Javier-Cerulli - Art journal your archetypes: mixed-media techniques for finding yourself

Surface

art paper or art journal

Paints

craft paints

high-flow acrylic paints

PanPastels

Tim Holtz Distress Paints

watercolors

Brushes

flats and rounds in various sizes

Markers

Copic

Letraset

Prismacolor

Sharpie

Stencils

Pam Caraker L171; Doodle It Geometric Landscape; Face Map Front Version 2; Jessica Sporns Paisley Floral Repeat; Shattered; Tall Birds; Unconnected Circles by StencilGirl

Cursive Alphabet; Mix Tape; Rain; Circle Explosion by The Crafters Workshop

Diagonal and Dots; Jane Girls SeriesThree-Quarter by Artistcellar

Letter Jumble by Dylusions

Splatter by Tim Holtz

Other

acrylic glaze

Angelina film

brayer

candle

cardstock

Clear Tar Gel or String Gel

collage papers

ColorBox stylus and ink

color wheel

Copic Airbrush System

deli paper

Derwent Inktense Blocks

fine-grit sandpaper

floral wire

gaffer tape

Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate

gel medium

gesso (clear, black and white)

glue

heat gun or hair dryer

highlighters

ink pads

ink spray

Jessica Sporn Peacock Motif stamp by RubberMoon

kneaded eraser

Kreate-a-lope envelope template

latex gloves

magazine cutouts

matches or lighter

microscope glass slides

mini spatula

Mod Podge

nail polish

old credit card

origami paper

palette knife

paper towels

pencils

postcards

Ranger Mini Ink Blending Tool

rice paper

rubber bands

Schmincke colored masking fluid

scissors

scrapbook paper

sketchbook

Sofft tools

sponge corner roller

spray bottle or mister

spray fixative

used postage stamps

washi tape

watercolor paper

wax paper

webbing spray

white transfer paper

wire cutter

When I was in my early thirties I had a job as the director of communications for an arts advocacy organization. While I loved the mission of the organization, I realized that I was too removed from the action. I (my true self) wanted to be an artist, a creative, not an office administrator. It was at that same time I learned about art therapy and drumming groups, and I went on to get my M.A. in expressive arts therapy.

However, within a few years of obtaining my degree, I knew my soul was trying to tell me something. This had become my inner dialogue: Art-making with others all week long? Yes! Helping people? Yes! Being a one-on-one therapist or family therapist? No! Waitwhy no? I had just spent so much time, money and energy on obtaining a masters degree that I loved. And now I didnt want to do it as a career? Thats right. Uh-oh. There was a problem.

So I listened to my gut and decided not to go the safe, logical route of becoming a licensed therapist. But now what was I supposed to do with my degreeand the rest of my life? I searched for answers through journal writing, visualizations and vision boards, but there werent any revelations. No path was appearing before me. I needed to get back to the basics so that I could answer the question, Who am I?

The answer came via archetypal work. I unveiled who I truly was and who I truly was not. I learned that although it surrounds me, The Healer is not one of my core archetypes. So that explained why I didnt want to become a therapist. I also learned that two of my core archetypes are The Liberator and The Artist. They are the forces motivating me to write this book. They want to show you a low-stress way to exercise your creativity and help you discover something new about yourself in the process.

Will this book change your life? I audaciously and cautiously answer, Heck, yes! You are holding 128 pages of creative liberation in your hands! You will be led to a new level. Discovering your core archetypes will bring clarity to your career and relationships. You will come to understand why you have made certain decisions in the past that have led you to your current place in life. With this clarity comes a level of self-acceptance, which is the foundation of self-love. And we all could love ourselves a little more, right?

First youll learn about the different archetypes, and then Ill help you unveil your own. Finally, Ill show you how to use your core guiding archetypes as inspiration for art journal pages. By art journaling your archetypes, you will come to understand them (and yourself) better. Step by step, Ill walk you through some awesome art techniques you can use to enhance your own journal pages. Eleven other fabulous contributing artists will also share their journal pages and creative processes to help awaken your creative juices.

Now get ready to learn something new about yourselfand make some art!

Art journaling is very popular right now. People love the freedom of mixing art materials to create unique, non-traditional, personal artwork on journal-sized paper. In an art journal, you can take risks and try new things. And you dont need to commit a huge amount of timein just 1530 minutes, you can squeeze in a fun art project to help decrease your stress and anxiety levels.

Art journaling is quicker and easier than my usual media of choicelarge-scale acrylic paintings. I began art journaling by creating mixed-media pages based on my archetypes. It was a natural way for me to explore the meanings of these energies. Now I wish to share this process with others who seek art journaling instruction with a personal development undertone.