Serving Art Educators
and Students Since 1994

Visual Verbal Journals

Submitted by: Barbara Rhodes, retired art teacher

Unit: Multimedia and Collage – High School Art I - II (May also be used for 8th grade)
Total Sessions: 4-5

What is a Visual Verbal Journal?

It is similar to a sketchbook, yet different.

It is a type of journal showing visual thinking

Words are an important part of the Journal.

Journals are personally meaningful.

Journals allow us to think about our thinking and avoid just reflex reaction.

What does a Visual Verbal Journal include?

Content:

Sketches

Drawings

Words: Describe and support depictions and become graphic devices

Photographs

Personally Meaningful Symbols

Collages

Click on the images on this page for full size.

Note: The images that were submitted with this lesson were assumed to be images obtained with permission or from students of the submitter. If this is not the case, let us know.

What are the uses of Visual Verbal Journals?

Research

Source of ideas for future artworks

Reflection

Exploring new ideas

Exploring new medias

Click on the images on this page for full size.

Benefits to teachers:

Provide insight into students’ emotional and cognitive experiences

Can show teaching style students’ are most responsive to

Can be used as authentic assessment (Zimmerman 1994)

Benefits to students:

Realize how daily life influences art work

Identify significant events

Become a source for future artworks

Artists’ Visual Verbal Journals

Artists using Visual Journals:

• Eric Fischl

Journaling began as sketchbook and grew into large-format glassine drawings of journal pages.

• Leonardo da Vinci

Recorded questions and daily observations visually and verbally in a sketchbook.

• Edvard Munch

Used visual journal to develop ideas and record daily observation and reflections.

How do Visual Verbal Journals influence ideation?

Writing helps develop ideas:

"I write so I can find out what I am thinking" Jerome Bruner

Drawing helps develop ideas:

Visual imagery offers a freedom that words do not.

- For some, the visual supports the verbal.

- For some the verbal supports the visual.

How do Visual Verbal Journals influence creativity?

Journals are low risk places to experiment.

- Multiple solutions can be explored---Fluency

- Ideas can be embellished---Elaboration



Full page Design	Full page Design	Bleeds	Organic Shapes

Borders	Diagonals	Cut-outs and Windows	Cut-outs and Windows

Grid	Column	Column	Radial

Assessments:

Methods:

Checklist

Rating scale

Teacher/parent/peer interviews

Student self-assessment

Criteria:

Composition

Development of ideas and media experimentation: demonstrate progression

Craftsmanship: although not every entry must be complete, all should be readable, executed with care, and presented in an orderly manner

Sample Assignments:

Start Journal by requiring 10 pages about the student and their connection to art.

Create a work of art that is composed only of writing.

List three things you believe in and design symbols or images for these things.

Make a page using one word as inspiration.

Research an artist and create a two-page report in the journal using both images and words to convey information.

Suggestions for New Journals:

Tear random pages

Burn parts of pages

Paint washes

Gesso pages

Glue in tissue paper, found objects, leaves

Cut holes through several pages

Cut and fold pages to hid or reveal areas

Do rubbings on parts of pages