How would you love to dive into a couple of blank pages and see where the journey takes you? Imagine having two art journals open and ready to take on the vibrancy, creativity, and excitement that come along with the guidance of a talented artist and some easy-to-access art supplies at your fingertips. This is Juggling Journals with Sarah Gardner.
Mixed-media art offers a sanctuary of sorts, a haven where we can retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse ourselves in a world of creativity and self-expression. In the midst of our busy schedules and endless to-do lists, having two open pages in our art journal is like having a tranquil oasis waiting for us to explore.
Here are just some of the techniques Sarah shares in this chock-full course:
- How to start with the blank page
- Collage is so easy and gratifying
- Choosing a limited color palette
- How to create a “valley” and “horizon” composition
- How to use Transparent Inks
- How to create an image transfer
- Blown ink effect
- Sgraffito technique
- Stenciling
- Unique mark-making, doodles, and splatter
- Gold leaf effects
- How to transfer the Mandala design
With no pressure to perform, we can approach our art journal with a sense of freedom and relaxation. Each stroke of the brush, each layer of texture or color becomes a chance to experiment and play without fear of judgment or criticism.
In this online course, Sarah shares a bounty of artistic techniques, each building upon the other to create layers of depth and texture. But here's the thing: you're in the driver's seat. While Sarah generously shares her wealth of knowledge, there's no pressure to incorporate every single technique into every page you create.
Think of it as a buffet of artistic delights. From project to project, you get to pick and choose which techniques resonate with you.
The beauty of Sarah's course lies in its versatility. So feel free to mix and match, to play and experiment, and to create art that truly reflects who you are as an artist.
Remember, there are no rules in art, only endless possibilities.
Thank you for a great class Sarah! You are a great teacher! Journal 1 is the first spread in my poetry journal. Linda C.
"I had SO much fun with this online course! Thank you Sarah for an amazing creative week, I just dove in with 3 versions of journal 1 and 2 versions of journal 2... I had such a blast playing along thank you so much!" Sylvie
Your Instructor
Sarah Gardner is a mom, a practicing lawyer, and a mixed media artist and teacher. She lives with her family in Cardiff by the Sea, California. She’s been creating and teaching mixed media art since 2007. Her creative practice takes place in her art journal and in making a lot of art to share: Postcards, ATCs, Kindness Cards, Paper Mobiles, Mini Journals, and more.
Since launching her art business, Juicy*S Art, in 2019, Sarah has been teaching live art workshops she calls “Art Play Dates,” and teaching online classes. She was a guest host for Everything Art’s Wanderlust, an online art journaling course, in 2020, teaching six lessons that year. She has taught several other online courses, including Fodder School 1 from Willa Workshops, One Badass Art Journal 2023 hosted by Embrace Your Art, and has begun providing her own classes from her online Teachable school, Juicy*S Mixed Media Art School. She was a Creative Team Member for StencilGirl® Products from April 2021 to March 2022, and will soon launch a series of her own stencil designs from StencilGirl®. Her book: “Share Your Joy: Inspired Mixed Media Shareable Art” will be out in print in the Fall of 2023.
“I’m Sarah Gardner, also known as Juicy*S. Juicy*S is my DJ name. I am not a DJ. I would love to be a DJ. I am a recovering perfectionist. I have learned that what gives me joy is the process of creating, not the “perfect” end result. When I’m creating, I’m really focused on the process, enjoying the intuitive way things happen, seeing what different media do, and experimenting and playing around without judging every choice I make. Staying curious and being kind to myself, trusting this process, is a mindfulness practice. I hope to help others explore creativity, ignore that perfectionistic inner critic, and play around with art supplies. It gives me joy and I want to share this way to happiness. This is my wish for you. What’s your DJ name? Let's sling some paint, make some art, and you can tell me all about it!”
Course Curriculum
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StartIntroduction to Juggling Journals with Sarah Gardner (11:20)
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StartPDF for download. Sarah's suggested art supplies, materials, and resources.
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StartArt Journals & Layered Pages (6:09)
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StartSupplies for Juggling (9:40)
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StartMandala templates for download
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StartChoosing a Limited Color Palette (3:12)
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StartJournal 1 Layer 1 - High Contrast Collage (26:10)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 1 - Scribbles & Paint (6:56)
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StartJournal 1 Layer 2 - Scraping Gesso (4:09)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 2 - Colorful Collage "Valley" (22:39)
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StartJournal 1 Layer 3 - Transparent Inks (9:24)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 3 - Connecting "Valley" & "Sky" (8:01)
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StartJournal 1 Layer 4 - Sgraffito Journaling (21:09)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 4 - Painting a "Horizon" (10:24)
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StartJournal 1 Layer 5 - Image Transfer Part 1 (9:24)
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StartJournal 1 Layer 5 - Image Transfer Part 2 (11:12)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 5 - Blowing Ink into "Sky" (6:24)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 5 - Blowing Fluid Acrylic (4:05)
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StartJournal 1 Layer 6 - Inky Wash (10:01)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 6 - Stenciling (11:16)
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StartJournal 1 Layer 7 - Two-tone Painty Marks (17:37)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 7 - Mark Making and Inky Splatter (10:39)
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StartJournal 1 layer 8 - Dark Oval Painty Marks (13:42)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 8 - Gold Leaf Accents (13:30)
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StartJournal 1 Layer 9 - Doodles, Marks & Splatter (13:58)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 9 - Transferring a Mandala (13:40)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 9 - Coloring the Mandala (30:46)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 9 - Finishing the Mandala (11:38)
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StartJournal 1 Layer 10 - Final Details (11:54)
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StartJournal 2 Layer 10 - Adding a "Sign" (9:27)
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StartThanks for Juggling! (0:37)
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StartBONUS: Baby powder trick (1:13)