Art diary
Encyclopedia
An art diary, art journal or visual journal is a daily journal kept by artists, often containing both words and sketch
es, and occasionally including Mixed media
elements such as collage
s. Such books will frequently contain rough workings, in cartoon
form, of ideas later to appear in finished works, as well as acting as a normal diary
, by allowing the artist to record their day-to-day activities and emotions.
These diaries not only give art historians
a valuable opportunity to explore the creation process of these finished works, but they are a useful biographical tool.
Many famous artists are known for their art diaries - the sketchbook
s of Leonardo da Vinci
are probably the best known example. Other artists to have used art journals include Frida Kahlo
.
The concept of the art diary is also used by people working in related creative fields such as music; musician Brian Eno
, for instance, is well-known for his use of art diaries, excerpts from which were used in the Eno and Russell Mills book More Dark Than Shark
. Photographers Peter Hill Beard
and Dan Eldon
, and artist Sabrina Ward Harrison
are three other people noted for their art journals.
The contemporary art diary can take a form of a video journal and is sometimes immediately available to the public, either in the form of a YouTube
page or blog.
Sketch (drawing)
A sketch is a rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not usually intended as a finished work...
es, and occasionally including Mixed media
Mixed media
Mixed media, in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed.There is an important distinction between "mixed-media" artworks and "multimedia art". Mixed media tends to refer to a work of visual art that combines various traditionally distinct...
elements such as collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
s. Such books will frequently contain rough workings, in cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
form, of ideas later to appear in finished works, as well as acting as a normal diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
, by allowing the artist to record their day-to-day activities and emotions.
These diaries not only give art historians
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
a valuable opportunity to explore the creation process of these finished works, but they are a useful biographical tool.
Many famous artists are known for their art diaries - the sketchbook
Sketchbook
A sketchbook is "a book or pad with blank pages for sketching," and is frequently used by artists for drawing or painting as a part of their creative process....
s of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
are probably the best known example. Other artists to have used art journals include Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo de Rivera was a Mexican painter, born in Coyoacán, and perhaps best known for her self-portraits....
.
The concept of the art diary is also used by people working in related creative fields such as music; musician Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
, for instance, is well-known for his use of art diaries, excerpts from which were used in the Eno and Russell Mills book More Dark Than Shark
More Dark Than Shark
More Dark Than Shark is a 1986 book by Brian Eno and Russell Mills. It features the lyrics to Eno's songs, each accompanied by an artwork inspired by the song's lyrics by Mills...
. Photographers Peter Hill Beard
Peter Hill Beard
Peter Hill Beard is a photographer, artist, diarist and writer.-Personal life:Peter Beard's photographs of Africa, African animals, and the journals that often integrate his photographs have been widely shown and published since the 1970s...
and Dan Eldon
Dan Eldon
Daniel Robert Eldon was an English photojournalist. He and three colleagues were killed by an angry mob in Mogadishu. He left behind a series of journals, which his family has exhibited on a worldwide tour.-Early life:...
, and artist Sabrina Ward Harrison
Sabrina Ward Harrison
Sabrina Ward Harrison is a Canadian artist and author.She is the creator of four published books of her journals the first one being published at the age of 23 : Spilling Open; The Art of Becoming Yourself , Brave on the Rocks; If you don't Go You Don't See , Messy Thrilling Life; the Art of...
are three other people noted for their art journals.
The contemporary art diary can take a form of a video journal and is sometimes immediately available to the public, either in the form of a YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
page or blog.
Further reading
- New, J. (2005) Drawing from life: The journal as art. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 1-56898-445-6.