MariJ Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Wow, it's the fourth August Thursday and what started as an "Art" themed Challenge has morphed into a month of Art Journaling by popular demand! This week I thought we'd focus on the five senses as a prompt. Have you ever heard of a "sense memory"? The five senses play a very significant role in making, storing and retrieving memories. Certain sensory stimuli can trigger memories that are usually rich, strong and a sort of "reliving" of the original experience. No thinking - just a quick and strong memory… Smells in particular are very provocative and this actually has a scientific basis. The olfactory bulb in your brain is located right next to the part that handles memory storage, so strong links can be created between smells and particular memories! Cool huh? That's why you can have strong memory triggers from a variety of smells -- from "grandmother's house" to a really good dessert! And why smells are often used in marketing to recall happy memories and sell products. But, other senses evoke strong memories, too. A soft, fuzzy sweater can bring you right back into the soft blankets you wrapped your babies in and into that time… Or the sounds of birds chirping can pull you into a much loved outdoor experience or trip memory. For me, if I see a beautiful rose I feel myself a little girl in my Grandpa's wonderful rose garden watching as he cuts me a bouquet for my teacher. All of these memories are brought on by the strong link of one of our five senses. So to start, pick a sense - sight, hearing, sound, touch or smell. Close your eyes… FEEL that sense in you and see what it brings it up… Absorb the sense - does it trigger a memory? What memory is associated with that sense - what comes to you? Now you can start your page. Remember, in Art Journaling we don't use photos, but rather meaningful symbols, words, and objects. Last week we focused on "stream of consciousness" journaling and used it in our background. This week, let's think of a sense memory. Start with your background. What type of scene are you setting? Place pieces of paper - blend, crop or stack them on on your page. You can paint or stamp some color on or even scribble some lines or draw something.. Whatever you FEEL in you. Next think of special symbols or words that would help you express your memory. Scatter them around - plop them on the page and then come back and play with them. Add more, maybe blend some? Remember the #1 Art Journaling rule - "It's all about YOU and NOTHING is "wrong". You can add journaling, hide it or even make it part of your background. Have fun creating a page about your sense memory. Please post your completed layout in the General Message Board Challenge Gallery. I can't wait to see what you feel and create! Here's my layout - Salt Air And THANK YOU, Jode! For creating another wonderful layout example for this challenge - Senses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jode2771 Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Wonderful challenge again!!! If you haven't tried an Art Journal page yet, jump in this week... and if you have, this is a great prompt.. it has soooo many possibilities :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRS Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Another great challenge! As I read your post, my first thought was the smells of the beach and my childhood. Thanks for a fun month of art journaling challenges! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Arell Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Another awesome challenge, Marilyn! I'll be thinking about this today! (but not too much thinking - Hmmmmmmm......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessrunningfingers Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 We'll be off to the dentist early this morning, but I'll be thinking about this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnBK Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Another great challenge! I'll be out all morning on the golf course...what sights, sounds and aromas might I find? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiza126 Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Another great challenge!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belle Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida granny Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Here's mine: Brrrr. These have been stimulating challenges. Thanks for encouraging us to stretch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariJ Posted August 22, 2013 Author Share Posted August 22, 2013 OOohh... Belle, I know - I had that same reaction myself once I started my layout! But, you can do it - just start piling things on your page and then play. I know, I know - sounds easier then it is, but truly I have moments of wanting to pull my hair out but if I just keep going, suddenly the page starts to come together. And, remember, "Anything goes" and nothing is "wrong". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessrunningfingers Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 I decided to do mine on the aroma of coffee. I am addicted, and enjoy the aroma as much as I do drinking the coffee. Aroma of Coffee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariJ Posted August 22, 2013 Author Share Posted August 22, 2013 I decided to do mine on the aroma of coffee. I am addicted, and enjoy the aroma as much as I do drinking the coffee. Aroma of Coffee It's lovely, Joyce. I'm not even a coffee drinker and I can smell it perking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnBK Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Ran right home to get started on this page. Has nothing to do with golf, but the few drops of rain we felt as we started reminded me of the sights, sounds, and smells of hurricanes. HURRICANE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapgran Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Okay so here's mine. I went with the sense of smell. Aromas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Arell Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 I won't get mine finished until sometime this weekend - it's been a crazy, crazy week here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eden Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 I went for sense of smell too: Eau Kokoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lorac Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 These Thursday Art Challenges are just wonderful. Keep them coming. Here is my layout for this Thursday's challenge: Screen Door Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara Arell Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Finally! Here is mine! I have soooooo enjoyed these art journaling challenges even though I've struggled with it at times, it's been a lot of fun! Thank you, Marilyn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PolkaDot Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 FANTASTIC work on these challenges, Marilyn!! Super fun to view in the Gallery, think about and finally work on! Thank you so much! My sense was smell, and ridiculously enough it is formaldehyde, LOL! Things I Want To Remember Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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