When Colour Found Me Again: A Look Through My Art Journal

There was a time when this journal closed… not because I ran out of ideas, but because life became heavier than creativity.

This collection sits right at that edge.

Every page you see here was created just before I stepped away. Looking back now, I can see it clearly… this wasn’t just art. It was me trying to find my way back to myself, one layer at a time.

A Beginning in Texture and Play

It started simply. Backgrounds built with colour, movement, and curiosity.

Blues melting into pinks. Soft purples clashing gently with bold marks. Texture paste scattered like thoughts that hadn’t quite formed yet.

There was no pressure to be perfect here. Just the need to start.

Finding My Voice in Small Pieces

The  ATCs came next. Small, contained, but full of intention.

These little cards taught me something important. Even in a tiny space, balance matters. A focal point. A quiet area. A moment to breathe.

They were controlled… but still playful.

When the Pages Became Heavier

As I moved deeper into the journal, the layers grew thicker.

More stamping. More texture. More colour.

Almost like I was trying to fill every inch… as if leaving space meant leaving room for thoughts I wasn’t ready to sit with.

Some pages became beautifully chaotic. Others felt overwhelming. But all of them were honest.

Stories, Faces, and Fragments of Emotion

The character pages are some of my favourites.

Soft girls with big eyes. Strong expressions. Quiet confidence.

They don’t just sit on the page… they hold it.

Looking at them now, I realise they reflect different parts of me:

• playful
• guarded
• hopeful
• tired

Each one placed carefully, sometimes grounded, sometimes floating… just like I felt at the time. 

Moments of Calm

Not every page was loud.

Some were softer. Simpler.

A single flower. A gentle sentiment. Light colour and open space.

At the time, I thought these were my “weakest” pages.

Now I see them differently.

They were the moments where I stopped pushing… and just allowed something to exist without overworking it.

Experimentation Without Rules

There are pages here that break every rule:

• bold colour clashes
• heavy textures
• unexpected combinations

And I love them for that.

They remind me that creativity isn’t always neat. Sometimes it’s loud, messy, and unapologetic.

Sometimes it’s just about trying something… without needing it to work.

A Pause, Not an Ending

Eventually, I stopped.

Not because I didn’t love it.
Not because I ran out of ideas.
But because my mental health needed my attention more than my journal did.

And that’s okay.

This journal holds that pause. It captures the moment just before everything went quiet.

Coming Back, Gently

Looking through these pages now feels different.

I don’t see mistakes.
I don’t see “too much” or “not enough.”

I see:

• growth
• exploration
• resilience

And most importantly… I see that the creativity never really left.

It was just waiting.

Moving Forward

As I return to creating again, I’m bringing a few things with me:

• more intention
• more balance
• and a little more kindness toward myself

Because art doesn’t need to be perfect to matter.

It just needs to be real. 

If you’ve ever stepped away from something you love…
consider this your reminder:

You’re allowed to come back.

Slowly. Quietly. Without pressure.

The page will still be there… waiting for you.

 

Held Together by Small Things

There is something quietly powerful about working with the same materials and letting them speak in different ways.

This set of ATCs began exactly like the previous ones — 300gsm white cardstock, cut down to size, no pressure, no expectations… just a willingness to see what would happen.

The backgrounds were built in soft layers using Distress Inks in Prize Ribbon, Wilted Violet and Picked Raspberry, blending and moving colour until it felt right rather than perfect. I used stencils to introduce pattern and movement, allowing some areas to stay light and others to build intensity. The aim was not control, but balance — something expressive, a little chaotic, but still gentle.

To add dimension, I worked with texture paste through a stencil, creating small clusters rather than covering the surface. These raised areas catch the light in a way that shifts as you move the card, adding another quiet layer of interest.

 

The Focal Point

The butterflies were stamped onto white cardstock using VersaFine Clair in Nocturne, then die cut and layered for depth. I chose to keep them monochrome, allowing the detail of the stamping to do the work rather than introducing more colour.

At first, I tried them in plain white… but something felt disconnected. The stamped detail changed everything. Suddenly, they belonged to the background instead of sitting on top of it.

Each butterfly was paired with a small metal key — simple, slightly imperfect, and completely unplanned when I started. But once placed, they stayed.

There is something about that combination that feels… right.

The Details That Hold It Together

The sentiments were created using simple black label strips:

• BEST FRIEND
• SMILE
• INSPIRE

Short. Direct. Almost understated.

They don’t overpower the design — they anchor it.

The Finished Set

 Each card shares the same foundation, but none of them feel identical. That is something I am learning to appreciate — letting variation happen instead of forcing uniformity.

A Quiet Thought

This set ended up feeling like more than just a technique exercise.

Soft backgrounds. Structured keys. Delicate wings.

Messy. Controlled. Fragile. Strong.

Held together by small things.

So far, I created a card and three different ATC sets, each with its own mood and voice. And for the first time in a while, it didn’t feel rushed or overwhelming.

Just… steady.

And that is enough.

— Bon