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
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