I signed up for the Strathmore Visual Journal workshop series. I was intrigued by the idea of working with new media (collage) in a new format (bound journal).

I’m getting a late start because I packed up my office/studio over the holidays so I could remove the carpet. I’m still unpacking, but I’m itching to get caught up on this workshop.

Today I watched the first 3 of the 4 lesson videos in Workshop 1, and I’ve read many of the discussion forums. I must admit I’m baffled at the concept. The materials and the process I understand. The purpose of doing so, not so much. Then again, the whole reason to take a class in something new is to stretch your mind and your comfort zone, right?

Since I always start a new sketchbook by jotting down “New Sketchbook!” and the date, I took a similar approach to this new project — but in the spirit of the workshop.

I resized some scans of sketches I did last summer, and manipulated the fonts and font sizes on a few phrases until I had a starting place. I printed them out using my Epson Artisan 710 on plain inkjet paper.

I cut the images apart and moved them around on a blank page until I was satisfied with their placement.

The arrangement was very horizontal, so I decided it needed a vertical element. I chose a piece of scrapbook paper, mainly because it was a color and design I’m least likely to use in cardmaking. I ripped it into strips, then used YES paste to glue them to the page.

Next, I glued down the sketches and phrases in the arrangement I planned out in Step 1.

From previous experience, I know that YES paste causes my paper to curl, so I’ve placed a heavy book onto to hold it flat until it dries.

Next up — add color!