10 years of painting diaries
400+ unique diaries in as many hands, all over the world
Little did I know about 10 years ago when I painted my first journal cover that painting journal and diary covers will become a habit. Every year for the last 10 I’ve been painting and selling 400+ diaries. If in the first 6 years I was painting an average of 40+ diaries and selling them all (sometimes 50) lately the average number was more in the 20s. The bug, disapearence of craft fairs for a few years, the ETSY algorithm changes and the presence of resellers changed the selling platforms quite a lot and disturbed my rhythm :(
However, come September and my muse wants to do what she’s been doing previously and almost drags me kicking and screaming in my usual shop, ESK searching for 2024 diaries. This is exactly what she did this year and I left the shop with 10 diaries. Some small, some big.
I had not idea - as always - what I was going to paint. I never do but of course some themes keep appearing and reappearing. One of them is … black cats. I love cats, adore them and hey why not! I have two Turkish Van cats Bhakti and Sutlak who are a constant source of joy and frustration. Much to my delight, I have clients who buy my diaries every year and some have quite a collection by now. Each cover is actually a painting and it has an average of 10 layers. I start with scrapbooking papers to set the scene, follow with some random mark making, add another layer of washi tape, more paint and so on layer after layer until a thought or image comes to my mind … this is when the designs starts to take shape. The layers before the shape are free and wild, colourful, powerful even … infused with my favourite chants or mantras. I always listen to kirtan or qawwali when I paint. You might enjoy it too! Have a look at the links below.
Once the image arrives more paint is added … sometimes inks, textile paint, oil pastels, Posca paints, and actually whatever I have around me.
What I love about painting the diaries is the freedom I feel … no should(s,) no must(s) but pure enjoyment.
The last phase is the embellishments and this can be anything and everything …from beads to glitter, from leaves to metal bits and textile thrown in to the mix. Whatever I have in the house will be added.
Each diary comes with a few extra jewels - because I always encourage my clients to become co-creators, put their imprint on the diary, make it their own, infuse it with their own energy.
Last but not least there is a motivational message on the cover, something people can relate to and treasure.
Watch this space for a video demonstration - painting a diary together!
Until next time, stay strong, be curious and love yourself!
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