Creative Journalling Can Be Green . . .

Some say:

“The Earth would just be eh without art.”

But have you ever considered the amount of paper — trees. And paint — often plastic derived and crammed with chemicals. Consumed in the name of art?

Yes, you can approach creative journalling with glitter, discount store bargains galore, and a hot glue gun. But, equally, creative journalling offers the opportunity for a more sustainable approach. For reusing. Reclaiming. Recycling.

Tips for a Greener Journal

When it comes to your journal think:

Recycled paper — look for sketchbook brands which use sustainable materials. like Bound By Hand (elite). or Jackson’s (affordable to mid-range).
Reclaimed paper — bind your own books by hand using maps, magazines, old and unused art works. use the patterns, pictures and words as inspirational prompts.
Reusing unwanted books — aka an “altered book” in journalese. The ideal book is a slim-ish volume. in hardback. featuring pictures as well as words. feel guilty? go for a book which is easy to repurchase. or has seen better days. but do consider that a whole heap of neglected and rejected books make it to landfill each year — I even wrote a post about it for SEVEN Sketchbook Collective.

Green Tips for Art Materials

Paint. And glue. And brushes. Oh my!

Yep, there’s a lot to consider if you’re serious about being a green creator. And, despite its culture-shifting, statement-making prowess the arty-crafty world really isn’t at the forefront of eco purchasing. In other words, eco-friendly, sustainable or vegan art supply shopping can require more than a bit of research.

My top tips (so far):

Glue — Coccoina potato starch paste. smells like almond. comes in a vintage-inspired tin — complete with mini brush.
Handmade watercolours — Etsy and Instagram are saturated with small and local colour-loving creators crafting their own paints. some are even made with natural pigments.
Food waste inks — never mind the compost bin. If you fancy some chemical experimentation all those avocado peels and onion skins could be put to arty use.
Natural brushes — pick up sticks and feathers to paint and draw with. they’re free.
Reuse — there’s a saying in creative journalling: “Anything can be an art material.” with that in mind, you could make use of unfinished nail varnishes and old make-up. collect sweet wrappers. keep a stash of unwrapped wrapping paper. use pretty vintage buttons for printing or frottage.
Refill — buy pens you can refill if possible. if practical. think cartridge pens and bottled ink. I’ve even heard so someone refilling Posca pens, but I haven’t tried it. yet.

The Future is Green

Greening my art kit is something I’m actively pursuing. So, I’ll continue to dig deeper. See what I did there? Dig. Green. Get it? Was that even slightly amusing? Did you crack a smile? Not sure? Hey ho!