Visual Journaling ABCs: W is for White & Black
Welcome back to my series on the Visual Journaling ABCs. I am wandering my way from Z to A through the things I love about about visual journaling and how it has helped me on my creative and healing journeys. Yesterday’s post was Y for memories. Today is the letter W for white and black.
I’m laughing at myself as I wrote and published this whole article and then realized I missed the letter X so my journey is day off kilter but I will get back on track.
Mindful Drawing Practice
I will share some images from the pages of my visual journals featuring only white and black. While I love colorful pages and mixed media spreads that have multiple layers of paint, images and marks, I also love simple white pages with black marks of all kinds.
This allows me to practice drawing and to test out different pens. I also find this process very relaxing and will often sit in front of the television with my hubby in the evenings and play.
Start with a Soul Scribble
My process sometimes begins with one line across the page and at other times it start with a scribbled series of shapes like this one. Then I look for images, add marks and patterns and enjoy playing on the page. I love this process called Soul Scribbles. They are intuitive and mindful ways to pour feelings and images onto the page in a more abstract form.
I love seeing where this creative process will take me, sometimes I find myself writing into the shapes or adding a word here and there as well as marks and patterns.
I’m always surprised and delighted when quirky animals show up on the page, like this puppy and owl.
Start with Zentangle© patterns
Many of the patterns I use are Zentangle© patterns. Zentangle© is a meditative form of drawing repetitive patterns. I discovered it over 10 years ago and it is still a go to favorite form of art making that I return to over and over. You can learn more about this beautiful creative meditation here.
If you are a pen junkie like I am, here are a few of my favorites for drawing in black and white. These are not affiliate links.
What are your favorite black pens for drawing? I’m always on a quest for a new one to experiment and play with. Thanks for joining me on this creative journey through the Visual Journaling ABCs. I will see you tomorrow with V for Variety.
I love Soul Scribble idea. I might actually be able to do that! Your drawings are amazing.
Cheryl, you can absolutely do it!!
How fun is THIS? It is the perfect remedy for frustration!!
Yes, exactly Kate. It helps me get out of my head and back into my body much like dance does or walking in nature. And if I can draw in nature, even better!
OMG I love your “scribbles”! I can see how this would be a fun and relaxing at the same time.
Right!? It’s so true. It is fun, relaxing and creative. I often have sparks of other creative ideas arise from this type of play.
Love your tangles!
Thank you Cindy!
Oh man, I’m a major doodler. It started as a way of keeping focused in business meetings way back in my early days.
My personal peaceful practice led to creating adult coloring pages for many years in fact.
That is so cool Kelly! I also am a lifetime doodler! Little did I know the magical paths it would lead me on.
Oh very cool. I never think to just scribble on the page.
It’s such a fun and easy way to get going!