These booklets are folded and stapled, black and white xerox on paper, with paper covers. Some booklets have cardstock covers with colored paper pages. Where indicated, covers, and covers only, are in full color. I am selling a process, not a product. The booklets are not the "thing", but rather house a virtual workshop using my process. The real "thing" is your own expression, guided by my assignments. The following is a description of the original live workshop to give you an idea of what's in store in these workbooks to jumpstart your creativity! These workbooks include How to choose a book, what is a visual journal, some insights into my philosophy and 5-6 detailed assignments that layer mixed media with journal writing for the ultimate in expression!

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“Raw Creation: Visual Journaling with Juliana Coles”
For All levels, no experience necessary

Using a larger sized journal, blank book, sketchbook, or Found Book to alter, at least 8.5” x 11,” we are going to challenge and confront ourselves by using the radical techniques of Contemporary Expressionist, Juliana Coles. By combining Mixed Media experiments with Extreme Journaling exercises, we will learn to approach our work in new and exciting ways. We are going to shake things up by leaping outside our comfort zones into that abyss of the unknown. We will explode across the page with the furious speed of raw creation. We will push past our limiting boundaries as well as our beliefs about what is art and how we should make it as we smear paint, scratch, ooze, work, and rework, and then start all over again. And once in a while maybe screaming as we attack that page in our uncontrollable urge to discover that authentic voice and where she resides. These direct and intense images will NOT be collections of calming landscapes, inspiring quotes, lovely, well painted portraits, pointed hats, cute babies or traditional studies of still lifes; this work is the stuff of something deeper, darker, and meatier with gouges, scrapes, sweat, tears, and the scars of life. Learn to create with the dynamic spirit of your soul: the pathway is indirect, but quickly accessed through this frenzied, disorderly, in a hurry, in a mess, in a gut wrenching uncontrollable out of hand artistic experience.
Amen Sisters, we know who we are and we like it like this.

You will need: Your 8.5“ x 11“ (at least) Blank Book, journal, sketchbook, or altered book as your visual journal ( or two or three !) and your favorite mixed media supplies/ mixed media tool kit. Bring your favorite glue, ( I like UHU, glue stick because it is fast!) scissors, some brushes for your paints, a rag or two, and a jar for water. You will also need some large size brushes (cheap 2-3 inch brushes from home depot are fine) or rollers/brayers/sponges for extreme coverage.
Each student will be required to bring a “Mystery Bag.” A plastic grocery bag or smaller will do. Some suggestions are collage items, an old paintbrush that is all glued together, that orange paint you hate, stickers from when you were 14, Artist tools and supplies you no longer use or never liked, torn up pieces of your artwork that didn’t work out (no recognizable artwork, please) books to cut up, magazines, sticks, markers, 2 inch chewed up pencils, you get the picture-sort of a grab bag. What, and how much to bring, is up to you. Don’t worry about trying to include nice things- we’re looking more for garbage items. We all ready have our own nice supplies-we want your cast offs to really make us think!
Necessary Supplies: All Visual Journalist’s should have a set of rubber stamp letters and numbers. And I highly recommend Staz On stamp pads because we work so quickly. You will need acrylic paint- any brand, any color in at least two colors, one light one & one dark. You will need at least two brush markers in different colors- black would be good. A graphite pencil- regular old number two is fine, but if you can get to an art store get an ebony pencil, or a 6B, or a graphite stick (not charcoal), a writing pen.
Collage: 1 magazine to cut up and one poetry book to cut up
Preparations: If you have time, please gesso 2 pages. Experiment w/texture.

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Please email Juliana Coles with any questions or concerns: meandpete [!at] msn.com