Thursday, November 17, 2011

I'm published!

For the past few months I've been keeping a little secret from just about everybody except one partner in artsy crime. I didn't want to jinx anything and mostly I just didn't know exactly how it would turn out. But today there's no more doubt, because for the first time in my life some of my artsy stuff has been published in a magazine! And not just any magazine. It just happens to be one of my favorite magazines, Flow!

This is the special winter edition in which my stuff is published.

I have talked about this magazine before because it's a great source for collage fodder and actually quite a few journal spreads of mine have pictures or words from this magazine, especially where the altered atlas is concerned. It has a really nice unique style and philosophy and sometimes a quite retro feel to it. What I also like about it is that it's the first Dutch magazine where I've seen things like Etsy get mentioned or people like the wonderful Keri Smith.

Out of the blue, a few months ago I was approached by a journalist from this magazine who wanted to write on art journaling for their extra winter edition about mindfullness. She asked if I would be willing to answer some questions about it,  and of course I was game! I mean, I've never (NEVER) seen any Dutch books or journals write about art journaling and it just happens to be my favorite thing ever and when my favorite magazine wants to know more about it, of course I want to pitch in!

This is the spread in the article where my work is shown. Six pictures, wow!

At first I simply assumed I was part of the research and that was that, which was fine with me, but after a while the journalist asked me for some images of my journals, saying there would be no guarantee that any of them would be published. That's when my nerves started to come alive a little, I mean, the idea of having my journal spreads in a magazine just made me giddy. But I didn't want to get my hopes up too high.

I knew the magazine would come out this week and I also knew I would be getting a free sample, but to my surprise one of my friends saw the article before me and texted me about it. I was completely stunned to not only be quoted and have my blog mentioned (which I already knew about, because the journalist sent me a trial version of the article) but to have not just one, but six (SIX!) images of my journals in the final article.

Close up of right page

So today I just had to have the magazine in my hands. Never mind that I will still get one for free. I would never cut up that one, because I want to keep it and treasure it. So an extra issue  for collage purposes would be a good idea anyway. So I ran to the bookstore and got it. I was so psyched about it all I showed the salesperson my pages! I was so happy I even bought some chocolates to treat my coworkers and have them share in my giddyness.

The article is seven pages long and has some beautiful journals of other artists in it, which of course I cannot show as it's not my work, but the Dutchies among you should really check it out. It's a really nice story with some very good links and book titles for people to peruse. I'm really pleased to have been a part of this.

Close up of left page

I'm also curious if this will bring some extra traffic to my blog of course. I have no idea if something like this affects traffic or not. But mostly I hope that some Dutch people will have that revelation that I felt when I first heard about art journaling. I was just blown away by the idea that you could do other things in a blank book than just write in it! If just one person finds their way into art journaling through this it will be worth it.

PS
On a totally different note: the above inspired me to finally finish my about-me-page. If you have a moment to spare you might like to check it out, just click the tab above. Thank you!