Journeybook – An altered art journal project for childhood healing.

• December 16, 2014
• by:  Editor
• in:  altered art altered art journal altered book altered journey book altered mixed media art art journal art journalling art therapy childhood healing childhood journeybook creative therapy Mental Health art journal mental health healing Michelle morgan michelle morgan art michelle morgan mixed media mixed media soul journeybook
• note: 4Comments

I recently started the journey of “Art, Heart & Healing“, a free mixed media course by artist Tamara Laporte, AKA Willowing. During the intensely inspiring 4 week course, I have produced some amazing work including my previous transformative self portrait.

Later in the course, we started a project on a children’s board book, which I have upcycled into its current incarnation; a 10 page exploration of childhood memories and beliefs. Creating this book was an incredibly insightful practice; helping to bring acceptance to traumatic memories, highlight resistance towards positive self talk and raise self esteem through celebration and affirmation.

You can find out more about the journey and emotional meaning behind each page by clicking on the photos below.

Cover of my soul “Journeybook”

Childhood Wishes Exploring the hopes I had for myself as a child, andt he needs I would have like fulfilled.

‘Childhood Wishes’- This was a really powerful piece of exploratory work; I found it difficult to think of the positives I would have liked for myself and included many of the wishes I have for our expected!

‘Celebrate’- textured page featuring the things I celebrate in my life, such as creativity, relationships, surviving and living with BPD

Celebrate- Transfers of photos have been included to highlight the main things I am celebrating at the moment; relationship with my wildling partner and becoming a mumma!

‘Family, Security, Love’ This healing spread features imagery that is directly opposite to traumatic memories of the past in order to heal and find acceptance. While I am honouring that this does not have a place in my childhood, I am inviting family, security and love into my present life.

‘Family, Security, Love’ Refaming memories.

‘Family, Security, Love’} Mixed media spread featuring collage, stampwork and many other techniques.

Home is where the heART is…

“heART” Features the quote “Home is where the heart is” with extra emphasis on ‘heart’, to remind me I can create home anywhere there is family, creativity and love.

‘I am’ I used words opposite to my standard negative self talk, to challenge my negative self beliefs.

‘Precious Things’Textured piece with central mirror, highlighting the need to see myself as important or ‘precious’

‘I am’ & ‘Precious Things’ self esteem based art journals

Journey Book Cover

You can see more of my exploratory work and behind the scenes art journalling by liking me on Facebook.

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Comments

Feminist Rag

Hey girl 🙂 Just wanted to say I LOVE this book and your art style, its soooo beautiful and feels ethereal (am I using that word correctly?)…anyway just love love love this! I can totally see you making kids books/illustrations, you are so talented! I also love and can feel the healing intent and energy of this art project. Thanks for sharing, very inspiring. 🙂 xo



Feminist Rag

p.s. I also loooove the purple painted background/backdrop of the blog!



michellemorganart

Thankyou so much<3 It was such a fun project to undertake, aswell as really transformative andhealing to work through. Im so inspired to do more journalling now, but kids books are such a great idea!!! I have lots of ideas for kids books exploring emotion and identity…Definitely something on the cards… thankyou for that wave of inspiration and the kinds supporting words as always!! 🙂 xxxxx



Feminist Rag

What a wonderful and important and needed thing – kids’ books exploring emotion and identity! I sure coulda used such books when I was a kid! If you go that route, I can’t wait to read/see! 🙂