I first heard of this book while scrolling Instagram. A fellow art journal creator had posted a stack of inspirational books. Being that I’m intrigued by FK, the exceptional woman and artist, I took note of the title.
The Diary of Frida Kahlo An Intimate Self Portrait by Carlos Fuentes, has had a profound effect on me. I wrote in my own journal, “I feel grieved to come to the last page. I can’t say that I have felt that way about any other book.”
I admit that when I first opened the book, I read the introduction and then began the first page of her journal and was foolishly disappointed to see that every written word was in Spanish. Duh. Of course! But then the last half of the book translates each diary page with the corresponding image and written words. I perused this beautiful book each and every day, learning about (getting inside the head of) the exceptional woman who was Frida Kahlo.
Frida’s ‘diary’ which is truly an art journal, has showed me that creating begins with scribbles, doodles, child-like sketches.
While I perused this library loan daily, I was propelled to my own humble art journal and reassured that every word and mark was significant. If only for myself. For to keep an art journal or ‘diary’ is to learn and to progress in your creative soul.
To keep an art journal or diary, is to learn and to progress in your creative soul. Share on XFrida was a ground breaker in retrospect. But at the time, she was simply living a broken life like many of us. She was experimenting. She was lamenting the selfish ways of crooked governments. In her world, she was struggling with communist beliefs and freedom for all. Inside her own body she was also struggling with freedom from pain. She would not come to realize that freedom. In her lifetime, she suffered physically from a devastating bus crash and consequent surgeries that could never completely ‘fix’ her.
Her pages are full of images of her broken body. They were also full of words and images expressing her love for Diego. A profound lesson within these pages were slowly taking hold of me. I pondered not only creative experiments, but political beliefs. And how small are we really in this world? While our life is brief maybe our impact can be infinite, like Frida herself. She continues to inspire women a century after her death, not just through her art but through her thoughts, writing and ugly-child-like scribblings.
“This book makes me realize that our process is as important as the outcome. And we are not as small as we’re made to believe.” I noted again in my own journal.
Her last image, a self portrait with indecipherable paint marks, moved me. It was a disturbing reminder that we all will die and our lives are fragile and temporary. There will eventually be a ‘last page’ for every individual–artist and writer.
Thank you, Frida, for the inspiration you have perpetuated in me.
More on art journals:
My Art Journey and the Lessons I’ve Learned Part II
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umme idris
June 7, 2021 at 3:18 amIt is a tremendous book of an art journal. I really love this book.
lisa
June 7, 2021 at 8:23 amDefinitely. 🙂
LA CONTESSA
May 3, 2021 at 9:27 amA BEAUTIFUL TAKE AWAY FROM THE BOOK YOU READ……..
I ALWAYS FORGET SHE WAS IN A BUS CRASH!
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER HOUSE ONE DAY IN MEXICO!
KEEP JOURNALING!!!!!!I THINK ITS GOOD FOR OUR SOUL.
NO I DONOT DO IT BUT THINK ABOUT IT…………XXX
lisa
May 3, 2021 at 10:46 amThank you, LA CONTESSA. Yes, she went through an incredible physical disability and she channeled her pain into her art and the rest is history, of course. Oooh, I’d love to see her house as well! I really enjoyed the movie about her life starring Salma Hayek as Frida, released in 2002. That was the beginning of my interest in her life story.
Yes, journaling has been a real therapeutic practice. I used to use a sketch book to strictly sketch ideas to paint. Now though, I can do that but I also write, add collage, doodle and try ideas all in one place–my art journal. I love it. It’s freeing. And this book shows that was what Frida was doing from the beginning in her diary. xxx You could try a ‘garden journal’ where you write about and add images of your flower plantings, and designs in your garden. <3
Marie Kléber
May 3, 2021 at 6:27 amThat sounds like a special read and discovery Lisa!
Frida Kahlo, what a woman, what an artist!!
Yes to your quote about art journal…I wonder what the last page will look like. We’re not there yet, but yes one day, it’ll be the end of it all.
Take care Lisa
xoxo
lisa
May 3, 2021 at 10:38 amYes, it was moving. I agree. And it is eerie to think of our last page… 🙁 paint, write and journal like there’s no tomorrow! Thanks, Marie xx
DGKaye
May 1, 2021 at 5:20 pmI wrote an article a few months ago on Frida, who I also think is was a superwoman. I remember you commented on it. Now I need this book! <3
lisa
May 2, 2021 at 9:30 amYes, I absolutely remember that one, Deb! The book is fascinating. Since you are a fan of FK, I think you would appreciate it!
Balroop Singh
April 30, 2021 at 7:33 pmI have never heard that an art book could be so moving… probably I don’t have any friends who read such books. I am amazed at your thoughts about Frida’s book, it sounds fabulous!
I have not got a book from a library for almost 11 years. Kindle has made the availability of books so convenient but such beautiful books need to be read in their physical form.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with The Diary of Frida Kahlo.
lisa
April 30, 2021 at 8:28 pmYes! Well, you have one friend who does 😀 It was really intriguing and it took me a bit to get into it. I used to get books from the library many years ago, then I stopped. I only just got a new library card about two years ago. I love it. It just gives me a lot more choices. And yes, the kindle is wonderful, too. I read mine late at night. I prefer a handheld though. Thanks, Balroop!
Tamara
April 30, 2021 at 5:21 pmWow, this hit me hard. I’d love to read it, and it gives me so much food for thought because you’re right. We all still have a last page.
lisa
April 30, 2021 at 6:00 pmIt’s really beautiful, disturbing, sad, joyful. Raw. I know! ack it really hit me when I got to the her last entry.
Jeff
April 30, 2021 at 2:12 pmThe last page… My current “listen to” book on Audible is Richard Flanagan’s “The Narrow Road to the Deep North.” In these reflections on the narrator’s life (who was an Australian POW interned as a slave to build the Burma Railroad), he notes an old practice of Japanese haiku poets of writing one last poem…
Sounds like you have enjoyed the book–I haven’t checked books out of library in years, but just did this week, a book of poems by Ron Rash, and now I want to own the book! Owning books is one area I need to “give up”
lisa
April 30, 2021 at 3:53 pmSounds interesting, Jeff! One last poem…Do we know when it will be the last? If so, make it good, right? 🙂
I just started getting books from the library again and it’s really been great. There has been one or two that I didn’t like and it’s nice to know I just hand it back. I love to own books and have a good collection. I have limited space though, so I had to get wise about it. For new releases and top 10 books I go to the library as it’s not likely I will want to reread those. This one was magical and I’m considering buying it for my personal library.
I don’t think we can give owning books up. Let me know. 😀