Over the past year I have discovered Junk, or Art, Journaling. Perhaps you have too, or you have heard it mentioned, but haven’t yet dabbled. If you would like to know more, read on.

I have artistic friends. I have friends who are spiritual and artistic and bring both together to create amazing things, and I have been in awe. I see people sketch and draw during sermons and seminars and you can really see their prayerful thought processes come to life. I am not one of those people. I am full of admiration and even a little envy.

Then I found myself on a retreat for clergy which had an artist in residence offering workshops each day. As I joined in was amazed at how God spoke to me as I simply made marks on a piece of paper. I have always journaled, but always with words. My creative aim for the week was to make my own journal to write in, but I came away with so much more.

And then I found a free online art journaling retreat, and I was really hooked! Jenna Burne hosts Encounters in Colour inviting other artists to take turns in providing tutorials over the course of a week, and so, I joined in. Some of my pieces felt as though a child had produced them (and I’m not talking about a hyper talented inner child, I mean a toddler who has picked up a wax crayon), other pieces I felt were quite an accomplishment.

And yet, whether I felt they were ‘good’ or not, whether they warranted any artistic merit, really wasn’t the point, and actually didn’t matter at all. It was all about the process.

Then I discovered Faith Fest run by Kim Pepper on a similar basis, except Kim invited 12 different Christian artists to create tutorials on the same Bible verse using their own unique styles, inviting us to join in.

And through these tutorials I have enjoyed playing and exploring and discovering new things about myself and my faith. And I have found methods that work for me.

Art journaling can feel daunting: what equipment will I need? how do I use it? Naturally professional artists will have professional equipment, but alongside that they will use whatever materials they find themselves attracted to, and that’s where the junk comes into the journaling. As noted earlier, I am not an artist, so my ‘kit’ comprises the leftover arts and crafts materials my children have grown out of, and scraps of colourful paper, and old receipts, and pages torn from old notebooks, anything which can provide depth or colour or both.

So here’s my simplistic break down of ‘how to’ art journal, taken from a Spiritual Director’s point of view.

1. Let it all out. I begin by freeform, stream of consciousness writing all over the page. These words are not to be read by anyone, not even myself, they are just there to clear the air, almost like a confession before worship.
2. Cover it up! As these words are not to be read and so they can be covered up, with paint or crayons or collage.
3. Make something beautiful. Perhaps write over the top of your page with words from a psalm, think about the colours you use and the images they create in your heart and mind. Rifle through old magazines and advertising flyers, used wrapping paper old greetings cards, which images are your drawn to? How can you add them to your journal page?
4. OR makes something ugly! Art journal pages can be used for lament too. In fact all the emotions are valid. It is surprising how often that splurge at the beginning ends up becoming a page of praise, but it doesn’t need to.
5. Add texture! Stick on bits of string and ribbon or buttons and beads. Use stamps and stickers, flick paint like a small child. Outline your favourite bits with gold pen, or biro, scribble a prayer in one corner, edge your page with words of hope.
6. And as you are working your way through your art journaling, pay attention to what is happening to you internally, and perhaps externally too (how hunched are those shoulders now? what has happened to that tension headache?). Sit with your page. Sit with the Holy Spirit as you reflect upon your time ‘at play’.

It can feel difficult to begin with, as an adult, somehow it’s acceptable for children to play with paint, to cut and stick, and if we are enabling children to be creative then it’s OK for us to join in. What Art and Junk journaling tell us is that it’s also OK as an adult to take time to be creative. And when we allow ourselves to tune into the Holy Spirit as we do so, that’s when play becomes pray.

This piece came out of a solo retreat which didn’t come accompanies by an art shed or resident artist. I just had some coloured pencils and an emergency sewing kit.

Due to the ‘junk’ nature of journaling in this way, it is perfect for reusing and recycling. You don’t need any special artists sketchbooks or professionally bound journals to work, or play, in. However if you do want something special for your art journaling, I have created some art journals using a variety of different papers I have discovered lurking in my files, and these are now available in my gift shop.

To discover more about art/junk journaling as a way of prayer, have a go!

You may also like to check out the following YouTube videos:

Jenna Burne Get Started with Art Journaling

Kim Pepper The Creative Faith Club

And do look out on social media for Faith Fest and Encounters in Colour.