Art journaling: what, how and why
“An art journal is a notebook that you fill with drawings, paintings, thoughts, words, lyrics, photos, magazine cut-outs and ephemera from your life. It can have lots of words or no words. You can use it to document your life and express your emotions, or you can use it to practice art techniques that interest you. But ultimately, art journaling is all about creating for the sake of creating.”
You may have heard of art journaling or seen it on Pinterest or Instagram, but arenât sure what it is or how to get started. Maybe you've even attempted it and found that it wasn't as easy as people said it would be. This article will help answer all your questions about art journalingâfrom what it is and how to get started, all the way up to tips for improving your skills and accessorising (probably over-accessorising, letâs be fair) your new favourite hobby.
What is art journaling?
My art journal practice is all about embracing the messy middle and breaking the tyranny of the blank page. Itâs about smudges, mistakes, perfect imperfection, and just getting those expressions down on paper. Art supplies I love include any combination of pencils, paint, printing, imagery (drawings, photographs) and words.
What exactly is it, though?
Art journaling is a form of personal art and visual journaling. Itâs a creative process that can be used to record your life, express your feelings, explore ideas, capture memories, research new topics and practice skills. Art journaling can be done in many different waysâby writing or doodling on paper; painting on canvas; using glue and other materials found around the house (such as twigs or leaves or in my case, pieces of your babyâs cast-off clothes, or old photos); using pencils, pens or markers; collage work with cut-out images from magazines or printed pictures glued onto the pageâthe list goes on!
Art journaling is a personal and private process where you have total freedom to experiment with different media and techniques until you create something that speaks to you personally. Thereâs no right way or wrong way when it comes down to it: just follow your artistic instincts!
The best thing about it is that, while you see loads of it shared every day on social media, art journaling doesnât have to be for anyoneâs eyes but your own.
What makes an art journal different from other journals?
An art journal is a place to store all your creative ideas, record your thoughts, feelings and experiences. It's where you doodle and paint, collage and cut out. Most importantly, it's the perfect place to keep all your art supplies.
In this way, itâs easy to see how itâs much more than just another form of diary or notebook that holds your personal letters or other documents. It's an invaluable tool in helping you create artworkâany time of the day or night.
Who can art journal?
Art journaling is for everyone! Itâs an accessible, non-judgemental form of art that can be practiced by anyone at any age, with or without experience in the visual arts. Whether you're a kid just learning to draw or an expert painter looking to try something new, art journaling has something for you. It's also great if you have tried it before but want something new and differentâor maybe even if you have never tried it before!
Iâve been drawing since I could hold a pencil, but I never went to art college - and thatâs fine. My art journal doesnât care if Iâm good or bad at what I make, just that itâs filled up with art.
How do I get started with art journaling?
Start by choosing a notebook, with either paper or canvas pages (or both!). You can also use fabric.
I find that my favourite and most fulfilling creations are born out of limitation. The books Iâve been creating in recent months, and the art inside them, has been smaller and smaller - and Iâm loving it! Thatâs why I suggest you choose a theme for your art journal. This is the first step towards making journaling an enjoyable process. A good theme will help you stay focused throughout the entire process of creating your art journal and will give you something meaningful to focus on when things are getting difficult or boring.
Now you can choose your mediums: (in my case, itâs, uh, all of them. ALL. THE. MEDIUMS.): paint, pencils, pens and ink are just some of the many possibilities! Tools such as brushes are also important because they allow us freedom without any restrictions whatsoever so make sure they're nice enough quality before purchasing them - otherwise they may break easily which could be very stressful if there aren't any backups available (but again, in my case, there usually is. So many backups. Why buy one of something when you can have 10?). You might want to consider adding some adhesive materials like glue sticks onto this list too; although not necessary for completing most projects successfully - these could come in handy during emergencies where we need extra assistance from unexpected sources such as friends/family members who donât know anything about arts & crafts etc...
What tools do I need for art journaling?
There are a lot of materials available for art journaling. You can use literally anythingâfrom old magazines and newspapers to coffee filters, cardboard and paint. It's up to you!
“If youâre looking at all your new art materials and are feeling awash with overwhelm (ah yes, my old friend), pick two things and just start making marks with those in your book. You might be surprised where you end up.”
One thing is for sure though: You'll need something to write with or draw on. Some great options include pens like dual brush pens (which are like paint brushes) or colouring pencils if you're looking for something more traditional. To add texture and dimension, try using glue sticks or even your fingers as tools.
If you're feeling fancy and have some extra cash lying around, I highly recommend buying some nice watercolour paper blocks at your local craft shop. I love their soft feel and how they react under basically any medium Iâve tried so far on them.
Why should I try art journaling?
Art journaling is a great way to express yourself.
Art journaling helps you be creative.
Art journaling helps you be more mindful.
Art journaling is a great way for people who get blocked in their creativity, like me, to get back in touch with it! Thanks to art journaling Iâve started writing again, which is better than anything I could have expected.
Art journaling is a fun, flexible and easy way to unlock your creativity
It's also important to note that art journaling doesn't have to be confined to paper - it can include other materials like fabric, wood or even glass. The possibilities are endless.
So, with all that said: there are many ways to get started with art journaling. I hope that this article has given you an idea of what itâs all about. Donât be afraid to experiment and have fun!
If youâre looking at all your new art materials and are feeling awash with overwhelm (ah yes, my old friend), pick two things and just start making marks with those in your book. You might be surprised where you end up.