One question people seem to ask a lot about journaling is “how do I journal the right way?” It’s ironic. There are of course some key tips on how to get the most out of your journal (psst, the answer is consistency). Still, there is no one-size-fits-all journal routine. For people who don’t believe me– there’s reverse coloring.
Art journaling is always a good idea when you really, really want to follow rules. These prompts have no “right” answer. Because, honestly? Journaling is more than just a place to talk about your feelings. Your journal should help you work through them. Reverse coloring does just that.
What is Reverse Coloring
Artist Kendra Norton came up with the idea of reverse coloring in 2018 when she launched a Kickstarter campaign. Her book, The Reverse Coloring Book, has pages of colorful Rorschach-like splotches. Each artist has an opportunity to transform those colors into characters, landscapes, or whatever by outlining whatever shapes they see.
Basically, this is an art project that turns chaos into creativity.
Are You a Good Fit?
It’s good for people who struggle to choose the “wrong colors” when making art. This is an exercise in anti-perfectionism. There is no right way to reverse color.
And yet, that’s way easier to say than do. The urge to erase, scribble out, and start over can be a powerful roadblock in your journal. If this happens to be a struggle for you at the moment, you should consider reverse coloring. Actually, feel free to try it anytime perfectionism pops up. It’s a good lesson in having some control, but not all.
Pairing Reverse Coloring With Journal Prompts
This blog post isn’t going to give you a play-by-play on how to reverse color. For one, the idea is pretty basic. Two, there are so many resources (like Kendra Norton’s original book) that would explain the concept better than me.
Instead, we are going to explore the kinds of journal prompts you can choose *after* you’ve tried out reverse coloring. We’ve talking about pairing prompts before on Write Your Wellness. Basically,
Meaning Making is Powerful!
Things like Rorschach tests are powerful because they allow us to work with our subconscious. You let the inspiration spark first and *then* come up with meaning later. It’s kinda the same thing with Tarot cards. Your first impressions often tell you a lot more about you than anything else.
And don’t let that scare you! It is a powerful thing to be the one who makes meaning out of something. It airs out your truth.
When it comes to reverse coloring and other intuition arts, you are the one who tells the story. In a world where so much is out of your control, this is a nice retreat. Like mentioned earlier, reverse coloring is a great exercise in knowing you have some control, but not all. What a relief!
Yes, there are already so many journal prompts that explore control and all the other thoughts that might pop up during a meaning-making session. But it’s never a bad idea to choose the best fit when journaling. How you approach your reverse coloring session should determine how you journal after.
Speaking of Prompting…
Reverse coloring is a bit like a journal prompt. It sets you up with some limitations, but you provide the creativity. There is so much potential for a reverse coloring/ journal prompt hybrid. So, without further ado, here are some prompts you can use to write in your journal after you create your art project.
When You Couldn’t Find Something to Draw
· What thoughts did you have about yourself when you realized you weren’t seeing anything specific?
· How long did it take you to believe you couldn’t find something to draw? What might happen if you gave yourself more time?
· When you started to worry that you weren’t seeing anything, how did you cope with that discomfort?
· Did you go into the activity with an idea of what you wanted to draw? Why was it so important for you to have a plan?
· Was there anything you thought of drawing but decided it “wasn’t enough”? Where do you think that thought came from?
· Do you consider yourself to be “creative”, “artistic”, or “able to do this”? Did you think about that at all during this project?
When You Immediately Saw Something
· When you think about the things you drew, what do these things symbolize? For instance, if you drew a dog, what do dogs represent? For you? For your culture?
· How did it feel to discover a doodle in the colorful chaos?
· How do you normally approach chaos?
· Were there multiple shapes that popped out at you? How did you choose one over the other?
· How did this art experiment make you feel?
When You Are Surprised (Even Shocked) By Your Doodle
· Does your doodle represent anything taboo to you?
· Why do you think this art is weird or strange?
· What do you think a “normal person” would have seen instead? Why didn’t you see that at first?
· How can you sit with and appreciate the art you chose to make?
· Do you feel like starting over? Why? How can you pause that urge?
· What do you think this doodle says about you as a person? How is that true? How is that untrue?
When The Doodle Felt Forced
· What stress level were you at when doing this activity and how did it impact your experience?
· What did you think about yourself when looking for something to draw?
· Were you concerned with what your doodle might say about you as a person? Who are you worried will judge you?
· What do you think a more creative or carefree person would have done? What got in the way of you doing that?
When You Didn’t Like This Project
· At any point, did you roll your eyes (literally or figuratively). Why?
· What was most uncomfortable about reverse coloring?
· Did you dislike the project or your specific work of art? Does this match how you typically place blame or not?
· Pretend you are an art critic that has absolutely fallen in love with your piece. How would you describe it to your readers? After reading this review, does that change your take on the work at all?
· Give yourself full permission to be annoyed with this project. Rant about it.
