I often tend to work from dark to light … time to challenge myself to change that up a bit more often.

nSupplies



Nat

Comments (3)

  • Joi@RR

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    Just love your smile so… I want you to spend the rest of your life laughing too Nat. Laughing when your heart is aching is good medicine but it’s hard too. Love this layout! Thinking of you. j

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Oh I see dogs. Nice saying as well.

    Reply

  • pretzelcityusa

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    I am so inspired by your style of painting. I love all the magazine figures and how they are evolving. I am a beginner learner and doing this style of artwork is really encouraging me to get creative. Thank-you for all your sharing.

    Reply

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Gone … or In My Art Journal Today

NatKalbach_Gone01

“Gone. the saddest word in the language. in any language.”

I read this quote on a pinterest board and it resonated with me. Thank you for your kind and sweet words a couple weeks ago in comments and emails- that was very touching and wonderful! Thank you!

 

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I had a more vibrant but pretty ugly background which I totally covered with black acrylic pant and then lifted up some of it again to reveal the background here and there- I stamped and stenciled on top repeating some of the colors in the background and also added journaling to a mono printed water color paper sheet in black and white attached it on top.

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Art Journaling is a great way to deal with the good and the bad – it is amazing how much comfort messy hands can bring :)

Here are some of the supplies I used

nSupplies




Have a wonderful day!

Nat

Comments (6)

  • Leadonna Kimmel

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    Nat, she may be gone in body, but her spirit and love live on in you, sweet friend. It really is amazing how much comfort creating brings to the soul. As always, your work is stunning and this journal spread is particularly poignant. Love and hugs! xx

    Reply

  • Joi@RR

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    ❤ Big hug. j

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    The colors go with the feelings.
    Yes, working in one’s art journal can help deal with feelings for sure.

    Reply

  • andrene

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    Beautiful page, Nat! Lately I am so drawn to black backgrounds…wonder what that means (something ominous I’m sure!)

    Reply

  • nurse-ratchet

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    It is an infinite word! Perhaps you could journal ” Gone but not forgotten”

    Reply

  • Nancy Keslin

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    hugs…..this is lovely and what a wonderful way to express your feelings.

    Reply

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Fear of the Unknown or… In My Art Journal Today

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I was experimenting with doing a minimalistic art journal page …well for me it is pretty minimalistic ;) I had painted the background yellow, and then attached some mono printed deli paper prints in stripes onto the page. Using the What’s The Point Stencil I added some texture with Flexible Modeling Paste here and there.

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Using my Elephant Stencil (in the supply list) I used the mask and spray painted over it, then I used the stencil and filled out the elephant with some Kaffee Klatsch stamping. I added some marks and the quote with an alpha stamp.

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It was a quick and fun page and a good start to get into the creative groove so I could start on a canvas. Sometimes we need something to get over the blank-canvas-procrastination-stage.

Do you have a ritual to get over your blank stage?

nSupplies



Nat

Comments (4)

  • Tracy

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    I’m always a fan of yellow, and the deli printed papers rock!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    That is simply beautiful and yes, less textured than usual.
    Important quote as well.

    Reply

  • Jackie P Neal

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    What a great spread Nat!!
    Love the color palette and your elephants are simply the best!!!
    Just checking to see how you are doing,my friend- I think of you often and wish for your grief to be comforted by all of your warm memories xo

    Reply

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Born An Original or… In My Art Journal Today

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You were born an original, don’t die a copy!

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Love this! For this art journal spread I was trying out a new color combination –

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which I know I will use again – again- it was good just playing and finding things I would usually not work with :)

 

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I added some texture by mixing in soft body acrylic paints with Liquitex Flexible Modeling Paste – and also used several of my stamps- including the new Mark Maker Set.

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Here is a list of the supply :

nSupplies


How do you like the color combination? Does it speak to you?

Nat

Comments (6)

  • mapperlmutter

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    This was a great color combination. The yellow is the perfect pop of color.

    Reply

  • Dee

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    I like these colors. But my faves are from yesterday

    Reply

  • Maura

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    Great color combo…and you are definitely an original!!

    Reply

  • nurse-ratchet

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    That is a very calming colour palette? Fab page!!

    Reply

  • yankeegirl

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    Awesome color combo, Nat!! Really caught my eye!

    Reply

  • jackiepn

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    Love those colors Nat! Your spread is gorgeous with a great sentiment! “)

    Reply

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