Misty Granade is an abstract mixed media artist from Alabama. Her interests include contemporary mixed media art, art journaling, bookbinding, eco dying, and crochet. Misty writes about art and process on her blog and has a book serialized there under the tag “How to Create Your Art Practice”. Misty's work has been a part of numerous solo and group shows.

What is art journaling to you?

I use art journaling as an artistic springboard to other artistic work. I noodle around in my art journal and then sometimes move what I’ve made onto a canvas or paper for a finished work. I also really love making a journal that’s got a theme and I can work on variations of that theme in the book.

What does community do for your art?

Community is encouragement for the work. I work at home so being able to access an art community online is a lifeline for me.

How do you live a creative life? How do you incorporate journaling into that?

Making things is such a huge part of my life. I crochet and cook and make all sorts of crafty things that catch my attention. Art journaling is just one facet of that.

What does your creative space look like? Where do you journal?

I have a smallish but dedicated space. I have two work surfaces. One is a dry space, where my computer is and the other is a wet space where I paint. I like to think of it as my creative rat’s nest.

Do you have creative routines?

I do some journaling in the morning usually. Not exactly morning pages like from “The Artist’s Way” but close. That usually helps me figure out what I’m going to focus on for the day creatively.

What is your favourite art journal page that you’ve ever made and why?

I’m working on journal right now that is very organic because so much of it has been dyed with coffee and onion skins. I embroidered a series of arches on the collage papers and that page really gives me a charge when I look at it.

What is your biggest barrier to creating? And how do you overcome that hurdle?

In the beginning, it was committing time to do it. Now it’s so much of my day it has become more of a battle to decide what to work on next. I usually have a lot of ideas brewing and several projects in process so I have to be intentional about what I work on.

Have you ever made something you don’t like? What did you do?

All the time! It’s part of making. I think the real creativity can come from saying, “Ok I made this thing that’s kinda crap. How can I take it and remix it to be something better.” All of our making is a series of steps to overcome the crap we just made. Or maybe that’s just me?

Have you ever been through artist block? How did you return to your work?

Yes! Artist’s block is the worst. It feels like there’s this big chunk of who I am and it’s gone missing. I try to get out in nature more when I’m dealing with this and switch gears and do something that is a different kind of creative. I’ll move to crochet or baking. Sometimes I just paint paper or use my gelli plate. My gelli plate has a way of making me feel really productive because you can turn out so many prints so quickly. So even when I might be struggling to make art, I’m still making pieces that I can use in my art later.

How has Get Messy impacted your creativity?

I’ve been involved with Get Messy for a long time now. It has been an integral part of my growth as an artist.

What journal do you use?

Usually one I’ve made!

What is your one *must have* supply?

Paper! I need SO MUCH paper.

What do you make when you don’t know what to make?

I will either make a journal or I’ve just started drawing patterns on painted paper to use in my collages.

What is the most important (non-tool) thing to your creative practice?

Music. I find it jumpstarts my creativity in a way nothing else does.

Who are your favourite Messy artists?

I watch Eva Kalien’s videos over and over. I love what Hilary Ellis does in her journals.

Advice to new art journalers:

Keep showing up for yourself.