Aug 9, 20205 min read

Creating an Art Journal - Let's Get Started (Ideas & Inspiration)

What is Art Journaling?

Art journaling is a visual diary and a great creative way to express your creativity within a journal.You can use art journals to record your thoughts and express emotions while exploring different artistic styles. If you enjoy writing and making art (whether it’s drawing or mixed media art), starting an art journal would be an excellent idea for your next creative project. Creative Art Ideas - Starting a Art Journal Project Each day look at a prompt idea below and create your page. There are no rules, no right or wrong way, you can make it however you like. Some art journals are like sketchbooks, others like scrapbooks, you can use any type of media, drawing, painting, writing, cut out pictures, materials or copy meaningful phrases. The emotional and stress relieving benefits are the key to creating your own journal in expressing your own creativity through thoughts and ideas. Its your own private and personal space and can be about anything you want. It doesn't have to be perfect ..... Take the first step.....

Art journaling for me is a wonderful way to do some reflective thinking and grow both personally and spiritually in releasing emotions and stress. Lets start:

Find the right media for you Start by looking at where you are now Look at the things that inspire you You can use a A4 drawing pad or loose paper

Keep loose pages in a folder as a visual reminder all in one place.

Art Journaling supplies - Art journal mixed media

These supplies are a great for art journaling:

1. Watercolour paints or watercolour pencils.

2. Acrylic paint.

3. Coloured pencils.

4. A variety of pens, from fine-tipped to thick brushes.

5. White ink.

6. Glue sticks (for collage)

7. Old magazines, newspaper, or other interesting papers.

A - Z Ideas

Adventures (Travel or Holidays)

The idea to make a picture with a central image which can be anything that reflects an adventure, holiday, day out or travelling for you.

Something that symbolises this for me a seashell.

Then think of the places or adventures you would like to discover or revisit or try something new and write these around the symbol.

Circles – Notice all the circles and round shapes around you. Notice how they vary perfect, imperfect shapes ovals natural or man made. Use this to inspire your creativity through art writing or any way you like.

Journey and circles Colouring In Find a picture and colour it in in any coloured pens or pencils. Look for ideas either online and print or from a colouring book for adults.

Feather A simple feather created in pencil crayon free flow lines of many colours easy and therapeutic to draw.

First name Initial - Use the first letter of your name to create ........ D for me is Bee. My name in hebrew means Bee a symbol of community, brightness and personal power. Bees are also a symbol of wealth, good luck and prosperity since Ancient times. Also Bee Happy (be Happy) 🐝🐝🐝🐝 a relaxing and creative project or ubeehappy2 as I like to use.

My Initial D and what it means to me

Kindness Kindness improves our quality of life and brings people together. Doing good for others feels good. Showing kindness to others is just as rewarding as receiving it from someone else.

Lines: Notice the variations in lines straight, wiggly, short, long, thick, thin, natural, man-made, the colour, depth, etc. How can you use this to inspire your creativity today?

Lockdown 2020 - 23rd March 2020 - 20th July 2020 I have created a visual reflection of Lockdown in the UK to capture this time from 23rd March 2020 till today 20th July 2020. There are no rules, no right or wrong way, you can make it however you like.

Art Journaling supplies - mixed media

Digital media pictures

Watercolour paints or watercolour pencils.
Acrylic paint.
Coloured pencils.
Cut out from magazines.

Message to your past self. Think about a time in the past when you wish you'd had more information about the future. Maybe you wanted reassurance or there was advice you needed but never received. This can be about something super important or something fairly trivial. You can choose to create a poem, a phrase, or just focus on a phrase or two. You can create your own happiness

MUSIC - Here is a project for my Art Journal music that inspires me and why? Music has such a profound influence in our lives though our styles may change over the years. Choose a song with personal meaning to you and create an art journal page using the lyrics For me it has to be one that has been constantly with me and never changes its life message I have a Dream - ABBA

Pattern - Express Yourself with Oil Pastels and Watercolour Paints Creating an abstract free flow pattern with oil pastels and water colour paint.

Pets - Angel Fish One of my all time favourite tropical fish is the Angel fish. If you could chose a pet what would it be?

Self Care - The best way to do this is to implement tiny self-care habits every day. To regularly include in your life a little bit of love and attention for your own body, mind, and soul.

Create an image to portray yourself and include words that are important to you.

(Step by step details are available at link)

Take a look at myself

Smell: Our sense of smell is closely linked to our memories and emotions. As you think of the word home, what smells come to mind? If you need any suggestions:

Lemons
Fresh Cur Grass
Coffee
Homemade Cookies
Fabric softener fresh washed sheets
Scented candle
Vanilla sticks
Fresh flowers
Open window fresh air
Essential oil diffuser
Chocolate cake

Sheets blowing in the wind The future in your hands In looking at the future and what we would like to achieve, follow, have more time for, enjoy or dream capture in your hands so that you hold the power to choose. Firstly, with a pencil sketch the outline of your hand and draw around with outline a black pen. Next think about the things that are important to you and add words or images in the hand.

Waves and Under the sea There is beauty around me and their is beauty in my heart. The sea captures this perfectly for me my imagination can create colourful scenes. "As we dream in colours captured by the sea."