Thursday, December 1, 2011

Booster Shot for Your Journal!

My friend Jill Berry has recently published a really
intriguing book called Personal Geographies.  (The cover is to the right.)  I meet regularly with a group of journal keepers, and if you're like our group, from time to time you find yourself bored with the whole process, feeling guilty for ignoring your practice for days on end.  Jill's book will give you a vitamin shot, a booster shot, a lively tonic of ideas and approaches to use in your journal practice.  Jill's own art as well as her journal keeping is full of cartographic imagery, and she defines a map in a slightly different way than the traditional one.  I am quoting from Jill in the next paragraph because she explains so well what her book is about:

You don't have to be a world traveler or a professional cartographer to embark on a grand journey of self-discovery through mapmaking. Personal Geographies gives you the tools and techniques you'll need to create artful maps of your self, your experiences and your personal journey. Chart the innermost workings of your mind, document your artistic path and create an unfolding maze of your future dreams and goals.
Inside Personal Geographies you'll discover:
21 mixed-media map projects featuring artistic techniques like working with alcohol inks and pochoir, painting on a black surface and carving custom stamps
Insight into the world of traditional and contemporary maps and how they relate to and inspire personal mapmaking
A gallery of maps by contributors from around the world to spark your own creativity
From mapping your head, hands and heart to recording powerful memories or experiences, the maps in Personal Geographies are a gateway into the fascinating and meaningful world of you.”
 Above is a page from Jill's book, to give you an idea of some of the examples she has included.  I was one of the happy people she invited to try out her prompts for map-making and to submit cartographic image-based artwork to the book.  The book nicely reflects its collaborative nature, and the many different approaches taken by the artists in the book are a good example of how the reader can use Jill's prompts to produce their own work.

Between now (December 1) and December 10 Jill is holding a giveaway.  If you would like to be included in the raffle of a free copy of Personal Geographies, write a comment below in which you mention some way that you might use mapmaking of any kind in your journal.  On December 10 I'll put all of the names of the comment-writers in a hat and select a winner.  I'll send the name and street address (having first notified the winner via this blog so that you can email me your street address) to Jill's publisher, and they will ship the book to the winner.

One other thing-- Jill has set up a blog for the book, so check it out at http://personal-geographies.com/


87 comments:

  1. Would love to have a copy of this book. Maps are something I have been wanting to include in my sketchbook, but not sure just how to incorporate them...

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  2. I might have already ordered this, either way I would love to read it. If I win a freebie I can give it to a friend!!

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  3. In my journal I could map the state of my heart.

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  4. Love all the posts about this book. I've got visions of map making dancing in my head... hand map, life journies, from here to there and back... oh the possibilities!

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  5. I'll be making my first trip to Paris, Lucerne, Florence, Venice, and Rome for Christmas and I want to find ways to document my trip through journaling, mixed media, and art. This book would be the perfect path for that discovery.

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  6. I'd like to make a map of some of the important milestones in my life - maybe with the side paths indicating the choices not taken.

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  7. I think map making would be perfect for my travel journals. My journal of my three weeks in France this summer needs to have some maps added!

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  8. I'd like to map my journey planning my move to Canada.

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  9. I would map the the inner journeys of my life. Hmmm, wonder what that would look like? Certainly there would be deserts, springs, rivers, and mountains. Fun idea!

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  10. I think it might be interesting to make a map of my creative journey, from childhood to present. This book looks fascinating! ~ Karen Harris

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  11. OH I would love to have a copy of Jills book ! This would be a wonderful journal adventure!!

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  12. Mapping my journey through this life might tell me more about myself. I certainly would include the compass for when I have gotten lost on the side paths!

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  13. I'd love to map a day following my toddler around.

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  14. I have always loved maps, especially topography maps. I would love to map my walk along the river - spots where I feed the birds and squirrels, where the porcupine lives, the skunk family, etc. Thanks for the chance to add this to my library.

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  15. Ah, maps! I love maps! And for a long time have toyed with ideas about incorporating them into art and quilting...I would like to try to map my life experiences.

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  16. Love maps, love making maps, so I could not wait for the book to come out. It's got templates and stories and projects--and Gwen, your contribution blew me away--what a fabulous idea of an experiential map you had!

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  17. I used map-making in a journal by participating in The Sketchbook Project 2012...and filling every single page with hand-drawn maps! It was a blast!!

    All the best,
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  18. This looks like a really interesting concept. I have quite a cache of old maps need ideas for ways to incorporate them into my work... Plus the idea of making my own maps thrills me!

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  19. I have never made maps before and I can't wait to give it a try. I want to "map journal" about personal journeys -- spiritual growth, my marriage, raising my son, places I've lived and/or visited, and I'd like to do a full body map. I guess that would have to be a really big journal page! Thanks.

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  20. I would use this book to help me map out key points in my journey to discovering my true artist self, and how that is so directly connected to my faith. :-)

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  21. I'm intrigued by the idea of mapping as a journaling tool. I feel like I do the same things over and over again. This is a good way to jumpstart some new concepts.

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  22. I'd like to map the changes I've seen in myself through journaling.

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  23. Tressa Burnett has commented on Jill Berry's fb page because she was unable to post her comment here for some reason.

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  24. Deb Soiland Prewitt I would love this book. I tried to post a comment on the blog, but I was having trouble doing so. :(

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  25. this is just a test to see if I can post here. If not, I'll make a duplicate post. Maybe there are too many comments on this posting???

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  26. Becky Schuck YES!!! Thanks Jill! I'd love a chance to win your book. The reviews are all GREAT!

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  27. I love maps - they show me where I've been and where I 'm going.

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  28. Maps - I love them and am a great navigator on road trips with my Cowboy, but never thought I could draw them or make them "work" in my artsphere. Now I'm seeing them in a new way -- maybe a treasure map of ideas.... I'd LOVE to win the wonderful book. Inspiration! Thank you!

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  29. I love maps but like FlutterbugArtGirl it has never occurred to me to put them in my journals or artwork!! I so need this book lol

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  30. I would love to experiment with putting maps made with fabric into my journal. Hmmm. What a great gift opportunity. Thanks! - Serena

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  31. I'd like to map my friendships...Christmas cards are just around the corner and that list makes me want to map them in some way.

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  32. ooh! I would love a chance to have this book. I teach young kids and would try out some of these ideas with them. marcia @ eagleschool.org

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  33. I would use the book to map my family.

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  34. Using several pages,I would like to post a map of my small city's main street and draw some of the associative memories I have of some of the old buildings, like the movie theater that I went to as a teenager and has since been torn down.

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  35. How wonderful! maps were one of the first things I remember working with as a kid at school, the careful working in and out of lines and the tender coloring of oceans and land,sensing the world around me, and the possibility of worlds further out... sounds good! I'd use it to describe my life from there to now, and explore my family patterns. Be lovely to share the ideas with friends too.

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  36. I did floor plans, from memory, of every place I lived since birth - one of my most creative sets of maps. And now I'm studying a map of Venice to find the Calle for our apt for our Spring wedding anniversary trip there. It will go on the first page of my Venice sketchbook! I'd love to see all of the variants Jill has in her book.

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  37. Somedays I want to climb every mountain...others, I'm sure I'm going off the deep end. It might be fun to map that!

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  38. Years ago I saw a movie called Map of a Human Heart and that really stuck with me. Seems this books helps us to map our human hearts. I'd love a chance to have this book.

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  39. I could map out where my characters go in my creative writing journal.

    melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com

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  40. I would like to map my journey through the various art mediums have explored through my life.

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  41. Hello! I am going to Israel next week. I would definitely map that journey.
    Thanks for the chance.
    liberalsprinkles at gmail dot com

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  42. mapping some of the places I've gone running lately - i'm always discovering new things on the paths!

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  43. I don't know what I would map first...the journey I've been on...or the journey that's ahead. Would love to read this book for inspiration. I've heard so many wonderful things about it!

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  44. I would love to make a map of my dreams. I dream a lot. However--I don't have a great track record on winning anything. I have only won pick-up sticks and a turkey. Hmmm! Janet, in Friday Harbor Wa

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  45. What a wonderful concept. Thanks so much for sharing and please include me in the giveaway. deb

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  46. I don't know about journaling, but I often include maps or parts thereof in my mixed media art. And I love to print on maps. If it's all about the journey, right? So there should be some guidance about that path.

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  47. I'm not an avid journaler but I think I would like to map a few of my favorite recipes. The map might begin with where the ingredients were grown and end up in the recipe. Pasta sauce, chiffon cake, bison-barley soup, and so on.

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  48. Looks like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy! I would use this book in art journaling. Love the idea of wrapping text with a flowing motion around some "islands" of other thoughts.

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  49. I'm going to try a map of my relationships, exploring how each one affected me and helped make me who I am now.

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  50. Jill asked me to add Judy (quarkesmom)to the comments list as she was unable to post a comment.

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  51. I might map my trip to the pacific NW i took for my 40th bday~thanks for the opportunity to win this intriguing book~

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  52. I'd like to make a map of a trip to Divisoria, a local area with an interesting warren of shops. Thanks for the chance at this fascinating book! btw, even if I do live in the Philippines< I have a US address, pls count me in! Patsy from
    HeARTworks

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  53. I would map out places that I love to visit and places that I would love to go! I would even map out my random thoughts!

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  54. This is just the book I have been wanting forever but just didn't know it!!

    I am in the process of getting my childhood stories down on paper for my adult children, and for my grandchildren to read in the future, and I just didn't know quite how to illustrate all the parts, places and people of those years. This book would be wonderful as I realise now that I have seen your post here that I could learn from Jill's book and use what I have learnt to map my childhood stories.

    Yes, I would love to win a copy of this wonderful book!

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  55. Simply, I want to win the book! Although I think assembling and organizing elements for a journal/book should be a straightforward process ( creating anything..particularly producing a book of one's own realities seems like it would be very striaghtforward ) there may be things I could learn or haven't considered.
    .Much like something that dawns on you after years of it not entering your conciousness, or doing soemthing a certain way only to realize there is a shortcut simplifying the entire process; For example I thought your name was 'gwen green ' for 35 years until Albione told me it was' gwen diehn'... I never would have considered it could be the wrong name !As such I suppose reading this book would benefit my making tangible he many titles I have been conceptualising writing for years -along with the few I have actually started writing and/or constructing ( because I am interested in bookbindery as well as having things to say,teach, or relay to readers). And then there's the thrill of learning something unexpected- and learning it for free So winning would be a thrill...and saving money appropriate at the moment! Here's to hoping you Pick Me!

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  56. i would map the places I read about.

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  57. Years ago, when I was in grad school, I started using maps in my work, which seemed to startle the academicians (i.e. Keepers of the Rules of Art) quite a bit. I would love to win the book!

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  58. Oooh... looks amazing!
    I just bought a binder of old 1950's soil maps from the county I live in. I am dreaming up how to incorporate them most effectively.
    Thank you!

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  59. Lately I have been using color more in my daily planner and find that I am listing the bits of the day that I want to remember all over the page in less than linear fashion, then coloring them with different media to test them out. I have been linking the colored areas together with doodles, like a crazy quilt, but maybe it's something of a map. I will see if I can make them look more map like, adding topo lines and such. Sure would love this book!

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  60. In a journal I would love to use mapmaking to journal the places I have been and where I would love to venture to. I have atlases and old maps that I have been saving when I feel like I have the plan, but I have so much trouble putting it together. This would make a great gift for me for Christmas or my birthday this month.

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  61. I know I will love this book. I use words, pictures, and doodles to map my day, my week, and particular journeys...real and abstract...in my life.

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  62. There are a million ways to use maps, I think, to record the places that have shaped my life, but I think it would also be fun to consider how maps can be used to record TIMES and PEOPLE that have been formative and inspiring. (By the way, Gwen, your books were the very first I read on my journey to journaling and art-making! So very inspiring and beautiful.)

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  63. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, so I'll map out the possibilities and the directions I'll need to take.

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  64. I'm going to map the journey of the cupcake on my breakfast bar as it travels to my tummy!

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  65. I would love to map my journey through life to today. Would love to try this with the help of this interesting book.

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  66. I think I would use the book to help me map daily happenings

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  67. Material for my journal - the process of spiritual awareness.

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  68. Sounds like a book I'll want to take a look at, Gwen, and who knows? Maybe I'll win it! I currently have a book checked out from the UNCA library called 'The Map as Art' and am loving it.

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  69. I'd map my cat's route though the back garden and beyond.

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  70. i'd make a map of all the projects that i have in my mind that i'd like to make!

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  71. My blog is called Journeys With Sue, but I seldom use maps in my work. Need to start doing that ... maybe to track my artistic journey, maybe to track our recent travels. Please throw my name in the hat -- and pull it out on my birthday. I can't think of a nicer gift!

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  72. Sounds like an interesting book. I recently inherited my Dad's sailing charts from my childhood so charts/maps are in my future, look forward to seeing the book...

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  73. Gwen, one of my favorite go-to books for journaling know how and inspiration is yours,THE DECORATED PAGE and I want this one in my library too-love maps and all they suggest, and they are just innately beautiful, aren't they?

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  74. I'd map thoughts throughout a meal by each of the people at a given table.

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  75. I love this idea of making maps to visualize where I want to go or where I've been. I can see a color scheme that would be perfect for the a map in one of the journals I am currently working on.

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  76. i am always drawing little maps for myself when i go someplace new. am just starting a visual journal and could easily incorporate them with pages of trips i take.

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  77. To all of you commentors-- thanks so much for all the wonderful ideas, and yes, Jill's book is really really nice! I would love to answer each of you personally but the numbers are overwhelming. If you haven't yet read through all the comments, take a few minutes and do so-- you'll get so many great ideas of ways to use maps in your journals and in your art.

    I'll pull the lucky winner out of my hat on Saturday and let you know the winner soon after!

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  78. Especially during this month's busy days, it would be fun to map my way through the holidays -- and then enjoy them all over again as a visual journal.

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  79. I love the looks of this book, it's on my Christmas "wish list"! ;)

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  80. I like to map my morning walks--particularly if I'm on vacation and walking somewhere new.

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  81. I'd love to try to map one of the crazy strange dreams I've been having lately. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I win this amazing book.

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  82. I would draw maps of my journey of searching for my new home. All the many towns we explored looking for a house in the country on acreage.

    Linda
    greiss@bellsouth.net

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  83. I would have an enormous map and tear it into sections so each piece fit a page. I'd mix them up and paste them to each page and create an imagined journey, traveling from page to page.

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  84. I think I would create a map of my neighborhood including the roads and paths that I walk each day.

    Thank you for offering this.

    Lorna

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  85. a way to use map making in a journal:

    a way to show the location of something instead of writing it out words..

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  86. Such a great idea! I've tweeted, facebooked and blogged it! http://14secretsforahappyartistslife.blogspot.com/

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  87. What a wonderful idea!
    I would love to map out my way to be more appreciative, to open my heart to the blessings in my life that I take for granted.
    Looks like a book I gotta have at any rate,lol.
    Susie
    ooman55@yahoo.com

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