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BackingI T U PB Y H E AT H E R K I N D T

O ne of my favorite aspects of art journaling is having a place to experiment. There is less pressure when working in a journal than on a canvas. The effects I

achieve when experimenting are what become my artsy-looking backgrounds. An interesting background can turn a simple focal image into art. The beauty of it is that making backgrounds is a matter of trying out tips, tricks, and techniques instead of depending on complicated skills. Anyone can build up a bag of tricks and use a few to get a gorgeous journal page.

Artistic MultitaskingMy method for art journaling is working in layers on many pages instead of working on one page from start to finish. On

each background I usually apply three colors: two of the colors are in the same color family (either warm or cool) and the third is in the other color family. It will look good if there is some overlap, but using too much ink will cause the three colors to mix into a puddle.

A great technique for the first layer is spraying ink through stencils. This can be a messy process, but fortunately it dries quickly. After I have used ink and stencils on multiple pages, I clean it all up and then move on to paint. My favorite method of paint application is using a palette knife, but any scraper will do. The paint colors don’t have to match exactly, but they should be close. For example, if you have used a turquoise spray, a teal paint is a good option. When the paint overlaps the ink, it may »

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TIPS• Consider using a texture

stamp with different colors of permanent ink.

• Repeatedly stamp in a small cluster to create a foundation for the focal point.

• Curved and diagonal designs are tools to draw the eye to the focal point.

intensify in color. I welcome this reaction because it is a little unpredictable. Sometimes you get results that surprise you, which is my favorite part! I let the media mix together, and the results look like I have all kinds of skills when I actually just applied two of my favorite techniques.

To bump up the background, I repeat the first layer by adding a little more texture with stencils. I am careful not to overdo it. When paint covers some of the stenciling, I add a small amount of stenciling back on top. If the ink doesn’t want to soak in on top of the paint, I use paint with the stencil instead. I apply the paint with a sponge or mix it with water (more water than paint), and spray it through the stencil. Then I go back with paint and a paintbrush to soften the areas where the different colors intersect. »

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Prepping for the Focal PointAfter setting up a painterly background, I start building the foundation for my future focal point. There are many ways to create this middle ground, just like there are many ways to create the background. Sometimes I add the focal point before the middle ground, but then I go back to add a foundation as the middle ground. You want to have something that connects the focal image to the background. Recently, I have used a lot of patterned tapes, but strips of patterned paper work too. »

… the results look like I have all kinds of skills when I actually

just applied two of my favorite techniques.

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Pieces of collage paper can make a small area in the background that helps bring the eye to the focus. Similarly, drawing a pattern or writing makes a good middle ground. The important thing to keep in mind when making your choice is to stay within your established color scheme for the page. When you need contrast, go with black and white or another neutral color. Gray is a popular neutral right now, and other options are creams, tans, or metallics.

When I’m in the mood, I start my search for focal points. I like to use magazine images, but I also draw, stamp, or use

a tag, ATC, or other small piece of art. A journal is a perfect place to keep memorabilia and record memories. No matter how complex or simple your focal point is, put it on a fancy background. Then you will have turned it into art! ✤

Heather Kindt lives in Iowa with her son and husband. Follow her on Facebook (Heather Marie Kindt), where she posts about her classes, stencil designs, and prints of her artwork.

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