One of the things I really love about being “in charge” of a
site like Art Journaling Ning, is that I have contact with a lot of people with similar interests and
passions as I. Case in point, Samantha Kira, aka Journal Girl, has decided to
step into the AJ Ning class world. This is a great thing for all the art
journalers of AJ Ning. Why? She has a totally different style and approach to
art journaling than I do. We have similar ideas as anyone who is into AJ will
but her style is very different than mine.

Her first free workshop (per AJ ning rules and regulations) is
about layers and it’s packed full of information and ideas to get members
working in layers. It’s already, only a few days old, and active. Head over to AJ
ning and check the layers workshop out and play with layers. Lots of videos and
talk, it’s what makes a workshop great!

Next up she’s got a paid workshop going on. It’s called True To
You: Organic Exploration for the Visual Journaler. Read more about it here so that you can read what she has to say about it.It focuses around authentic
expression and mining your life for prompts rather than looking for external
prompts. In short I’d say it’s a series of essays on looking within to journal authentically.
Many people want to learn how to create art, thus they sign up for classes that
teach you how to copy, this is not that sort of workshop. Kira will teach you
techniques but also how to look within yourself.

This is what I think AJ is all about authentic expression. About looking within yourself, using physical materials to get at the mental materials, making them real and working on them. Part therapy and part craft and part art. I'm so very excited to see Journal Girl's paid workshop.