Journals aren’t just for writers.
Journaling is a fantastic activity for everyone. It can help folks clear their minds, plan their projects, or organize their lives.
Writers may prefer traditional lined journals to help them jot down story ideas, crafters may have bullet journals to track their latest projects, and artists rely on art journals to sketch and blueprint their vision.
What is an Art Journal?
An art journal is a special type of journal designed specifically with an artist’s needs in mind. Most feature unlined, heavier paper that can handle multiple media types, including watercolor and acrylic paints.
Artists can either buy an art journal or make their own. A junk journal lends itself to art journaling because it’s made from recycled paper or ephemera, which can be integrated into the art journal to form collage art. Alternatively, thick recycled paper like card stock can make an excellent base for mixed-media art. Making a journal offers artists an additional creative outlet.
Store-bought art journals work just as well. If you don’t want to create your own journal, you can buy a standard art journal at any craft store.
What Can I Use My Art Journal For?
You can use your journal however you like. Some use it like a sketchbook, while others try to design their paintings in the pages. Rather than using it for the work itself, some artists use it to jot down project ideas or record their creative process.
You could even work (paint, draw, create!) directly on the pages. There’s no limit to how you can use it, as long as you have the right paper for your medium.
For example, if you wish to use watercolors in your art journal, you must ensure the paper can handle watercolor, or it will tear. However, some papers can handle any medium, so as long as you design (or purchase) the journal with your intended use in mind, you’ll be fine.
Art Journal Ideas
Here are some fabulous art journal ideas to help you get started. You can integrate all of these ideas into the same journal or maintain a separate notebook for different forms of artistic expression.
Sketchbook
Many people use their art journals as simple sketchbooks. Take it to the park to draw the birds, bring it to the coffee shop to sketch your imaginary monsters, or take it on the bus to illustrate the sights of the city around you—sketch portraits of your friends and family. Use the margins for doodling.
Drawing is a wonderful way to engage your creativity because you will never run out of things to draw.
Supply List
If you’re a serious crafter, you may see things that inspire your next project while you’re out and about. Use your journal to record the supplies you need to create something spectacular. Maybe you saw the perfect fabric design, a new color for crocheting, or a unique medium you want to explore.
Record these ideas in your journal so you can return to them when you’re out shopping for supplies for your next project.
Idea Holder
In addition to a supply list, you may want to use your journal to record ideas for your next project, whether it be a story, craft, or painting.
You never know when inspiration will strike, so having a portable art journal allows you to record those ideas wherever you are, so you don’t lose your spark of creativity.
On-the-Go Easel
The best use of an art journal is as a portable easel. Paint in it!
Your art journal could serve as an on-the-go easel, ensuring you always have someplace to paint when inspiration strikes. Our resident artist B. Gill keeps a little art go-bag with him that has a portable watercolor kit, paintbrush, and his art journal, so he never misses an opportunity to paint a gorgeous scene. He pulls it out whenever inspiration strikes.
Using your art journal to Plein air paint a scene will give you a perfect frame of reference for when you’re ready to create your masterpiece in the studio later.
Project Design
An art journal is an excellent tool for designing your future artistic creations. Use it to sketch out aspect ratios, dimensions, and rough drafts of paintings.
Designing projects is a big part of an artist’s work. Although many may want to use a more sophisticated tool like a drawing tablet to map out project ideas, an art journal is a far cheaper way to get the ideas out on paper before fine-tuning the details back in the art studio.
Scrapbook
Art journals make unique, make-shift scrapbooks. An art journal-scrapbook combo is a beautiful way to record your memories while adding artistic flair. Glue event tickets into your journal and sketch an image of the concert next to it. Trace your favorite photos into the journal. Tape a picture onto one page and try to sketch it on the other. Create a visual journey of your life.
The only limit to how you can use your art journal for scrapbooking is your imagination.
Creative Writing
Many people forget that writing is an art. There is nothing wrong with using your art journal for creative writing.
Use it to write poetry, sketch out your storyboard, or record ideas you have for your next novel. Mix it up with character sketches, outlines, and short stories.
Need help boosting your creativity? Grab our creative writing prompts!
Educational Tool
If you are a student of art, whether casually or pursuing a fine art degree, you may want to use your art journal as an educational tool. Take your journal to an art museum and study the works of your favorite painter. Try to recreate their masterpieces.
Explore local art galleries and record what you notice about contemporary art. How are artists using color theory, layering, and texture to create their works?
Students of art history may want to explore the types of artworks created in a given time period and may wish to cross-reference these works with political movements of the time. You can fill your art journal pages with artistic history from around the world.
Whatever You Want
There is no limit to how you can use your journal. Use it to design your next sculpture, as a diary, practice calligraphy, or create mixed media works. Fill your journal pages with imagery from your travels.
Use it for all these things combined. The sky is the limit!
How Do I Start My Art Journal?
Now that you have ideas for using your art journal, it’s time to put them into practice and start journaling. The best way to start is to take your journal with you and write or draw whenever inspiration strikes.
Don’t worry about crafting the perfect story or sketching the ideal image. Your art journal should inspire you and help you achieve your goals as an artist. Nothing in it needs to be perfect.
Best Art Journal Supplies
Hey folks! Transparency Disclosure- Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. That means I’ll receive a small commission if you decide to click on it and buy something. Don’t worry, it doesn’t cost you anything extra!
Depending on how you will use your journal, you may need various supplies for art journaling. Some common things you may consider are:
- Paint brushes
- Oil pastels
- Mediums
- Stencils
- Acrylic paint
- Watercolors
- Glitter
- Stamps
- Colored Pencils and pens
- Sketching pencils
- Stickers
- Charcoal
- Graphite
- Ink
This list isn’t meant to be exhaustive, nor do you need to get everything on it. Wander through your local craft store’s arts and scrapbooking section for inspiration.
Best Art Journals
If you don’t want to make your own art journal, you can easily buy one.
Moleskine is a highly regarded journal company that creates ideal art journals. Their typical art journals are suitable for sketching with graphite or charcoal but may not be ideal for drawing and painting with watercolor paints or acrylics.
Strathmore makes a wide variety of art journals for different uses. The mixed media journal will hold Watercolor, gouache, acrylic, graphite, pen & ink, colored pencil, marker, pastel, and collage, making it one of the most versatile art journals you can buy. Strathmore also makes watercolor journals and sketchbooks.
If you don’t want to give your money to a giant corporation, consider searching art journals on Etsy. You’ll get a unique journal while supporting an independent artist.
These journals may not work well with oil paints, but you might get around that by covering the pages with a layer of gesso and letting it dry before applying the oil.
Grab Your Art Journal!
Are you inspired to start your next art project? An art journal is a perfect tool to help you get started. Grab yours and make art today.