When did you start art journaling?
I have been art journaling for just over a year now but have dabbled in art since I was young. My mum is an artist so I was always surrounded by creative inspiration.
I love the freedom with art journaling, the total ‘no mistakes’ way to create that has re-ignited my creativity in different ways and has allowed me to find a style that expresses more of me rather than sticking rigidly to a formula that others would tell me was the ‘right’ way to paint, but never really felt like it was me. Now I feel like I am finally expressing the real me.
Do you maintain an art 'practice' or are you a seat-of-the-pantser when it comes to your art?
I try to integrate my spiritual practices in with Art journaling to tap into my intuition, so when I sit down to art I usually have inspiring or meditative music or inspiring podcasts playing, I light a nice scented candle or incense and go into a light meditative state before I start.
As for seat-of-the-pants or structured, I bounce between the two depending on the time available to me and how long it has been since my last session of arting. I find the more ‘itchy’ I am to make art when I am not in a position to, means that I am seat-of-the-pants creating when I get the chance. I set myself up and just go for whatever is within arms reach. If I have been regularly arting, I find that I am a bit more structured and thoughtful about what I am trying to create but it is still a more intuitive process than it was years ago.

What do you enjoy most about Book of Days?
I like the idea of having a record of my year to look back over. In years past, I have always longed for things to be written down, to remind me of an event, a feeling or headspace I was in, but never got around to it. I do practice automatic writing sporadically but never kept a daily journal as just writing everyday somewhat bored me after a while. I have also tried ‘Morning Pages’ but have not kept that up either. The combination of art with the written word feels more like the real me. You can express so much more with colour, an image and texture than just plain words. It is funny that when I look at the pages I have completed so far there is a lot more writing on a daily basis than I have ever done before. It’s like the art behind it gives me the freedom, and in a way, the permission to write.
This will be a lovely reminder of where I have been, and to create art at the same time, well, it is a given that it is an enriching and joyful experience to express myself so completely on a page. The videos and newsletters are so full of wonderful inspiration that I can’t wait to sit and create every time one comes out.
I also love connecting with like minded souls and the Facebook and Premium group have given me a lovely place to sit and chat with new friends, ask and answer any questions about art supplies, etc, have a coffee while I peruse the lovely artwork, and gives me the chance to offer encouragement where I can. I am so inspired by everyone’s creativity which then spurs mine on.
What are your favourite supplies?
Well if I have to narrow it down, at the moment I would have to say Gesso, black permanent markers like Sharpie’s, my White Signo pen, stencils, acrylic stamps, paint, Inktense pencils and Black Staz On ink.
Anything else you'd like to share with us?
Art journaling has also taken my teaching to a different arena and I am now teaching art journal workshops at a local Scrapbook Shop on a monthly basis, which I love so much. To share what I have learnt through my blog and the classes and then see the smile on others faces when they create something themselves is so fullfilling.
I firmly believe in the power of gratitude and blogging is my way of expressing the gratitude that I feel for all the generous teachers I have had in the past, passing on the love for this art. It feels like I am exhaling after holding my breath for so long, trying to find my place if only for a while until the universe sends me in another direction. I also believe that you never know where life will lead you, but if you don’t take the first step you will never find out. Life is an exciting adventure.
Where can we we find you on line?
My blog is called ArtfulLee Designed and you can find me at http://artfulleedesigned.blogspot.com.au
My Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000219408420
My paintings can be found on the Chroma website http://www.chromaonline.com/chroma/teachers/lee_clements/gallery
