Taming My Critic

Here is a double page spread from the exercises in Journal Spilling (Diana Trout). This is based on the section about our inner critic; you know that not so small voice that can scream at you to stop making art because no one cares, you aren't any good, blah blah blah.


There is a TON of journaling on here though you see very little. The face is notebook paper that I wrote over numerous times with all the negative stuff I hear in my head about my work. Diana has you cut it and paste it down and then build up around it using water colors. Then you glop on some gesso (I used clear) so you can do more writing in water soluble crayons and still preserve the previous layers of color. After writing or "spilling" more thoughts you wash them away so to speak. I did that a few times until I was happy with it. THEN you add facial features. The face is meant to represent you but doesnt have to look anything like you (though I did give mine green eyes!) She has you add some designs on top and include some words from the dictionary that feel right to you. I added in some black squiggles and doodles  and called it good.

I chose the words affinity, affirm and affirmative because by the time I got to that step I wanted to think on a more positive note. Its so easy to feed those negative thoughts about your work and I am struggling to not do that. I can't tell you how many times I talk myself into not sharing my work any more. Almost daily. I know I would never stop creating but this entire journey has been about being brave enough to show it to the world and receive feedback on it.

By the way...the delete button is almost as good as washing away your words! Can't tell you how many times I've used it in this post! *L*