Visual Artifact Journals as Creative and Critical Springboards for Meaning-Making Analysis

I found page 9 of this article to be significant as this is the point where the author introduces the purpose of having an art journal. The author gives a list of ten ways these journals can benefit educators, artists, or just humans that want some creativity. After reading the list I really want to dive into what each purpose does and how that can help me specifically grow as an artist or educator and its use as a learning tool.

1. TO FIND UNEXPECTED VISUAL QUALITIES IN EVERYDAY OBJECTS

I love this idea of the unexpected. As an artist, my eye is trained to notice visual qualities in everyday objects but using a journal to intentionally look for this kind of beauty forces me to see what I overlooked or what is unexpectedly beautiful.

1. TO HELP US PAY MORE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND TO SEE THE BEAUTY OF NATURE AROUND US

This point adds to the first purpose and is the one I am most interested in. Life can often get overwhelming, and the details are the first to be forgotten. I am excited to spend a little extra time purposefully looking around me for beautiful things.

1. TO GIVE IMPORTANCE TO SMALL THINGS IN LIFE

Even though this journal is for a class I feel like it can emphasize the important aspects of art education and mesh that with things I find important in my life outside of school. I can really see this exercise helping me grow as a person and connect with myself.

1. TO DOCUMENT LIFE

I already regularly journal without the added art aspect but that being said this will be a good way for me to document my findings throughout this class. The more I learn about art education the more philosophies and interests get developed in my brain. As much as I try to make a point of remembering the ideas that matter to me from classes I often forget small parts but this will be a diary of my philosophies that I can go back and look at.

1. TO IMPLEMENT THE ART LANGUAGE AND TERMS WE HAVE LEARNED IN CLASS

College art education classes have several terms and methods that I support and am interested in implementing in my classroom so having them in one area will be a beneficial learning tool.

1. TO KEEP RECORD OF FOR OUR PERSONAL USE IN THE FUTURE

Just like I mentioned before I think this will be a great opportunity to have a place to put my ideas about what kind of teacher I plan to become.

1. TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THESE THINGS

Sometimes it is hard for people to just sit down at their computer and type up their thoughts. When you add a visual aspect then it helps direct loose thoughts into productive ideas.

1. TO MAKE US THINK CRITICALLY

Spending time coordinating visual and written aspects will definitely make me connect ideas in ways that wouldn’t be possible if I was just typing.

1. TO HELP US KNOW THAT ANYTHING CAN BE ART NOT JUST PAINTINGS OR DRAWINGS

As an artist, I love breaking the boundaries of what is typically considered art and exploring the idea that anything creative is inherently art. As a visual artist, I don’t often explore other mediums of art like writing so this will be a good place for me to combine all aspects of art making.

1. TO USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE FOR FUTURE TEACHING

When I was in high school, I had an English teacher that wanted us to make art journals. Unfortunately, I didn’t keep the one I made but I really enjoyed the assignment. I am excited to have another opportunity to show future students as a learning tool.