The Open Book
February 17, 2004
I am a member of a wonderful community called "Artist Journals 2" which is currently conducting a discussion on whether or not one should share the contents of one's illustrated journals with others.
I had to chime in:
I'm a journal keeper who feels okay about sharing (most of) his journals with other people. In reading other posts I get the sense that there are two key reasons why people are reluctant to share what they make in private: a) violating their sense of privacy and b) embarrassment at their more humble efforts.
My own journals have never struck me as terribly private. True, I talk about the daily aspects of my life but frankly they are no more intimate than the things I share in small talk with the people with which I work. For me, my journal is not a confessional but an historian in the best sense of the word, someone who not only records the facts but develops themes and meaning that weave them together, explicating my life and showing me what’s important, lending deeper value to the things too easy to take for granted. Generally, I find that these themes and lessons are universal and by sharing them I get a chance for a sounding board.
I am a reserved and private person by nature so perhaps my journals are a way to let it out. But I am always amazed at how much people will share with others. Even in the posts on this group among a group of relative strangers, we have little hesitation to talk about our health, our relationships, our fears and anxieties. This is a group in which we have all been granted (albeit loosely) a membership so perhaps that's why we feel we have this freedom. Still, I feel the same sense of connection with the people with whom I share my journals. Granted, that membership now extends pretty broadly because my journals have been published, but I still assume a certain kinship among the people who bother to read it, a kinship of the soul.
As to embarrassment at my experimentations —I'd rather not share lame drawings, failed experiments and inattention but that doesn't prevent me from sharing my unedited pages. I find that by having a sense that what I am making will be seen by someone, sometime, I am actually driven to take more care with what I am doing, to polish my words and drawings and make sure my observations ring true. As to really experimental things, pen wipes, color combinations, etc. well, I usually do those on a piece of scrap paper and chuck em out. They would be meaningless to me in a few hours anyway. The one really solid reason to not share your journal is because, frankly, most people don’t care. They're not interested in what you had for breakfast, whether it's raining, how the cat is, whether your hair's turning gray. Most people are interested only in themselves. Even if you cram your book with intimate revelations, chances are most readers will flip through, say, "Very nice" and hand it back to you, None of us is that important! But I find sharing is an enriching experience. It connects me to others and makes me see how universal my concerns and experiences are. It drives me to make my pages less sloppy, my writing more terse. It is a gift of myself which often leads to wonderful conversations and gifts of all sorts on return.
Diaries with locks on them are things of girlhood. Open your life, I say. Be brave and share yourself.
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
I find myself doing more and more "art" journaling these days. Some I want to share. I find sharing and getting feedback makes me want to do more. It seems to feed on itself; the more I share, the more I want to create and write to have more to share.
Frankly, my feeling is if someone ever got ahold of my journal and read it cover to cover, it would be a great cure for insomnia. Occassionally, there are times when I am miffed with a friends (or my own) behavior I don't want to share that, but I am up for at least "semi-private" journaling.
Posted by: Judy Hudgins | February 17, 2004 09:40 AM
I started sharing some journal drawings last year based on a list discussion about drawing in public. (I had been drawing at a parade.) The response was so warm and encouraging that I've been doing it ever since. Best of all is the email correspondence and new friendships made. Who would think a solitary act could be such a great way to get to know others?
Posted by: Karen Winters | February 17, 2004 03:02 PM
This essay, and Karen's comment, brings up a question I've been wanting to ask you Danny. (Maybe you can address it in your next installment of Ask Danny.)
Did you ever feel uncomfortable about drawing in public, and if so, how did you get over it? Do people try to look at what you're drawing? Do they try to talk to you about it? Do people get angry if they notice you drawing them, or do you ask first?
So far I've been too chicken to draw in public but I'm going to keep working on it. Of course I'll be reading your blog for the requisite inspiration. :-)
Posted by: Donna B. | February 17, 2004 05:27 PM
I’m with Donna B. – has anybody ever gotten pissed off that you’re drawing them? I’m working on getting braver. The upside to beeing a teency bit scared is that whenever I draw in public, I'm giddy with the feeling that I'm getting away with something!
Side note: not only have I started drawing again, I’ve started forcing others around me to draw at the drop of a hat. Okay, not forcing, but strongly encouraging. This is so fun to do, and makes me feel less pretentious. I’ve been keeping pens, pencils and little stapled booklets made of regular typing paper in my bag, and pulling them out at gatherings. Recently at a birthday party, I sent a booklet around and had everybody draw on a page. The birthday girl now has a cool "guest book" of everyone who was there, and a record of what was on their minds.
Anyone else have fun drawing-related activities to share?
Posted by: Jessica | February 17, 2004 08:50 PM
I hope Danny won't mind if I answer for myself on this thread. I had a great drawing in public experience just a few days ago at the airport. I was drawing and a woman came and sat down next to me and we had a wonderful chat. Her picture's in yesterday's (Feb 16) journal. Knock wood, I have never had anyone get angry, but I try to be fairly subtle, drawing people or objects across the room, not folks right next to me. If there is too much eye contact, I stop. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable. There was one occasion where I think I was caught in the act by someone who knew I was drawing him, but it had a happy ending. It's the first picture on the December 29 link on my pages.
Posted by: Karen Winters | February 17, 2004 09:22 PM
recently, i was asked to be in a show, and since i hadn't been working on anything showable, i decided to show my sketchbook journals. the response was overwhelming-many people sat with my books for twenty minutes or so, reading my grocery lists and looking at the collages and drawings. one person commented on how personal they were, and i froze with fear. how much information did i reveal?! but later, i went back over each page and there wasn't anything i wouldn't be willing to tell a new friend. it was just everyday stuff. another person commented that looking in my journals and holding them were vouyeristic. i even got a few offers to buy them. i feel that a personal account can be so true and honest that people connect with it. for me, that is the ultimate goal anyways. the experience changed my view of what is showable. personal everyday art can belong in public spaces.
Posted by: martine | February 18, 2004 02:27 PM