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The Terror in My Studio

How art journaling helped me process my feelings There was real terror in my studio last week.  Not artful terror.  Animal Planet kind of terror. A 3 foot long black snake.  As Indiana Jones said in Raiders of the Lost Ark, “Why did it have to be snakes?”

Of course his were venomous and angry…mine was scared and harmless.  But emotionally, I was pretty sure Indy and I were in the same situation.

Logically, I know this snake was harmless to me.  But phobias and fears don’t always respond to logic.  So, for a week I had not been in my studio until sufficient measures could be put in place and I felt safe again. What that means is the biggest glue traps ever and hermetically sealing every crack we could find!

How art journaling helped me process my feelings This page started when I was flipping through a magazine and ran across the S word in a headline.  I only had limited supplies available since I was still too chicken to spend much time in to the studio but I decided a little art play was just what I needed to process all the fear.

There is lots of journaling on this page buried between layers and on top of layers.  I scribbled journaled with pencils, I wrote with a fountain pen, and I scribbled with a fineliner (video on how they work here).  I had a mountain of feelings, and fear, I needed to get out.

The journaling was quite intense for me, so to take a break from that I did some stenciling with Rectangular Patterns for Play and Curvy Ladders.

How art journaling helped me process my feelings

Once the patterns were down, I started drawing on top of them with a big Stabilo pencil. Such a calming feeling to me especially after so much emotion.

How art journaling helped me process my feelings

I was feeling relief from the mega dose of panic and fear, but there was still something I needed to make clear.  NO more snakes in the studio.  I really wanted that idea of NO to be very clear.  So, out came my Vintage Typewriter stencil.

How art journaling helped me process my feelings

By the end of this page, I felt better.  I am now back in the studio and still a bit jumpy but definitely able to manage the fear. But I still do carry around my glue trap on a stick for protection…How art journaling helped me process my feelings

Here are the supplies I used. Some of these links are affiliate links which means I get a small percentage. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and you are helping me keep this blog and my videos ad free! Thank you- I don’t like ads any more than you do!

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  • Erika Nelson July 21, 2016, 10:20 am

    I don’t think I could go back in if there was a snake in mine. You are brave-very brave. Hugs-Erika

  • Judy Shea July 21, 2016, 3:32 pm

    Wait.. it’s still in there? You are braver then I, my friend. Let’s hope that beautiful page works and gets it the hell out.

  • Denise Spillane July 21, 2016, 7:53 pm

    I am laughing my head off. My brother used to scare my friends in High School with his harmless snakes. Needless to say, don’t scare me! Now spiders and wasps!

    By the way, I want to request you do a reverse stencil of your three ladders. Love it but want the reverse to!

    • Carolyn Dube July 22, 2016, 12:51 pm

      Your brother would have been able to scare me through the roof! Will add the ladder request to the list and then see what the muse comes up with!

  • Louise Scrivener July 22, 2016, 11:05 am

    I had the same experience, the same terror, and probably the same brand of giant glue traps!! I too am back in residence but ever watchful. You are braver than me if you can even put the word in your journal because I don’t even like to see the word. But I do love the spread except for that word.

  • Marleen July 23, 2016, 2:27 am

    Totally love you page!My fav nice colors <3

  • Lisa Snowdy July 23, 2016, 10:38 am

    Gives me the willies just thinking of it…once there was a black snake outside the french doors of my craft room. Outside is okay, inside is a definite no. Glad you could process your feelings into such a wonderful art journal page. 🙂

  • Amy Hodgson-Smith July 24, 2016, 10:54 pm

    Love all the colors and stencils you used! I sympathize with you, although spiders and snakes don’t bother me.

  • D.Ann C July 26, 2016, 12:51 pm

    Way to shake of the slithery willies! Had my fair share of unwelcome encounters and feel for ya!