What's in a name

[Efemera]

Can somene tell me what an art journal is ? In what way does it differ from an altered book?
Efemera
XXX

[wickedcaz]

lol, i've just come to this thread to try find out what one is too! And now I guess i need to find out what an altered book is too...

edited to say I have just seen your thread in the altered books forum and I guess the real difference is one is decorated and the other is used as a journal, so decorating and journalling at the same time according to you mood....very confused now :lol:

[Efemera]

Decorated? journaled? is that a word? Whatever it seems anything goes!!!! :blink: Trying very hard to get the hang of this site!!!!!
Efemera
XXX

[GardenAngel]

Hmm, well I'm very much a newbie to Altered Arts but the way I understand it is that an Altered Book is a book - a printed book - that you take and alter in a way that makes it into something other than it was intended for. So whether that is by painting pages, cutting bits out, sticking bits in - whatever - you are actually altering something which already existed, in order to make it different - altered.

The way I understand it, an Art Journal is a blank book, blank cover, blank pages, on which you express your own art - whatever that is. You are not then altering it, but creating it. So you are in effect journalling your art. As to what "journal" or "journalling" means - one definition is "a personal record of occurrences, experiences, and reflections kept on a regular basis" - so I guess an Art Journal is similar to a diary in that it is personal to you and you record whatever you like, but I think it differs in that you are not just writing (and in fact I don't think writing is even a requirement) but you are doing whatever art means to you, in one place, whenever you feel like it. For your own personal pleasure.

Journalling in scrapbooking means something completely different to me. It means describing in words what is going on in the photograph you are scrapping - if you like - the who, what, where, and when.

I'm far from experienced and if I have got this wong I would love for someone to put me right! :lol:

By the way - is that your real name? I would KILL for a name like Efemera!

Kerry x

[DanityDoll]

Kerry - you are absoloutely right :) I am doing an art journal just now which is a jumble of pages including art and lots of words and some writing - it's very expressive actually. I am planning on doing an altered book at some point but i'm just waiting on the right book to come around!!

[Efemera]

What's in a name ?

No Efemera isn't my real name' Efemera Ink is the name of an art group which I organise once a month .Reality is much more mndane!!!!!!!!!!
Efemera
XXXX

[GardenAngel]

Oh right! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Kerry x

[Efemera]

clear as mud

[Pinkstar]

What's in a name ?

No Efemera isn't my real name' Efemera Ink is the name of an art group which I organise once a month .Reality is much more mndane!!!!!!!!!!
Efemera
XXXX

:ph34r: :ph34r: :D I know :D

[Efemera]

so do we , hi fiona from ? no not gail

[Pinkstar]

Hi Jean ;) :lol:

[nejxr25]

clever girl :lol: :lol: , im back home now and being me

[Tisiphone]

My altered journal is two pieces of slightly bigger then A4 cardboard covered in some lovely purple and silver paper with purple velvet ribbons.

inside i have calendars for my diary (march, april etc.) and then ribbon tabs to seperate personal and work and then further sections within.

my entire life is inside from to-dos and to-donts, shopping lists, wish lists and address to present lists, recipes and directions (it even has rough drafts of my fanfiction stories and plot bunnies). it goes everywhere with me and i often find myself sat on a train with it out and contemplating adding leaflets etc that i have picked up. I even have a rewards page for remembering to do the chores i always forget! I have habit of the month page as well that helps me remeber to do whatever my thing is that month - for those who have heard about FlyLady.net i imagine its a little like what she calls the control journal. I really would be lost without it.

It almost always gets complimented and the great thing is that because i have used those book rings things (like the rings from inside of a ring binder file) i can add and take away pages as i wish - i can add handmade sheets or computer printouts and even shop bought ones)

[Lighthousegirl]

Your alterered journal sounds fab - way more intersting, useful and just generally appealing than my diary! Do you have any pictures you could share?

[Tisiphone]

Give me a few days because I will have to scan and my scanners on the fritz!

I would love to have a diary but I never know what to write...

[applepie]

i actually made my first one a couple of weeks ago called rainbows and 6-8 pages ar devoted to a colour.