Dana Burrell... Art

Between 2012 and 2021 I kept a fake jounal in April for International Fake Journal Month. Never heard of it? I’m not surprised. But I have resources for you that will explain the concept way better than I could even attempt. Please check out Roz Stendahl’s Official International Fake Journal Blog for the intricacies involved.

I have a separate blog, Skylark Karma, where I have documented all ten years of my previous fake journals. Each done by a different character using a different art medium. Please check them out if you’re intrigued by the idea.

This year I decided on the spur of the moment to participate. The evening of March 31st, I was reading two of Roz Stendahl’s most current blog posts, Finishing Projects and a Little Bit about International Fake Journal Month, and IFJM: Sometimes Projects Creep Up On You.

My 2026 IFJM project definitely crept up on me.

I pulled out a spare notebook and a lovely new pen, deciding to draw something I would always have with me — my left hand. All characters, their names and their actions– all are fake. But there are current events recounted by my character and these are true to the date written.

I wion’t stretch this out too long. Instead of posting one page a day for a month I will post two each day which will carry us just over two weeks, finishing on Monday, July 20th. No big explanations either, just enjoy my quick line drawings and reading my character’s daily reflections in her scrawly penmanship.

#IFJM2026

First off, please forgive me for neglecting my blog for so long. Like many people, once I let things slide, inertia kicks in and it’s hard for me to regain inspiration and momentum. I think about posting, even taking photos, but then something else takes priority and the spark I once had evaporates.

Enough! I say.

Earlier this month I attended a collage class given by my friends Gael Clauson and Patti Warren. Gael is a watercolor journal keeper, a hand letterer, book artist, and a gel plate aficionado. Patti is a renowned watercolor artist, book artist and journal keeper. Together they teach a series highly regarded classes through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Dartmouth. Both Gael and Patti showed many examples of their work to a roomful of eager artists. We were instructed to bring a poem or quote that, when divided, would fit five or six pages of the sewn pamphlet. Gael and Patti generously provided the pamphlets and all the collage fodder. We were told to silence our inner critics and pick out an appealing selection of collage pieces and just go for it!

Let me preface this by saying that collage is not my chosen art form nor am I comfortable working outside my usual medium. That said, I was immediately drawn to a specific gel printed piece but after selecting other patterned papers I ended up discarding my original sheet and going with five patterns and a solid black. I took a deep breath and as I started I could feel myself easing into it — I was getting in the flow.

Less than two hours later my book was done.

I am pieces of all the places I have been, and the people I have loved. I’ve been stitched together by song lyrics, book quotes, adventure, late night conversations, moonlight, and the smell of coffee.

— Brooke Hampton