A Visit to a Travel Journal Exhibition in France

[@BookandPaperArts]

To see my online course on The Book of You: How to Make and Keep an Illustrated Journal, it is here: kelly-s-school-b1d1.thinkific.com/courses/the-book-of-you-making-and-keeping-a-visual-diary My other online classes are here: kelly-s-school-b1d1.thinkific.com/collections

[@TheCrabbyCrafterlol]

WOW. I mean: W🤩W! What a fabulous event and collection of wonder and beauty.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks Ker. It really did blow me away and I am still getting my head around all of the inspiration.

[@I.M.creations]

😍Oh this was such a feast for the eyes! Love the accordion style ones; so much talent from everyone with these drawings and coloring. Thank you 🙏 so much for taking us along!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Agree about the accordion style journals. I've bought these but then didn't use them but seeing how very popular they were with table after table at the exhibition, I definitely need to see what all the fuss is about. Kelly

[@esmeraldahuber5097]

Thank you! For taking us along with you to see all the beautiful art. I noticed that some had jewelry and clothes like yours do. I never thought of doing that before, but I think I will start to add it in.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hiya Esmeralda. Thanks for touching base and yes, the everyday stuff like clothes and earrings are something we can teach ourselves to notice and put in our pages because they are such touchstones for our identity and time.

[@conniebentley9699]

Thanks for bringing us along to the exhibition! I felt like was there with everyone. I don’t know why, but I got teary when the second artist was showing her art work. She must have touched my heart. 💓 😊 Enjoy your the rest of your holiday! I’m heading back to my craft room!

[@andreamuller3155]

Hello Kelly, thank you so much for taking us along this beautiful exhibition 🥰 all journals were so beautiful 😍 as far as I know there aren't any similar events here in Germany - unfortunately. Enjoy the rest of your holiday! Many greetings, Andrea

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Andrea. Isn't it crazy that you don't have them in Germany. We don't have in the UK either. Maybe we can start one. Or several! 😺

[@gogo-word]

All of the French artists showed such wonderfully bright-colored journals. Thanks for taking us along.

[@BookandPaperArts]

There were some that had muted, sepia-toned palettes but I was really drawn to these colourful ones!

[@finniganyork9608]

Oh my goodness! To echo others, wow wow wow ❤ what a fabulous exhibition of personal notebooks. Thank you for this video.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi there. This was such a joy and did not disappoint. So much inspiration and so many ideas. Thanks for stopping by!

[@debsmith7050]

What a delight! So pleased you had their approval for sharing. Wish there were more exhibitions worldwide. So pleased you had the opportunity to attend Kelly

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Deb, I've wanted to do this for ages but it is hard to time it right with companions who don't quite get it and driving is involved but THIS was perfect and a joy and I am such a lucky woman.

[@juliaarmato3984]

Lovely! Thank you for sharing. Also your guest artist have been wonderful. God bless

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Julie. What a lovely thing to hear about the guests. They are so talented and their styles and books are fun. Thanks for stopping by and letting us know! Kelly

[@theresapalmer7892]

Wow, thanks for this share, I'm a bit jealous of this festival. I would have been in overload.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hey, hey, Theresa. It was incredible. So, so, so many pages and ideas and levels. Some of the makers were kind of awkward but they drew anyway and held their own because these were their books and expertise is not the name of the game so much as making pages and getting the memories down. I learned a ton.

[@kimberlycook5860]

What a wonderful exhibit! Thanks for sharing with us.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Kimberly. Thanks for coming along! 😺😺Kelly

[@Chrysalis52]

This was wonderful, thank you for sharing and also for the artist's being willing to share!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

It is my pleasure. Thanks for stopping by to let me know. Kelly

[@jlojai]

Wow!! Kelly, these were so inspiring!! Thank you for showing us-it was delicious!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

You are so welcome, Julie. My head is still reeling with ideas and I am adding pages to my own sketchbook day by day. 🌻🌼🌷

[@daisyfieldparrks9320]

Really great video. Thank you for showing other artist, I've started following some and discovered others along the way. I love how they do the artwork on the journals. Really great ideas. Great content you've given once again, thank you.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Daisy. I'm glad it went over big. I just feel lucky to have had the chance to see all of those pages and artists in the flesh!

[@faelanm]

Here's another 👍since I can only give you one on KZbin. Love the idea of this exhibition and all the creativity. Thanks for sharing it.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks for the votes of confidence, Fae. This was such a special day and my head is still reeling with ideas!

[@pdmullgirl]

10:55 Wow! What lovely illustrations!! So beautiful. 12:45 I love that page too!! Her illustrations are absolutely beautiful!! WOW!! This was fantastic Kelly!! Thank you for taking us along. I’ll definitely be checking out their links. ❤️💜💚

[@BookandPaperArts]

It's my pleasure, Paige. My faves were the wet on wet painting but with control and not muddy colours and I need to up my game there.

[@katiehanrahan5293]

Oh Kelly Thank You!! Those are all gorgeous!!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Katie. This is truly nice to hear. 🌻🌻🌼🌼🌷🌷

[@laurakopu8970]

Loved those cahiers! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@BookandPaperArts]

You are so welcome, Laura. It was quite the variety of cahiers. Some store bought, many handmade. I wanted them all!

[@artsywriter23]

That was fabulous,Kelly. Thanks for letting us ride along. So much inspiration, so many ideas. What gracious and talented artists. A bientot - Audrey

[@sabinemetscher6449]

Life is made more rich by the pages these journal artist create. Mercy Kelly & artists 💕📚

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you so, Sabine. I couldn't agree more. The thing about these books and pages is that even seeing ones that others have made help us observe ordinary things in a different way, another view. That, indeed, makes life more rich every darn day. Thanks for stopping by!

[@patriotmem2645]

Oh, that was such a beautiful trip , thank you so much!! What lovely original work.. my family came from France, grandfather was an artist... lots of talented people in the bloodline! This was so much fun to watch. I love living vicariously through other artists!! I'm so glad that people are journaling and recording live history. It's so interesting and valuable. this made my day!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

How interesting that creating is in your DNA. How cool. It is also cool to see what kind of records different people make of similar views, all in the observation and interpretation. It was an inspiring day!

[@thattitus2life]

WOWWWWWW!!!!! How cool! I am a flight attendant, and I decided to start a travel journal last month. I have added my own watercolor paintings too... I'm so glad I'm not the only one to think this way. I'm feeling so inspired! Also, I am fairly new here...I had not seen your beautiful face before this video!!! =)

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hello and welcome. My face shows up from time to time, mainly if I am having a good hair day. 😺Congratulations on joining the drawing your life tribe. It is wonderful especially when you can visit pages from the past, even if it is a few months ago. Things get away from us so fast. Here is my playlist for Travel Journal videos. Hope it helps and keep me posted on how it goes! kzbin.info/aero/PLWir7hWgZLNAB06JvX1PIF2EkvFiY2rdR

[@virginiamartin-authorspeaker]

Wow!! These artists are amazing ❤❤❤😊😊 Thank you for sharing ❤😊

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Ana. It was an inspiring day and my head is still going round and round!

[@kanamichelle7404]

That was fun! I love the work on the brown paper. It just appeals to me so much! All were so inspirational.❤

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Kana. Agree about the brown paper. I have also seen grey-toned paper that I want to try for contrast. 😺

[@kanamichelle7404]

@@BookandPaperArts yes, I love grey also!

[@EricaFieldsfrogs4ever]

Thank you for sharing this gorgeous art with us all the way from France.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Erica, it is my real pleasure. I don't like to tape in public much as it is distracting to others but somehow this worked. I hope you are having a creative weekend! Kelly

[@greenspiral2955]

Wow Kelly thanks for taking us along. Who new that journal exhibitions are a thing. What exquisite illustrations. Have a lovely time over there for the rest of your holiday.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you so. They are a thing and I've wanted to go to one for year since it, you know, kind of what I do for a living. 🙄This trip the stars aligned. Now my dream is to take part in one of these shows. Still, so much to learn! I hope you have a creative week. Kelly

[@ddmattin]

Thank you, thank you for taking us to this spectacular exhibition! I loved everything, but those accordion books are the pièce de résistance!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Deborah. I was also struck by the sheer amount and versatility of the accordion books. I've put off using the fancy one I've bought and now I can't wait to get in there and start sketching, to say nothing of making some of my own.

[@pdmullgirl]

6:00 Hey Kelly! Good to see you! What fun this is! I love birds so I’m happy you are at her booth!! How wonderful!! ❤️💜💚

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Paige. I had to smile because almost every table had their own book of birds. I know what I must do next. 🐦🐦🐥🐥

[@pennysmith3803]

What a beautiful exhibition I WISH we had them in the UK.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Amen to this, Penny. These shows are all over the place in France and even if it's not your thing you know what it is. Yet where I live in Swansea I can find no tribe. (Thank goodness for my online one. 😺)

[@tonimason8737]

That was just fabulous. Thank you for sharing. It makes you realise how many talented people there are. Yourself included of course. X

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Toni, thanks for this. I pretty much think all, or most, of us can make pages and tell out stories, we just don't know it yet. Talent helps but sometimes just getting started with or without it is a wonderful thing. But yeah, it was amazing to be surrounded by all that talent in one smallish space. It buzzed with it!

[@lynnboyd33]

Just now finished the whole video. OMG, each one was amazing! Not to mention such sweet and oh so helpful artists. I was wondering if there was anything you could purchase there, and then you mentioned the accordion books that the artist had made smaller copy's of. Oh how delish! Tell us Kelly, did you purchase much there? I think I would have been going nuts and drooling all over the tables! Thank you so very much for this share! I (we) feel like were right there with you!!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Lynn, most of the tables were selling cards, bookmarks, and the like and copies of their journals. I didn't buy any as I haven't read the last zillion I bought but I am very curious about how they got made, especially copies of the accordion books.

[@margeanderson2918]

Amazing and so great to see the many styles!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Marge. I am still taking in all that I saw and the inspiration and ideas are whirling!

[@bonniediener5413]

WOW! Thank for sharing and linking!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Bonnie, it is my real pleasure. Thanks for letting me know!

[@virginasanchez3259]

Thanks for this promenade, Kelly. Such darling journals❤

[@BookandPaperArts]

You are so welcome. Thanks for coming along!

[@pennysmith3803]

Nooooo that wasn’t enough 😅. What incredible talent

[@BookandPaperArts]

🌻🌻🌼🌼🌷🌷

[@patriciadistefano7467]

Thank you so much for sharing! How awesome! What a treat to see their art and to learn of this type of travel journal. Beautiful artwork!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Patricia. I just learned so much today, about making a composition and stuff like that, but also about making for the love of it and the enthusiasm that comes through that matters more than an art degree. It was amazing.

[@JournalBreezeYT]

I enjoyed this video so much Kelly. Lots o new info for me!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Kimberly, my head is still going round with ideas and inspiration. What a great day!

[@ochervelvet9687]

Thank you for sharing your holiday in France!

[@BookandPaperArts]

It is my real pleasure. I'm sorry it wasn't more but the truth is so, so much has gone wrong and it has been messy to say the least. Still, that's what Plan Bs are for!

[@ochervelvet9687]

@@BookandPaperArts I’m so sorry you’ve run into problems-how aggravating! I hope you’re able to pivot and still derive joy from your holiday. I am geographically challenged, so I had to Google the distance from Wales to France; that’s a pretty good clip. Not a trip one can make every weekend! I look forward to seeing your treasures (assuming you make a “haul” video afterwards). Sending you best wishes from Albuquerque.

[@BookandPaperArts]

@@ochervelvet9687 You bet there will be a haul video - it would take more than a succession of weird setbacks to prevent that from happening. 😺😺

[@karenpuschmann4157]

What marvellous inspiration

[@BookandPaperArts]

Karen, that is the very word. 🌻🌻🌼🌼🌷🌷

[@lindafernandez5778]

Loved them all, particularly the last one with script handwriting over the painting. A new idea for me!Thanks for taking us with you. Abientot😊!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Linda. That struck me, too. That the painting including the focal point is still the canvas for the words and the story until they become one, whole thing. Keep me posted on how it works! Kelly

[@annevancingel8250]

Thank you for taking us with you. Beautiful art, a little bit daunting though

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Anne. You know, there were lots of different levels of drawing there, some of it on the primitive side but even these pages conveyed the time and place and yes, the style of the person making the drawing. So jump in right where you are and don't be daunted. The important thing is to make, however imperfectly. 🌻🌼🌷

[@MissDaisyParsley]

Wow! How much fun I had coming along to this exhibition with you! What beautiful art! Thanks for bringing us along!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Susan, thanks for joining me. Now off to draw in a cemetery and have some ice cream!😺😺Kelly

[@Mercymemercer]

Thank you for the walkabout! Lovely works

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Mercy. It was even way better than I imagined. Glad you could join me remotely. Kelly

[@northernerinnc3179]

oh my! An art gallery of books and artists---thank you mille fois, c'est formidable!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you. It was such a day of inspiration.

[@lindabarrette]

Thank you for taking us along! Wow ~ this exhibition is so inspiring.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Linda. It is my real pleasure. I have wanted to go to one for years but they were always on the other side of the country. Now my goal is to be in one of these shows! If you don't ask, you don't get, right?

[@lauriecalery8801]

Very inspiring. What a brilliant coming together of like-minded carnistic souls. Beautiful! I hope you find lots of joyful treasures on your French holiday. Cheers 😊

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Laurie, yes, it was a coming together. So much inspiration and sharing and support and ideas. My head is whirling this morning!

[@kathy4950]

WOW! Thank you for sharing. Kathy from Cali.😎🙏

[@BookandPaperArts]

Kathy, it is my very real pleasure. Thanks for stopping by to check in ! 🌻🌻🌼🌼🌷🌷Kelly

[@NormaBennettSYD]

Just, WOW!!!!! I sit down in my Sydney apartment to catch up on a bit of KZbin and you take me on this amazing journey in France!! I am absolutely in love with the work of Sylvie Bargain ❤❤❤ Thanks so much Kelly for this special treat xx

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Norma. Thanks for this lovely message. Sylvie really struck me with her wet on wet techniques. My colours tend to get muddy and hers just popped. It is definitely giving me something to work toward. Thanks for coming along with me! Kelly

[@123uschie]

Thank you for the tour!

[@BookandPaperArts]

It is my real pleasure. Thanks for dropping by!

[@artsywriter23]

This was fabulous, Kelly. Thanks for letting us ride along. So much talent on display - plenty of inspiration and ideas. A bientot - Audrey

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks for joining me, Audrey. I wish we could all just meet with our sketchbooks and go out into the wild and get to work and compare notes! 🌻🌻🌼🌼🌷🌷

[@aniqaprouse7578]

So cool that you shared this, I learned a lot, thank you!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Aniqa. It was also great for learning for me - so much inspiration! Kelly

[@lynnboyd33]

Gurlfriend, you have some of the coolest shops and markets and exhibitions over there!!! I'm a bit jelly as my friend calls it! Sorry, to hear you sound a bit like a cold or allergy has :( decided to befriend you! Needless to say, here in the states, I wish there would be much more appreciation of these sort of creations! Lucky you, Kelly!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Oh Lynn, last week I had the cold from hell. Why do we say things like "it's just a cold" when just a cold will lay you flat out. I am still speaking an octave lower but thankfully am strong enough to walk and get on with stuff. And you?

[@rainydaygypsy]

Oh, wow! What a glorious exhibition! 🤩🤩

[@BookandPaperArts]

I am still wrapping my head around it. All of those creative, curious people in one space. So much inspiration!

[@gonerustic]

What an amazing exhibition - loved it! Watching from Tasmania 😊😊

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you so. Kelly from Wales (the old one, not the New South one) 😺

[@gonerustic]

@@BookandPaperArts 😉😘

[@DreamyBohemian]

I loved this!!! Beautiful works!!!!!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Randi. It was a day of inspiration, that's for sure.

[@valorimendrala1912]

Wow! Great artists! I’m glad they allowed you to share their work.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you so, Valori. Some tables were easier to approach than others and while I'm not shy, it took a bit of gumption to try my bad French and ask and I'm so glad I did. I am actually going to a post card exchange with one of the nature journal ladies!

[@j.rebekah8605]

How cool! Amazing artistry. How do they make those accordion books?, I assume they glue them. Rather than have a 9 foot piece of paper. Where would be the best place to glue the paper so it stays together? Thanks for providing the info for the artists, I'm really impressed and inspired, both by the accordion art and the woman with the cartoon like lobsters and seagulls. So much story happening in that woman's art. Thanks for sharing!

[@rosem3577]

Incredible!! This was such a treat. Please set up a tour!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks so much Rose. Believe me, I have thought long and often about setting up tours and workshops because it would be epic but then I soon start thinking about stuff like insurance, what if it rains, being responsible for everything and I think, nah. But maybe someday!

[@rosem3577]

Hmmm. Maybe we should put our heads together. :)

[@sandraludwig1546]

Oh my gosh...Sylve's journals...I wish I were that talented!!! I was also wondering: do you speak French? I know you visit France quite frequently. I am a little wary of visiting anywhere where English isn't the first language. Wondering how I would get along...

[@robertakeirn1870]

WOW! WOW! WOW! Tres magnifique! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!🖤 Gilly

[@BookandPaperArts]

Well said, Gilly. I have wanted to go to one of these for ages but even thought they are a thing in France they always seem to be on the other side of the country when I'm here. This one was about ten miles away and wow wow wow is right. It just makes me want to double down on blank books and filling them up.

[@reginaeid1568]

That was fabulous! Thank you for broadening our worldview once again❤

[@BookandPaperArts]

Regina, it is my real pleasure. I mean, I couldn't just go and not take you along, could I? Seriously, it was such a special day and I feel so blessed.

[@LyndaWilkinson]

I love this so much! It’s so lovely you were able to share this with us!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Lynda. Thank you for joining me remotely. The ideas just go round and round. Have a creative week!

[@susanhudson3299]

Fabulous post Kelly thank you

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks for stopping by to let me know, Susan. My head is still reeling with ideas!

[@wynparsons4109]

Absolutely amazing , what an experience

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you, Wyn. My friend tells me you have been having even more rain than usual. Is that possible?

[@debgamble8368]

Wonderful!

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thanks bunches, Deb. 🌻🌻🌼🌼🌷🌷

[@debbiesavage7107]

Wow, wow, wow!!❤❤❤

[@BookandPaperArts]

Well said! Thanks, Debbie. So glad it went over big.

[@birdietherecycledhippychic642]

Great video Kelly I hope you're having a wonderful time on holiday and I would love to hear more about those jeans you're wearing. Did you do the patchwork yourself and if so how because there's no way I could get the leg of my jeans up my sewing machine that far

[@BookandPaperArts]

Why Birdie, I am beyond delighted that you noticed and that you asked. I only recently discovered that I could appliqué and patch and boro stitch my own jeans. I am thinking of it as fabric collage. Also, I hate waste. Also, they look so flipping cool and this pair was an experiment to see if I could manage it and when I get home next week I am going to do another pair or three, this time on camera so - stay tuned! I no longer have a sewing machine so I did all of mine by hand: we do a lot of road trips while here and I sit in the back seat and stitch imperfectly. Please send me an email if you want to know more. [e-mail]

[@birdietherecycledhippychic642]

@@BookandPaperArts I will be watching out for your video. I can't wait. Thank you for being willing to email me. I will just wait for the video. I can't wait to see what they actually look like. Fun fun.

[@centibastelt2023]

So much inspiration an such wonderful art! Thank you! I just wonder why only women seem to make illustrated journals. Are there no men at all?

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Centi. Yes, there were men but I found the women easier to approach and ask about their work. That is kind of embarrassing as I am not shy but the women just started talking and the guys I didn't get around to. It was about 4 parts women to 1 part men.

[@centibastelt2023]

@@BookandPaperArts Ah, that's nice! I mean, that there were men as well. 🙂 I always find it easier to talk to women because they won't get any funny ideas about why I'm talking to them, and I assume guys feel at least the same way about talking to us girls.

[@ellenbeissner6233]

👏

[@BookandPaperArts]

🌻🌻🌼🌼🌷🌷

[@cindygoldrick5224]

Where was this in France?

[@BookandPaperArts]

Cindy, it was in Huismes. I am on holiday in Chinon about eight km over, in the Loire. But they have these all over the place throughout the year. Try looking online. I know I'm going to. 😺

[@TheLearningLounge]

I wish this could have been in French. Some things were lost in translation.

[@BookandPaperArts]

You are so right but we do the best we can with the tools we have. 🌷🌼🌻

[@alexandraalmeida3661]

As much as I love Portugal and live here, it’s when I see things like these that I think that I may have been born in the wrong country! Where would I find an exhibition and people like these? I’m sure there are some of us, but we’re so few that we can’t even find each other on social media. I only found one Portuguese lady on Instagram, but unfortunately we hardly connect… Thank you so much for sharing this amazing exhibition 💙💚🤎♥️💜💛🩷🩵🧡🩶❤️

[@BookandPaperArts]

Hi Alexandra, it isn't only Portugal. We don't have things like this in the UK, either. And why not??? It is just not that unusual to see French people with their sketchbooks out in public making pages of their observations and memories. I truly love that and wish we could have more of it. Well, we can try, no? 🌻🌻🌼🌼🌷🌷

[@conniebentley9699]

Thanks for bringing us along to the exhibition! I felt like was there with everyone. I don’t know why, but I got teary when the second artist was showing her art work. She must have touched my heart. 💓 😊 Enjoy your the rest of your holiday! I’m heading back to my craft room!

[@andreamuller3155]

Hello Kelly, thank you so much for taking us along this beautiful exhibition 🥰 all journals were so beautiful 😍 as far as I know there are no similar events here in Germany. Enjoy the rest of your holiday! Many greetings, Andrea

[@BookandPaperArts]

Thank you for this, Connie. I didn't expect this comment but I love it. It is a mystery why art speak to us personally and why ask why. Your response, to get back to the craft room is the most sound one I can imagine. For me, she really made me want to investigate wet on wet watercolour painting because of they way her colours were so, so bright and vibrant and not muddied and I am NOT great at that. Yet. Keep on making! Kelly