Last Friday I received three art journals in the mail from Ellie Claire; These journals offer an interactive way to get creative with your quiet time as you learn some lettering skills. They are gorgeous books with many features that I know you will love. These books are The Illustrated Word; Illuminate Your Story Journal and Faith & Lettering Journal
Illuminate Your Story Journal
is a beautiful hardcover book. Within the pages you will find beautifully coloured letters and some animals, knots and flowers. These letters are done up in different styles such at Ottonian, Celtic Half Unical, Gothic as well as others. Each letter of the alphabet is done in a step by step fashion to help YOU learn how to make these ornate letters as well. This would be such a great book to have along when you are studying illumination, monks (and their lettering), lettering in art class etc.
This hardcover book has a loop on the cover that I THINK is for holding your pen. It also sports an elastic band to hold your journal shut (or keeping the right pages held together). A light blue ribbon will hold your spot.
Faith & Lettering Journal
is a book that teaches you how to letter on a bigger scale. Using full verses, you are shown complete finished pictures to inspire you, as well as a two-page spread of six columns with a bible verse lettered out in one column, to be traced out in the next and then four columns to practice. Pro-tips are scattered throughout the pages. Some pages are fully lined, others with a matrix of dots and yet others with small graph paper. All the fully illustrated pages are beautifully done and in a variety of styles and fonts to inspire you. The goal: taking the time to meditate upon God’s word as you draw and illustrate the words.
This journal also sports a loop on the binding that looks like a pen/pencil holder. Reinforced binding holds it in place.
The Illustrated Word
is a bit different from the others. I look at this one and think.. art class anyone? Hidden within the pages of this lovely tome you will find art from the past, such as images of a “Natural Parchment Esther Scroll”. You will not only find images of the scroll, but a larger line drawn version that you can colour in. This is an colouring with a journal aspect to it. What I mean by that is you will find some of the art illustrations with a bible verse incorporated followed by a couple of journal pages with cut outs on them. Then another line drawing of a picture/painting/scroll drawing. The cut-outs will be either related to the bible verse drawing, or a full colour image of the line drawing without the bible verse. I hope that was clear! 🙂 It would be much easier to show you so see the images below. 🙂
My Thoughts:
These books are out of the ordinary for colouring and lettering books. I’ve reviewed a fair number of books like these over the years, and they almost always come as trade paperbacks with or without pull out pages to display your work. These are hardcover books sized to fit alongside your bible, or into a larger sized purse. They have many little details that cause them to be a treasure, from the pen loops, to the ribbon to hold your place, the wonderful paper they are printed on, lie flat quality, and the fine detail in the art work. They would make a lovely gift to anyone who likes to letter as they meditate upon God’s Word.
The art work in The Illustrated Word colouring journal doesn’t suit my taste. I love that the works are cited making them an excellent add-on to studying art of the Renaissance. Even though this one is not for me, this doesn’t detract from how lovely the book is and how it would definitely please another person, and be an aid to them in taking time with God’s word. I can totally see someone also bringing it along to church to take sermon notes or listening as a page is coloured in (cause busy fingers can help a listening mind). 
Illuminate my story… I like this book, I do. Even though I don’t see myself as good enough to attempt to emulate her style, it’s nice to try you know? It’s small, fits nicely into my purse, has a loop to hold it shut so it doesn’t gather up all the other helpful stuff in my purse, and the lovely keepsake pocket in the back means if I doodle or practice elsewhere I can keep it as inspiration.
Faith & Lettering Journal by Krystal Whitten is just a pretty book. Like WOW.. so pretty and inspiring. She has some very good skills. I really liked the practice pages, divided into easy columns so if I totally mess up one practice session I can just move on to the next. Definitely worth getting. Gives you excellent practice time and teaches you how to make different letters.
Faith & Lettering
Illuminate Your Story
The Illustrated Word
Ellie Claire
Where to find.
