Art Journal or Smash Book?

Can anyone please tell me the difference between an Art Journal and a Smash Book? Are they the same thing or not? And how can I tell the difference?

Hello!
I do think of Art Journals and Smash Books as different although the line does get blurred. They IMO are different because of what you use.

Art Journals mostly start with a bound journal with plain unlined paper. It's a diary, about daily thoughts, travel, inspiration, goals but different from a regular diary because the pages are works of art. Artist use inks and doodling to draw. Mostly they are completely rendered out of the artists mind. Google "Art Journal" and look at the images and you will see thousands of amazing little works of art.

Smash Books (and there are different brands) Are books with designed scrap pages and embellishments made to go with it. It can be also treated like a diary but it has tags and all sorts of cute things to use with it. It is like an "easy to do" album.

So, with an art journal, you are starting with a plain blank page and with a smash book, it is like a scrapbook page kit but it's a book.

Does that help?

Vicki

Hi, That does help a lot, thank you! Judging by that, I assume a Smash Book could be an easy place to start? Especially as it comes like a kit mostly pre-made, and gives me a head start?

I do fancy the idea of an Art Journal where you draw and colour in it, is a Smash Book more pre-made items that you stick in?

Yes, it would be an easy and fun way to start, an remember, there is no reason you can't be as creative as you want in a Smash book! Definitely make it your own. They are very cute.

I look forward to seeing what you create! Glad I could help!

Thank you, I look forward to seeing what I create too! Albeit a little nervously as well as excited!

I have a different opinion about what a smash book is. Yes, manufacturers have made pretty smash books for us to add our ideas to, but my opinion of a smash book is that it is a place to store our inspirations - in a fun and creative way. So you could have a smash book that is a simple blank book, but you put clippings, notes, anything that you find inspiring in it.

For example, I could cut out a clipping from a magazine with a design on it and put it into the smash book with a comment that I want to use a similar color/pattern/whatever in a scrapbook layout. Maybe I'd add to that page if I found something that would complement the original clipping.

I have a smash book that is a lined composition notebook, nothing fancy or pre-designed by a manufacturer.

Hope this helps.
Jane