Beginners Guide to Journaling Art to Help You Unleash Your Creative Mind

Journaling is a great way to document your thoughts and feelings, but it can also be used as a form of creative expression.

If you’re looking to unleash your creative mind, try using journaling art as a way to explore your artistic side.

This guide will teach you the basics of art journaling, including how to get started, what supplies you’ll need, and some basic techniques.

Once you’ve learned the basics, you can start creating your own pieces of artwork that represent your unique perspective on life.

You’ll be able to express yourself in ways you never thought possible.

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What is journaling art?

In a nutshell, journaling art is using your journal as a canvas.

It’s not only a way of documenting what you’ve been up to lately but also a medium for self-expression.

You’ll write words and phrases on the pages of your journal in different colors of ink or pencils, adorn it with drawings, photographs, stickers, and other doodads.

Finally, you can also embellish it with bits of found objects or any other items that have meaning to you.

The combination of these items will make your journal truly unique.

The possibilities are endless!

Is journaling art for you?

As long as you love writing and creating, journaling with art is definitely for you.

Anyone can try their hand at a form of self-expression that allows them to unleash their creativity.

Art journaling is particularly fun because it encourages experimentation.

You can use any kind of medium or media, like watercolors or colored pencils.

As long as you love what you produce, it’s art journaling!

Getting Started with Journaling Art

If you are ready to get started with journaling with art, here are some tips to help you on your way.

What supplies will I need?

To get started journaling with art, you’ll need a few supplies that will encourage creativity and experimentation.  

Your supplies will vary depending on what you want to create.

Here is a list of the most basic items that will be helpful in any project:

Journal

Many artists like to use blank journals or composition books for their pages.  

They’re blank slates to decorate and embellish however you want.  

It’s a great way to be creative with art journal pages because you can let the pictures speak for themselves.

Pens and pencils

There’s no limit to the number of pens and pencils you can use on your artwork.

You’ll want to experiment with different colors for your journaling art projects.

Thick, thin, and multi-toned pens are all great choices.  

Different sized pencils also create a varied look on the page that can be interesting and attractive.

Markers in a variety of colors

You’ll need something to write with when you’re creating journaling art.

Many artists prefer using fine-point markers because they leave the smallest lines and will allow you to create more details.

Watercolors and other paints

Watercolors and acrylics are great for adding vibrant color to your art journaling.

Be sure to use paint that is made for use on paper, not canvas or wood, so the colors don’t bleed all over your page.

They’re also great for adding splashes of color when you want to mix it up and try something different.

Stencils

Stencils are a great way to create geometric patterns on your pages.

They’re also very useful for adding words or writing phrases that you can keep or tear out later.

Plus if you are not particularly artistic, this can be a great way to add some cute artwork without much effort.

What type of art journaling should I do?

There are a few different kinds of journaling you can try to help get your creative juices flowing.

Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

Word-Journaling

Use this type of journaling for your everyday thoughts and feelings.

It’s also the most common form of art journaling, so it’s something most artists explore with their journals.  

You can write about anything, like listing the day’s activities or what you’re thankful for.

You can also write a short story, poem, or other pieces of fiction to make your journaling art something more than just words.

Photo-Journaling

If you want to add a visual element to your art journal pages, try using photos from magazines and old photographs.  

Purchase a photo book and then cut and paste the pictures into your journal.

You can also try using these photos as backgrounds for journaling with art if you want to focus on words rather than images.

Paint-Journaling

If you’re looking for a way to explore the arts, this type of journaling is right up your alley.

Try using paint as a medium to illustrate the story you want to tell about your day, relationships, or anything else that is going on in your life.

Paint-Journaling is fun because it doesn’t have any rules and almost anything goes.

Doodle Journaling

Doodles are great for getting your mind flowing with ideas.

They can be used in many different ways, including journaling art.

Use doodles when you’re in the middle of a conversation or when you need to give your hands something to do while your mind is occupied with other things.  

You can also use them when you’re having trouble figuring something out at work or in life.  

Doodles are both fun and artistic, so they’re a great way to express yourself through art journaling.

Journaling Art Inspiration from other Journalers

Creativity is a group effort.

It’s always good to draw inspiration from others, so be sure to explore the art of other people for your next projects.

You may even want to try using some of their art as backgrounds or embellishments on your own pages.

Here are some great examples of art journals:

We love this floral and nature inspiration from @GIIRA.SOOL on Instagram.

It’s a great example of using art to make casual doodles more artistic.

This page combines words with some cool fonts, doodles, patterns, and even hand-lettering.

This art journaling by @dishajournals is another great example of how to create art using collage.

This is a fun project for anyone who loves to bring their inspirations to life on the page.

Here’s a travel-inspired journaling art illustration that we love by @maitesbujo.

This is an excellent example of how to turn your adventures into something artistic.

We love this adorable illustration done by @mads.journaling.

This is a great inspiration for those looking to create something artistic that is more on the cute side.

If you’re looking for art journaling inspiration that will help you get organized, then this example by @perceivegrace is for you.

We love the unique way they used their journal to create this planner spread.

These are just a few examples of how you can use journaling art as a way to explore your creative side.

There are no limits to this type of art, so the only thing that is limiting you is your imagination.

You can also keep these ideas in mind when looking for ways to tell stories through words and doodles.

Final Thoughts

Journaling can be a therapeutic and helpful thing to do.

It will not only help you express yourself, but it will also serve as a way to document your thoughts and feelings for years down the road.  

You’ll look back at your journals and feel like you’re reliving all of the memories you made.

Journaling art can be fun and creative, so give it a try today.

Are you inspired to unleash your own creativity with art journaling?

Share them with us down below.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!