What is a visual-verbal journal - It is similar to a sketchbook. It is a type of journal documenting your visual thinking and ideas. Words are an important part of the Journal. Visual Verbal journals are personal and meaningful.

Keep all your practice drawings, sketches, artwork, and ideas in your journal. DO NOT throw anything away, even if you mess up. It is important to document your progress.


First Art Assignment:

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Find inspiration from 5 sources (online, games, nature, personal experience, personal photos, other artists, movies, books, etc. Inspiration can come from everywhere. Follow the checklist below to create your own Mood Board for your Visual Verbal Journal.



Digital Collage Option Paper Collage Option
Sign-up for a Canva account on
You may use another program,
using Canva is not a requirement.
Select a Mood Board template
Find 10 pictures online that inspire you. Use pictures and words to create a collage
Download your finished collage using the Share button. Save as a or
Retitle your image and upload it to the dropbox
Answer the question in the Quick Check at the end of the lesson
Collect your inspiration (print pictures off line, magaizing or newspaper pictures, logo, etc
Organize your collage layout
Create your Mood board by cutting out pictures and words and glueing them together
Take a photo of your collage artwork and upload it to the dropbox
Answer the quick check questions at the end of the lesson.


Ms. Roberts Example

1 answer

Visual-Verbal Journal Overview

A visual-verbal journal is a creative space where you document your visual thinking, ideas, and artistic journey through both images and words. It's a personal and meaningful collection that reflects your progress as an artist. Like a sketchbook, it's a place to keep all your practice drawings, sketches, and artworks. The key to a visual-verbal journal is to not discard any work, as even mistakes can be vital to your growth and learning process.


First Art Assignment: Creating a Mood Board

In this assignment, you'll gather inspiration from various sources to create a Mood Board for your visual-verbal journal.

Steps to Create Your Mood Board:

  1. Source Inspiration:

    • Find inspiration from at least 5 different sources. These can include:
      • Online resources (websites, social media platforms, etc.)
      • Video games
      • Nature around you
      • Personal experiences
      • Personal photos
      • Other artists' work
      • Movies or TV shows
      • Books or literature
    • Remember that inspiration can come from anywhere!
  2. Choose Your Collage Format:

    • Digital Collage Option:

      • Sign up for a Canva account (or use another program if preferred).
      • Select a Mood Board template that resonates with you.
      • Find 10 pictures online that inspire you.
      • Use a combination of pictures and words to create your collage.
      • Once finished, download your collage using the Share button and save it as a PNG or JPG.
      • Retitle your image and upload it to the provided dropbox.
    • Paper Collage Option:

      • Collect physical inspiration such as printed pictures, magazine cutouts, or other visual materials.
      • Organize your collage layout on a piece of paper.
      • Create your Mood Board by cutting out pictures and words and glueing them together.
      • Take a high-quality photo of your completed collage and upload it to the dropbox.
  3. Quick Check Questions:

    • At the end of the lesson, answer any questions provided in the Quick Check to reflect on your process and gather your thoughts.

Example Mood Board (Ms. Roberts’ Example)

For reference, here's what Ms. Roberts’ Mood Board could roughly represent:

  • Include a mix of imagery (like nature, artworks, quotes, patterns) that conveys her artistic style, interests, and inspirations.
  • Visuals might range from color palettes, textures, historical art references, personal photos that evoke emotion, or quotes from artists that resonate with her.
  • Each image could be accompanied by short captions or words that describe what the image represents in terms of inspiration.

Conclusion

Creating a Mood Board is an exciting opportunity to visually express your inspirations and gather ideas that can influence your future artistic projects. Be bold and share yourself through the images and words you choose!