This week’s addict emailed me this photo of some of her complete art journals, which look so beautifully used and overstuffed with creativity!

She writes:

Hi, my name is Shanta Devi Williams.  I am an artist from Los Angeles, CA, USA.  I’ve always had a fascination with books, reading, art making, and writing for as long as I can remember.  I started keeping a diary as a child, and created my own yearbooks in middle school and high school.  Writing and art making have always been outlets and necessary means of expression for me.  I have saved every notebook and sketchbook that I have ever started or completed, and treasure them.

The act of being creative on a regular basis has become a highlight of my days, and I look forward to the time (whether it be 10 minutes or an hour) to write, paint, doodle, etc.  I learned about art journaling (painting/writing/drawing/collage, etc. in some kind of book) in 2008 (from an artist’s art journal at the now closed store, Paper Post), and haven’t looked back since.  I have embraced it as the most authentic form of art for me to express myself.  When I art journal or write, I am able to get in a “zone” where I am able to vent my frustrations, anger, sadness, joy, happiness…anything and everything that I am feeling or going through at that time.

I regularly scan and upload my art journal to my Flickr, website, and Instagram pages.  I love how artists, nowadays, can share images and videos of their sketchbooks online and share processes and ideas with others.  Also, in the event of a natural disaster, I like the idea of having a backup of my art in case I had to leave it behind.

Shanta welcomes comments and/or questions by email at: through.thehand [at] gmail.com, and you can also see more of her work online on Flickr at: flickr.com/photos/shantadevi and Instagram at: instagram.com/shantadevi.

Thanks for sharing, Shanta!