Tips for Starting an Art Journal

Journals come in all shapes, sizes, and varieties. Some people choose to keep a daily 
journal, while others prefer the gratitude or goal setting journal. If you are turning to 
journaling as a way to express your creativity, art journaling is probably for you. Here 
are some tips for starting your first art journal.


Use a Sketchbook

The number one thing to remember is that this is not like a traditional journal. You are 
using mostly art supplies for your journal pages, which means you need paper that can 
withstand chalk, acrylic paint, watercolors, and more. Find a sketchbook that allows for 
multi-media art pages. Watercolor takes a lot of water, so if you are using mainly 
watercolor paints, get a watercolor sketchbook.


Create with Multi-Media

Art journals can become whatever you want them to be, but you are most likely going to 
use many different forms of media to create your pages. Many people purposely do art 
journals for the visual and creative aspect. This means choosing any media or medium 
you like to use for creating, but also trying new things. Maybe you typically use 
watercolor, but want to try out acrylics or just drawing with pen. Maybe you are a sketch 
artist, but want to learn how to use Gouache. This can all be done right in your art 
journal.


Paint or Color Your Letters

When adding letters or words to the pages, consider using paint or colored pencils for 
them, as opposed to just writing them in pen. It makes it a lot of fun and really channels 
your inner creativity. Find different ways to write your letters, design them, add color or 
patterns to block letters, and so much more. 


Include Printed Photographs

A lot of art journals also use pictures or photographs. Not just pictures you create 
yourself by drawing or painting them, but taking photographs and printing them to add to 
your journal, or just printing different images you find online that capture your mood or 
the design you are trying to get across on those art journal pages. 


Be in a Mindful Headspace

For your art journal to become a therapeutic process, try to get into a mindful state 
before you start creating. Art journaling is a wonderful way to express yourself, so by 
channeling what you are feeling and thinking at any given time, you can really explore 
that visually in your art journal.




