How to start art journaling and 7 prompts to get you going.
Journaling comes in many forms, most of us have heard of or tried writing as a record of our thoughts and emotions (often thought of as a diary, thanks Bridget Jones!) but there are so many other ways to journal. Personally, I love art journaling, but have, over the years, used a daily record journal, a gratitude journal and even a prayer journal. I read somewhere that writing a to do list counts as journaling, which means I journal all the time!
But I digress…
The benefits of journaling are extensive. If you haven’t already read it, check out our blog on the benefits here. Art journaling is a fantastic way to work through your thoughts and emotions, while channelling your creativity. It can improve self-esteem, clarify goals and ambitions and gives you a clear time each day to focus on yourself and your wellbeing. As a new mum, it has been absolutely integral to supporting my mental health and ensuring I don’t lose myself in the demands of being a new mother. It is something I recommend to friends, family and anyone who is willing to spend even 15 minutes a day working on themselves.
Art journaling can be a perfect amalgamation of writing and art, or it can swing back and forth between the two. Personally, I like a mixture of both. When I have intense situations crop up in life, writing my thoughts down helps avoid spiralling into negative emotions, but when I’m dreaming, or looking to the future, I create art.
So without further ado, let’s have a look at how to start an art journal:
Look, there are no hard and fast rules to journaling. You can use scrap paper and get rid of it as soon as you’re done. You can buy a beautiful sketch book or notepad and keep your journal pristine. You can create using a computer; however, journaling works for you, is the right way to journal. But, if you’re stuck thinking you’d like to get started, but have no idea how, this list is for you!
Disclaimer: Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you purchase something through that link, I get a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
1. Buy a journal.
I loved this part so much. I have a real problem when it comes to notebooks, in that I buy FAR too many of them under the guise of using each one for a different topic or plan but in reality, they sit together on my bookcase and look at me while I use my old faithful!
There are a couple of things to consider when you’re buying a notebook for art journaling, most importantly size and paper weight.
If you’re afraid of the blank page (I know it can feel a little intimidating to begin with, but I’ll get to that later) then an A3 sketchbook is probably not where you want to start. I love the Seawhite A5 watercolour sketch book and use this myself. It’s the perfect size for traveling and watercolour doesn’t seep through the page! Or if you’re brave enough this A4 sketch book is perfect.
I’d recommend that you go for a paper weight of at least 170 gsm, but if you’re thinking of dabbling in watercolour or acrylic painting, go for a paper weight of over 300 gsm.
You could even make your own! There’s are plenty of classes online for you to have a look at that take you through this step-by-step. It’s a lot more work, but worth it for a really personalised piece of art work that you can treasure for life.
2. Start with pencil and fine liner
It’s easy to get bogged down in the possibilities of creating art in an art journal and if you’re anything like me, you won’t want to get it wrong, especially if you’re a perfectionist. But if you take one piece of advice from this blog, just do it. Open google, find a flower doodle you like, and just have a go. Do it in pencil, biro, or a fine liner pen, but just get it down on the page. The fear of failing will stop you from doing so much in life, so take one step to overcome it. Your journal is a safe space. You don’t have to share it with anyone in the world unless you choose to. So, use it to challenge your perfectionist boundaries, the quicker you start, the better you’ll get.
If you don’t have stationary just lying around the house (I have FAR too much) pop down to your local supermarket where you’ll be able to get a cheap packet of pencils or biros for less than a couple of pounds or here a couple of packs, I like from Amazon.
3. Once you’ve started making marks, you’ve done it! You’ve started an art journal and I’d just like to say well done. Well done for making a decision to put your mental health and creativity first, keep going!
Now you can start trying some other art methods. This is where it gets exciting, you can learn new skills, brush off old talents and try something you’ve never even considered. I’ve listed a few personal favourites below, but don’t let this list limit you. However you want to create, go for it!
· Watercolour is a wonderful method that takes no set up time but allows you to explore your creativity. Layer colours, try more or less water and see how adding salt to your image helps create shapes and lines that you didn’t expect. This travel water colour set has followed me around the country.
· Acrylic is a little more prep heavy, but worth it for the depth of the pictures you can create. Acrylic dries relatively quickly; I like to paint a background on a morning, let it dry and use it as the base of my doodles when I sit to journal later. A basic acrylic set will get you started along with a small brush set.
· Collage is an incredibly fun way to journal. Think art class in school, with PVA glue dried all over your hands, Papier Mache and old magazines. Only this time you’re doing it for a reason. I recommend choosing some predesigned paper pieces to use as your backgrounds. Along with Pritt Stick and a printer, you’ll never be stuck for inspiration. Try this origami paper to get you started with collage .
4. Pick a prompt and GO!
Now you’ve got a journal, you’ve considered some different art methods that you can try and you may have even created a few doodles but to really dig into journaling, you need to do it for a purpose. Below I’ve listed you 7 prompts to get you started along with a little direction for each if you’re feeling stuck
Prompt 1 – Your favourite flower
As I said earlier, taking a doodle from google is a really simple way to get started with journaling. To take the thoughts even further, while you’re doodling consider the following:
Why is this flower your favourite?
What thoughts are coming up for you as you start to doodle your flowers? Are they kind thoughts, or are they negative?
When was the last time you bought yourself a bunch of flowers?
Prompt 2 – Your favourite song
There are a couple of ways to take this prompt. You could stick your favourite song on and let the art flow through you. If you’re feeling a little less inspired, have a read through the lyrics to your favourite song. Which line speaks to you the most? Write it out in big letters in the centre of your page and paint around it. Take time to honour the memories the song brings up for you.
Prompt 3 – A photo, a memory
Paint a background using watercolour or acrylic. Stick your photo down once your background is dry and write. Write whatever comes to mind when you look at this photo. Be honest, be authentic, be you.
Prompt 4 – Calligraphy
If you can access YouTube, you can learn calligraphy. Write your favourite word, your name, your dreams.
Prompt 5 – Finger painting
There’s nothing quite a liberating as using your body to create art. Dip your fingers in the medium and make marks. What shapes can you make? What happens when you apply different pressures? How does it feel to be creating in this way?
Prompt 6 – Which season?
I love autumn, I love the colours, the temperature, the jumpers, and scarves. One of my favourite prompts led me to create a collage based around this season.
Prompt 7 – I wish I’d known
Paint a background using watercolour or acrylic. You could also create a collage to use as your backdrop. Now, write to your younger self. What do you wish you’d known?
How to journal for something specific
· For improved self esteem
Paint a self portrait. This one may seem daunting, I know that painting people is hard, especially when you’re out of practice; the thing to remember here, is that you’re not practicing your art skill specifically, you’re using it as a way to explore your feelings. I go through this in more detail as part of my art journaling course (you can sign up for classes here), but for now, while you look at yourself in the mirror and as you make your marks on the page try to observe your thoughts as they pass through. There may be positive thoughts, negative thoughts or even impassive thoughts. What feelings do they bring up in you? Are they your feelings or feelings you’ve been taught to have, by your parents or by society?
· To clarify your goals
Create a collage. Start by searching through magazines, books and the internet, copy and cut images that represent your dream future. Stick them in your journal. Take your time here, these are your dreams; when your dreams are stuck down, write affirmations around them. E.g “I will get the job I want”, “I will travel to Bora Bora before I am 30”. It’s important to be specific here. When will you meet your goals? Take your time to read through your affirmations and return to this page often. The more you manifest your goals, the more you’ll see them as reality.
· To be more calm
Journaling, specifically art journaling can be a fantastic tool for meditation. This can be colouring block shapes, filling shapes with dots/circles or stripes or even creating mandalas (join the art journaling course to learn how to create mandalas from scratch). As you draw these notice your mind and where it travels. If you lose yourself to your thoughts, don’t panic, just bring your focus back to your lines, to your pencil, to your breath.
I hope this blog helps you get started in the wonderful world of art journaling. Each time you journal, you choose to take time for yourself. You deserve that time. If you can, make journaling a regular habit, for example daily or weekly, it has been shown to increase the benefits observed though even once is enough to make a difference.
Remember, this is about you. Whatever you want to create, however it makes you feel, you’re doing something incredible in giving yourself this focussed time.
Have fun!