finding your style
I often use the words “commonplace book” and “art journal” interchangeably.
This is because my commonplace book is created with an artistic eye and with the addition of color and small art. Not all art journals are commonplace books and not all commonplace books are art journals. But mine is both!
I’m writing this course with the idea that you, too, will want to add some visual elements to your book.
This is not at all necessary but can add joy to the process of creating your book and visual interest to your finished project.
If you’re feeling unsure about the aesthetics of your commonplace book, it will be helpful to consider what style(s) you are naturally drawn toward.
The first step is to look at things you’ve made and purchased in the past and look for trends.
Perhaps you’ve made a quilt, created a scrapbook, or hung a gallery wall. Maybe you’ve coordinated a capsule wardrobe or designed a garden. At some point in your life, you’ve likely purchased furniture or hosted a party.
We make design and aesthetic decisions all the time and often (if we give it a bit of attention) we can look at the broader picture of these decisions and see a theme.
Consider the ideas mentioned above or simply look around your space and see if you can answer these questions.
Do your preferences lean toward prints or solids, feminine or masculine, traditional or modern?
Do you like things to be “perfect” or do you appreciate a degree of imperfection? If you are unsure about this one, consider your ideal furniture shopping method. Do you want everything in your living room to come from a single store (maybe even a “set” of
Or imagine you’ve been gifted $500 to a stationery shop to purchase personalized stationery.
When you make purchasing decisions for your home do you like things that come in a set (think a couch, loveseat, and coffee table) or do you prefer more eclectic design choices? Do you want things as close to “showroom perfect” as possible or do you appreciate an element of surprise in your home decor?
Can you see a common thread to the design or style of the things you are drawn toward?
Some examples:
Since we are talking about journaling (and not your wardrobe or home decor) let’s look at some varying journaling aesthetics.
Look around - Pinterest (share my boards?), Instagram.
A lot of color or a little? Background or no? Layers or no? One theme throughout book or change it up? One thing at a time or mix it all up on a page.