The Blank Page - The scariest thing in the art journal world!

I keep hearing comments about people being scared of the blank page in their journals, that the white of the paper is glaring at them and they are unable to get started as it just sits there looking at them, judging them, making them afraid to get started.

This is totally the opposite for me. I find that my mind is messy enough as it is and I come to my journal as a place of calm and tranquility. I need it to be clean and empty so that I can empty my mind of all the messy stuff and get it down on paper! I love watching YouTube videos where people start with the mop up from a stencil so that there are already marks on the page and then they add more and cover it up and then don't mind that they have covered bits up. I would love to be able to work like that but I just can't and that is OK. I know how my mind works and I just work with that.

I do controlled messy! I do layer things but in a controlled way. I can't be free and loose and just let go, I can't do that. I have to plan the next layer as I hate covering things up, to me it is such a waste of paint or pretty paper. Believe me I have tried on many occasions which has just led to me being more frustrated and as my journal is supposed to be a place for me that I can enjoy then I have just learned not to fret and fuss about it and just what comes naturally to me.

I just wanted to throw it out there that the blank page is nothing to be afraid of, it is there waiting for new possibilities and just waiting to be covered so embrace it and enjoy it rather than being scared of it!

How do you create? I would love to know. However you do journal it is about finding the way that works for you not for others and if starting with a page of stencil mop ups is right for you then good on you but let it be because that is what you enjoy and not because you are scared!

Happy journalling xx