Month: September 2024

Posted on

How to Start an Art Journal

Let’s Get Started

Creating an art journal may seem daunting at first but it’s important to keep it simple and most of all, make it fun. So let’s start at the beginning with some easy tasks.

Pick a Journal

In an earlier post, I described the types of journals you can use depending on what techniques you would like to explore: blank, dotted, lined, or graphed journals. I believe it’s easier to start with a blank journal and thick paper weight so you can try different media.

Pick a Medium

The possibilities are endless: colored pencils, markers, gel pens, watercolors, acrylics, to name a few. In a future post, I will go over all the fun choices for art supplies. I started with student quality watercolors so that I could practice and they are less expensive.

Pick Decorative Elements

There are so many choices for decorative elements to use in your art journal: stickers, paper scraps, washi tape, collage fodder and more. Again, I will explore all of these in detail in a future post. One of my favorites and easy to use is washi tape so I would recommend it.

Pick Art Supplies

I would suggest starting easy on this as, at the beginning, you won’t know yet what art techniques you will be experimenting with. So just get some basics. If you’re going to use colored pencils, you will need sharpeners and erasers. For watercolors and acrylics, you will need brushes and a palette. Also, it’s good to have glue sticks, tape, scissors, and an exacto knife for collage techniques.

Create a Journal Page

A journal page can be anything really and I have so much more to show you and share in future posts. But in the picture I shared in this post, I’m featuring one of my very first journal pages to get me inspired and keep me going. I used a watercolor journal with a pretty floral cover, a round brush, an inexpensive set of watercolors, washi tape, and a gel pen.

What’s Next

So what to do with the above supplies? I decided to make swatches of all the colors in the watercolor set so that I could get familiar with the different shades and hues. To make the little squares even, I used washi tape and created a grid, then filled in each square with a different color. Finally, I wrote “Beginnings” at the bottom of the journal page. This was such a fun and relaxing exercise, one of many more to follow.

Go For It

So are you ready to start your first journal page? Let me know in the comments what kind of journals, media, and techniques you’re interested in and if you have any questions. Also, a quick note to thank my new subscribers–I hope you’re enjoying the content so far and have been inspired to start on this art journey. Until next time, happy journaling!

Last Updated on October 5, 2024 by creative

Posted on

A Place for Art Journaling

Where do you journal? If you’re an introvert like me, you probably prefer journaling in a quiet place – maybe at your desk or at the kitchen table – a cup of tea in hand. But lately, I have also tried to branch out and try different places to journal – a coffee shop, out in the park, at the library – or in my backyard.

That said, I have a dedicated (albeit small) space in my home for my creative endeavors. I have a simple art desk where I can spend some time at the end of the work day to create a journal page. I personalized my desk with accessories that I find soothing and fun – artsy knick-knacks that I have collected over the years.

Creating art is a process that does require concentration and can be meditative and an exercise in mindfulness. But it can also be a shared experience if you, for example, journal with a friend who enjoys the same hobby, or attend get togethers for art journaling.

In my town, there are book/coffee shops that hold weekly gatherings for people to create journal pages together, share ideas, encourage and learn from each other. I have yet to try this but plan on doing so in the near future.

Meanwhile, my favorite place is still the little space that I have carved out for myself in my home. When it’s nice out, I also find myself sitting at the table on our deck, perhaps sketching a flower from my garden and enjoying the sunshine.

No matter where you journal, it’s always an experience that leaves you more relaxed and centered – and an opportunity for self-reflection and connection.

So what’s your favorite place to journal? Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts here.

Last Updated on September 23, 2024 by creative

Posted on

Journal Covers

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover but I have always been fascinated by beautiful and unique journal covers. Although art journaling is a relatively new hobby, I have been journaling the “traditional” way for many years. So I have quite a collection of journals, some filled with words and art and some still blank, waiting for imagination to strike.

Every time I go to a book store, I can’t help but browse through the stationery section looking for journals and art supplies. I love colorful covers and usually pick a journal if the cover inspires me. Then I make sure it’s suited for whichever purpose I intend it to use.

The journal featured in this post is blank so I will probably create a combination of art, words, and collages in it. I liked the cover because it says “Inspired” on it and I thought it was imaginative and encouraging to create in it.

I often use affirmations in my art journaling and what is more affirming than being inspired? It’s a positive thought that helps me create. All you have to do is look around and there is so much to be inspired by. Today, for example, it was a sunny day and leaves are starting to fall, basking in golden light. It sounds like a new page to be created in my art journal.

What inspires you to create? Feel free to comment and start a conversation. Until next time, have a wonderful weekend.

Last Updated on September 16, 2024 by creative

Posted on

All Kinds of Journals

Introduction

Journals come in all shapes and sizes: bound, spiral, big and small, dotted, lined, blank, graphed, to name a few. Also, the paper quality and weight can differ depending on the purpose of the journal. Below are some examples.

Dotted

When I first started art journaling, I chose a small dotted journal because it didn’t seem overwhelming to fill out. Also, the dotted lines helped keep my handwriting straight and as a guide for my artwork creations. Dotted journals can also be used for planners.

Graphed

Graphed journals are also great for the same purpose – to align artwork and designs on the page and create geometric patterns, for example. They also help keep handwriting straight and neat. You can also easily add frames in a graphed journal around your artwork.

Lined

Lined journals are best for traditional “diaries” where you are jotting down your thoughts, feelings, and personal narratives. That said, a lined journal can also be used for incorporating art and pasting collages. Rules can be broken (no pun intended).

Sketchbook

If you plan on painting in a journal, it’s best to get at least 300 gsm paper weight for watercolors. Otherwise, the lower the gsm, the more the paper will buckle as it dries. Sometimes what I do is I paint my artwork on separate watercolor paper and then I cut it and paste it into a blank journal page.

Blank

A blank journal is just like having a blank canvas, allowing you to create anything you want on a page. Just be mindful of the paper weight depending on what materials you are using. When using pens, gel pens, markers, and highlighters, a thicker paper works better so color doesn’t show through on the opposite page. This is especially important to keep in mind if you are creating art on a page spread.

Final Thoughts

You can also make your own journal, but that’s a post for another day. So are you ready to get yourself a nice little journal and start creating? Or maybe you are already journaling and want to try some of the other formats I mentioned above? I hope my suggestions were helpful, but please feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions.

Last Updated on October 5, 2024 by creative

Posted on

Art Journaling: Beginnings

What is art journaling and where to begin? Back in January of this year, I was looking for a new creative outlet and I thought why not combine art and writing which are two of my favorite things.

I already had a few journals laying around but the one that caught my eye was this small dotted journal with a cheerful botanical cover. Given my love of anything floral, that was the perfect journal for me to start my art journey.

An art journal can be filled with anything you want but I always try to incorporate a little something that I have drawn or painted, a collage, and an inspirational quote. In the beginning, I also used stickers, paper scraps, and washi tape as decorative elements. Anything goes and the idea is to have fun with it and make it enjoyable.

My first art journal lasted a few months and became quite worn out as I filled every page with whatever came to mind day by day. Each page had some kind of theme, whether it was driven by color composition, a thought, a feeling, an idea, or simply something I experienced that day.

I would put together my creations usually at night, after a long day at work and much need for relaxation and winding down. I found it therapeutic so I kept up with it and then I thought why not create a website as well and share this found joy with the rest of the world.

So I did and here we are.

If you want to embark on this journey along with me, all you need to start is a journal of your choice, a pen, a pencil, a sticker or two, maybe some glue and the willingness to try out something new.

Last Updated on September 8, 2024 by creative

Posted on

Welcome to My Art Journaling Site!

I am so excited to continue on my art journey and share it with you as I fill up my journals with artwork, images, and positive thoughts. I became interested in art journaling at the beginning of this year and so far I have found it to be rewarding, fun, and relaxing.

I have learned so much just by practicing every day and experimenting with different media and materials. I have tried painting, sketching, drawing, collage, and mixed media. Some of the materials I use are watercolors, acrylics, colored pencils, markers, and gel pens.

As I also love writing, I always include a positive or inspirational quote in my artwork. I have been enjoying collecting all kinds of journals where I can do my artwork: lined, graphed, dotted, or blank. I especially like choosing journals with beautiful covers.

I have so much to share and can’t wait to show you some of the fun techniques I have learned. Art can be such a therapeutic hobby and I am so glad I decided to embark on this journey. I hope you will follow along and create with me!

Thank you for being here!

Last Updated on September 8, 2024 by creative