Art Journaling | August Technique -- BYOB
I thought that we'd start out with BYOB... build your own background. I'll talk about digital first, and then talk about physical journal pages further down in the post.
There are tons of great background papers out there, and I totally think you should grab as many as you can, but if you aren't finding exactly what you want, you can start your own. You can also use these techniques in conjunction with ready-made papers (just make sure to credit the designer even if you add your own flair to the paper).
Now there are a billion ways to create texture and color on a page. Of course we won't be covering every possibility, but here are some steps you can take to create a background paper of your own.
Step 1. Start out with a blank page... size is up to you (I used 12 x 12), and then add your intended color.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Color-Laye.jpg
Kinda boring.
Step 2. Create a pattern fill layer. Right now I'm limited on my fill patterns, so I just used "weave" and upped the scale of it to about 500%. I reduced the opacity of it so it wasn't as obvious.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...attern-for.jpg
Still a little boring, but at least it has some sort of texture.
Step 3. Add a layer and use a brush to scratch things up or distress it a little. (You can create your own brushes, or search the internet for "grunge" brushes and find a lot of free resources for adding texture.) This is a great place to create depth through adding some new colors in, or you can keep similar tones. Another fun thing about brushes is that you can go crazy with them, and then go back and erase bits of it to create a whole different look. Play with the size, directionality, and opacity.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...rush-to-ad.jpg
Step 4. Create some textual interest. Find a quote or just random words that you love. Put them in a fun font that will fit the feel of your page. Open a new document. You can make it 4" x 4" (or even smaller if you want). Type it up and then create a brush from your text. You can do this by simplifying (or rasterizing) the layer and then going to Edit and select --> Define Brush. Voila. Now go back to your background paper, create a new layer, and use your new brush.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...te-a-brush.jpg
Step 5. Use the brush you just created. You can change the color, make the layer an overlay, play with the other properties or size of it, and use it to randomly put it across your background. On mine, I chose to keep the color similar, but then erase parts of the words (with a scritchy brush) and then copy the layer, change the size and direction. I had three text brush layers and put them as overlays.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...-brush-wit.jpg
Step 6. Use one of your favorite digi elements and incorporated it into your background. Using the process that we've been playing with before, take an element and play with the opacity and/or layer property. For mine, I used this cool number element from Sissy Sparrows' Bear Necessities Mini kit.
I used it as an overlay, and then reduced the opacity on one to 40% and then used it again (flipped) and reduced the opacity to 16%.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...sMini_Numb.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...eometric-o.jpg
Step 7. Create another new layer and find a brush that can add to the variety of shape/texture you've already used. I have been using a lot of lines, so I wanted to find a fuller brush that had some of its own texture.
This would be a good brush set to use for this step.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...rungyStain.jpg
This is another great place you can vary the color. I chose to stick to the same color scheme and have it be a monochrome sort of page.
I enlarged my brush really large and created two layers with a blot in each layer. I made them into overlay layers and reduced the opacity to 59%. I put these layers *under* the pattern fill layer. It is pretty subtle, but when everything is combined, it will make a difference.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...rush-with-.jpg
Step 8. Create another new layer (on top of the pattern fill layer) and use that same brush (I did it at a much larger size)... overlay at 59%.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e-pattern-.jpg
Step 9. Create another layer, use another brush that is different from the others you used, and create a larger pattern. I used these fun butterfly brushes from Sarah Barber. I increased the brush size and stamped it at an angle. I used the same color as the original layer and left the opacity at 100%.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...i-prev-700.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ifferent-b.jpg
Obviously this isn't a perfect background. It needs some contrast and such, but it is a start. Like I said, there are soooo many ways to change things, and you could do just about anything and have it work out. Every step has so many different options and choices. It is just fun to play around and see how things progress. You can always turn layers on and off, move them around (from front to back), re-size, multiply, flip, etc. And the more patterns and brushes you build up in your art journaling arsenal, the better.
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For the physical journalers
If you are more traditional and keep a physical journal, many of the steps are really the same. You just change the materials. You can still use brushes and layers.
Start out with a blank page. Add paint. Or Ink. Or gesso. Cover the whole page or just parts. Use different thicknesses of paint/gesso/gel medium.
Scratch marks into it when it is wet. Or add a piece of fiber or fabric or paper so it sticks when it is dry. Use a hair dryer (be sure to not hold it too close or use it at a super high heat) to dry the layers and save time.
Use pens or markers to go over dry layers. Create shapes, line drawings, words, doodles, etc. Once the markings or words are dry, paint additional layers over and show some of the text below. Vary the texture and opacity. Use stencils to vary shapes.
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Whether you are doing things digi or traditional, keep adding layers until you are happy with the result. Remember though, you don't want to spend too much time on these backgrounds or worry that they aren't "perfect" because they are just your base layers. They are important, but a lot of the page may end up covered.
I hope this makes sense. If anyone has helpful hints to add or other information, please do so. I am definitely not an authority on the subject. :D If you have any questions, please ask.