If you're new to Art Journal Every Day, there is a short introduction here. All of the previous posts can be found archived here. Remember, it's just ten minutes of nourishing your creative self every day! No need to finish anything or even like it. If you've done some art journaling this week, use the hashtag #artjournaleveryday so that we can all take a peek. Even if you're not on social media, you can see everything (from twitter, pinterest, instagram, and facebook) that uses that hashtag here.
As I mentioned last week, January 1 is a date when we all decide to be better and do more. Last week I shared a bit about starting/committing to a Bullet Journal. This week I'm going to talk a bit about starting/committing to an Art Journal. They're not mutually exclusive. I do both. But you may want to choose just one.
Let's begin.
Why Art Journal?
- To improve your artistic skills.
- To increase your art product knowledge.
- To experiment with ideas and techniques.
- To have a place to put all of those "art parts" — leftover bits and bobs from classes, experiments, projects that didn't get finished.
- To clear your mind — that's the benefit of the journaling part of art journaling.
- To ensure that you make some kind of art on a regular basis.
- Also, read this post I wrote on the top 5 reasons to art journal.
But I don't have the time.
You do have the time. I've been preaching the "ten minutes a day" method for years and years. Watch this video from 2013, done in 10 minute increments:
I swear to you, it's shocking how much you can get done in ten minutes. Over time, you can fill journal after journal!
So, how do I get started?
- You need a journal and a pen.
- Other things that are nice to have (this could be a really long list, so I'll stick with what I use on a daily basis): adhesive, paint, markers, stamps, and a black ink pad. The fact is, any art supplies you already own can work in an art journal.
- You can take a class. You can watch video tutorials. But before you get the notion that there's a "right" way to do things, I encourage you to block out all the noise about how other people are art journaling and just do it however it comes naturally. There's plenty of time to refine and rework and control and improve. In the beginning, you need to just do stuff.
- Open your journal. Write. Draw. Color. Stamp. Paint. Stencil. Play.
I already art journal, but kind of sporadically.
- First, good for you! I will remind you that art journaling should be fun and not a burden and if sporadically works for you, continue to rock on!
- If you want to become a more regular art journaler, read on!
- To ensure that art journaling becomes a regular habit, I encourage you to gather a very simple journal kit — mine is journal, pen, and markers. This way, even when you're strapped for time, you can grab it and make a little art — sitting on the couch, at the kitchen counter, even sitting at the doctor's office, etc.
- If you want to make a daily commitment, start with a small goal: 10 minutes every day this week. See how it feels for a week. Is it killing you? Is there a time of day that works better? Is there a set up you need to create in order to make it work for you? You can learn a lot from just seven days.
- Consider a prompt system. There are a ton of great "art prompt" lists out there. When you sit down to create and draw a blank, a prompt gives you a jumping off point. Here's a list you could use for January:
Some people love prompts. Others find them stifling. But they're a good tool to have when you're stuck for ideas!
So that you can see my art journaling journey. Here are pages from January through the years. You'll note that I was a sporadic art journaler in the beginning so there weren't always pages from January available.
2007:
2008 (October 2008):
2009 (not sure what month):
2010:
2011 (actually from September 2011 — I couldn't find anything earlier in 2011):
2012 (actually from April 2012 — couldn't find anything earlier):
2013:
2014:
2015:
2016:
2017:
What will 2018 look like?!
Also, keep in mind that I've been art journaling for TEN years! Sporadically. But, with fair regularity in the last 4 or 5 years. Don't compare where you are in your journey with me or anyone else! I hope that 2018 will be your year for art journaling!!
Thanks for stopping by!
thank you for all that you give on your instagram and website!
Happy New Year to you!
thank you for all that you give on your instagram and website!
Happy New Year to you!
thank you for all that you give on your instagram and website!
Happy New Year to you!
thank you for all that you give on your instagram and website!
Happy New Year to you!
thank you for all that you give on your instagram and website!
Happy New Year to you!
thank you for all that you give on your instagram and website!
Happy New Year to you!
So inspiring .
So inspiring .
So inspiring .
So inspiring .
So inspiring .
So inspiring .
Going to pull out my neglected art journal today and commit to 10 minutes a day for the next week. Thanks for the nudge and the inspiration, Julie!
Going to pull out my neglected art journal today and commit to 10 minutes a day for the next week. Thanks for the nudge and the inspiration, Julie!
Going to pull out my neglected art journal today and commit to 10 minutes a day for the next week. Thanks for the nudge and the inspiration, Julie!
Going to pull out my neglected art journal today and commit to 10 minutes a day for the next week. Thanks for the nudge and the inspiration, Julie!
Going to pull out my neglected art journal today and commit to 10 minutes a day for the next week. Thanks for the nudge and the inspiration, Julie!
Going to pull out my neglected art journal today and commit to 10 minutes a day for the next week. Thanks for the nudge and the inspiration, Julie!
Julie, thank you for this post. I’ve been way sporadic, and needed new motivation. Today I’ll start 10 minute daily art journaling. With peace and gratitude, Jamila | http://thebeatofblossoms.com
Julie, thank you for this post. I’ve been way sporadic, and needed new motivation. Today I’ll start 10 minute daily art journaling. With peace and gratitude, Jamila | http://thebeatofblossoms.com
Julie, thank you for this post. I’ve been way sporadic, and needed new motivation. Today I’ll start 10 minute daily art journaling. With peace and gratitude, Jamila | http://thebeatofblossoms.com
Julie, thank you for this post. I’ve been way sporadic, and needed new motivation. Today I’ll start 10 minute daily art journaling. With peace and gratitude, Jamila | http://thebeatofblossoms.com
Julie, thank you for this post. I’ve been way sporadic, and needed new motivation. Today I’ll start 10 minute daily art journaling. With peace and gratitude, Jamila | http://thebeatofblossoms.com
Julie, thank you for this post. I’ve been way sporadic, and needed new motivation. Today I’ll start 10 minute daily art journaling. With peace and gratitude, Jamila | http://thebeatofblossoms.com
I love seeing the evolution of your style. Even though th pages are different there’s something distinctly Julie about each one…
I love seeing the evolution of your style. Even though th pages are different there’s something distinctly Julie about each one…
I love seeing the evolution of your style. Even though th pages are different there’s something distinctly Julie about each one…
I love seeing the evolution of your style. Even though th pages are different there’s something distinctly Julie about each one…
I love seeing the evolution of your style. Even though th pages are different there’s something distinctly Julie about each one…
I love seeing the evolution of your style. Even though th pages are different there’s something distinctly Julie about each one…
I agree….thank you for all that you share and add to my arting inspiration and experience. I love using my calligraphy pen and did not think to draw with it in my art journal. Brilliant ways to use art materials! I have your feather stencil and when I saw how you used it on top of beautiful colors, it gave me more ideas for using your stencil. Thank you!! Happy New Year wishes to you and your family!
I agree….thank you for all that you share and add to my arting inspiration and experience. I love using my calligraphy pen and did not think to draw with it in my art journal. Brilliant ways to use art materials! I have your feather stencil and when I saw how you used it on top of beautiful colors, it gave me more ideas for using your stencil. Thank you!! Happy New Year wishes to you and your family!
I agree….thank you for all that you share and add to my arting inspiration and experience. I love using my calligraphy pen and did not think to draw with it in my art journal. Brilliant ways to use art materials! I have your feather stencil and when I saw how you used it on top of beautiful colors, it gave me more ideas for using your stencil. Thank you!! Happy New Year wishes to you and your family!
I agree….thank you for all that you share and add to my arting inspiration and experience. I love using my calligraphy pen and did not think to draw with it in my art journal. Brilliant ways to use art materials! I have your feather stencil and when I saw how you used it on top of beautiful colors, it gave me more ideas for using your stencil. Thank you!! Happy New Year wishes to you and your family!
I agree….thank you for all that you share and add to my arting inspiration and experience. I love using my calligraphy pen and did not think to draw with it in my art journal. Brilliant ways to use art materials! I have your feather stencil and when I saw how you used it on top of beautiful colors, it gave me more ideas for using your stencil. Thank you!! Happy New Year wishes to you and your family!
I agree….thank you for all that you share and add to my arting inspiration and experience. I love using my calligraphy pen and did not think to draw with it in my art journal. Brilliant ways to use art materials! I have your feather stencil and when I saw how you used it on top of beautiful colors, it gave me more ideas for using your stencil. Thank you!! Happy New Year wishes to you and your family!
Happy New Year! Thanks for your honesty and encouragement. And very cool to see how your art/life progresses through years – another good reason to add to list of why art journal. I’m going to go back and pull mine out and “review to begin again”.
Happy New Year! Thanks for your honesty and encouragement. And very cool to see how your art/life progresses through years – another good reason to add to list of why art journal. I’m going to go back and pull mine out and “review to begin again”.
Happy New Year! Thanks for your honesty and encouragement. And very cool to see how your art/life progresses through years – another good reason to add to list of why art journal. I’m going to go back and pull mine out and “review to begin again”.
Happy New Year! Thanks for your honesty and encouragement. And very cool to see how your art/life progresses through years – another good reason to add to list of why art journal. I’m going to go back and pull mine out and “review to begin again”.
Happy New Year! Thanks for your honesty and encouragement. And very cool to see how your art/life progresses through years – another good reason to add to list of why art journal. I’m going to go back and pull mine out and “review to begin again”.
Happy New Year! Thanks for your honesty and encouragement. And very cool to see how your art/life progresses through years – another good reason to add to list of why art journal. I’m going to go back and pull mine out and “review to begin again”.
Love your work and your tv show. I like the way you treat your guests on your tv show. You are so respectful and interested in them. Back to journalling: I enjoyed looking at your art journal flips. One thing that stops me is I don’t have that much to write about, so I will just concentrate on the images and a few words.
Love your work and your tv show. I like the way you treat your guests on your tv show. You are so respectful and interested in them. Back to journalling: I enjoyed looking at your art journal flips. One thing that stops me is I don’t have that much to write about, so I will just concentrate on the images and a few words.
Love your work and your tv show. I like the way you treat your guests on your tv show. You are so respectful and interested in them. Back to journalling: I enjoyed looking at your art journal flips. One thing that stops me is I don’t have that much to write about, so I will just concentrate on the images and a few words.
Love your work and your tv show. I like the way you treat your guests on your tv show. You are so respectful and interested in them. Back to journalling: I enjoyed looking at your art journal flips. One thing that stops me is I don’t have that much to write about, so I will just concentrate on the images and a few words.
Love your work and your tv show. I like the way you treat your guests on your tv show. You are so respectful and interested in them. Back to journalling: I enjoyed looking at your art journal flips. One thing that stops me is I don’t have that much to write about, so I will just concentrate on the images and a few words.
Love your work and your tv show. I like the way you treat your guests on your tv show. You are so respectful and interested in them. Back to journalling: I enjoyed looking at your art journal flips. One thing that stops me is I don’t have that much to write about, so I will just concentrate on the images and a few words.
Okay. I can do this. Every year I say I’m going to art journal and it gets set aside. I love the 10 minutes a day for a week idea. Thanks, Julie!
Okay. I can do this. Every year I say I’m going to art journal and it gets set aside. I love the 10 minutes a day for a week idea. Thanks, Julie!
Okay. I can do this. Every year I say I’m going to art journal and it gets set aside. I love the 10 minutes a day for a week idea. Thanks, Julie!
Okay. I can do this. Every year I say I’m going to art journal and it gets set aside. I love the 10 minutes a day for a week idea. Thanks, Julie!
Okay. I can do this. Every year I say I’m going to art journal and it gets set aside. I love the 10 minutes a day for a week idea. Thanks, Julie!
Okay. I can do this. Every year I say I’m going to art journal and it gets set aside. I love the 10 minutes a day for a week idea. Thanks, Julie!
Inspiring! Have journal, will make art! My art journaling is not as structured as some–I keep a spiral mixed media book handy when doing other projects–to blot stencils, roll off brayers, etc. I use these backgrounds for book pages, mostly, but sometimes they turn into other projects. I try out new media, like Marabu fabric paint, a new kind of gel crayon, or watercolor. I have many of these “art journals” lying around, and I can easily grab one when I need it. Not big on the jornal part, but the art part is always fun–and useful, too!
Inspiring! Have journal, will make art! My art journaling is not as structured as some–I keep a spiral mixed media book handy when doing other projects–to blot stencils, roll off brayers, etc. I use these backgrounds for book pages, mostly, but sometimes they turn into other projects. I try out new media, like Marabu fabric paint, a new kind of gel crayon, or watercolor. I have many of these “art journals” lying around, and I can easily grab one when I need it. Not big on the jornal part, but the art part is always fun–and useful, too!
Inspiring! Have journal, will make art! My art journaling is not as structured as some–I keep a spiral mixed media book handy when doing other projects–to blot stencils, roll off brayers, etc. I use these backgrounds for book pages, mostly, but sometimes they turn into other projects. I try out new media, like Marabu fabric paint, a new kind of gel crayon, or watercolor. I have many of these “art journals” lying around, and I can easily grab one when I need it. Not big on the jornal part, but the art part is always fun–and useful, too!
Inspiring! Have journal, will make art! My art journaling is not as structured as some–I keep a spiral mixed media book handy when doing other projects–to blot stencils, roll off brayers, etc. I use these backgrounds for book pages, mostly, but sometimes they turn into other projects. I try out new media, like Marabu fabric paint, a new kind of gel crayon, or watercolor. I have many of these “art journals” lying around, and I can easily grab one when I need it. Not big on the jornal part, but the art part is always fun–and useful, too!
Inspiring! Have journal, will make art! My art journaling is not as structured as some–I keep a spiral mixed media book handy when doing other projects–to blot stencils, roll off brayers, etc. I use these backgrounds for book pages, mostly, but sometimes they turn into other projects. I try out new media, like Marabu fabric paint, a new kind of gel crayon, or watercolor. I have many of these “art journals” lying around, and I can easily grab one when I need it. Not big on the jornal part, but the art part is always fun–and useful, too!
Inspiring! Have journal, will make art! My art journaling is not as structured as some–I keep a spiral mixed media book handy when doing other projects–to blot stencils, roll off brayers, etc. I use these backgrounds for book pages, mostly, but sometimes they turn into other projects. I try out new media, like Marabu fabric paint, a new kind of gel crayon, or watercolor. I have many of these “art journals” lying around, and I can easily grab one when I need it. Not big on the jornal part, but the art part is always fun–and useful, too!
Thanks to you I have been art journaling since May 2013 – I started buying journals which was great but then I took your on line class to make a junque journal and have been making my own ever since. Watching a few of your 10 minutes a day videos reminded me to not be afraid to cover up something or part of something and see what happens. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION! THANK YOU!!
Thanks to you I have been art journaling since May 2013 – I started buying journals which was great but then I took your on line class to make a junque journal and have been making my own ever since. Watching a few of your 10 minutes a day videos reminded me to not be afraid to cover up something or part of something and see what happens. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION! THANK YOU!!
Thanks to you I have been art journaling since May 2013 – I started buying journals which was great but then I took your on line class to make a junque journal and have been making my own ever since. Watching a few of your 10 minutes a day videos reminded me to not be afraid to cover up something or part of something and see what happens. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION! THANK YOU!!
Thanks to you I have been art journaling since May 2013 – I started buying journals which was great but then I took your on line class to make a junque journal and have been making my own ever since. Watching a few of your 10 minutes a day videos reminded me to not be afraid to cover up something or part of something and see what happens. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION! THANK YOU!!
Thanks to you I have been art journaling since May 2013 – I started buying journals which was great but then I took your on line class to make a junque journal and have been making my own ever since. Watching a few of your 10 minutes a day videos reminded me to not be afraid to cover up something or part of something and see what happens. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION! THANK YOU!!
Thanks to you I have been art journaling since May 2013 – I started buying journals which was great but then I took your on line class to make a junque journal and have been making my own ever since. Watching a few of your 10 minutes a day videos reminded me to not be afraid to cover up something or part of something and see what happens. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION! THANK YOU!!
I don’t comment often, but I read your blog daily. I just want to say thank you for your commitment to your readers and followers. You have a special blend of endurance, resolve, discipline and playfulness that continues to inspire so many people year after year. Wishing you a wonderful new year ahead!
I don’t comment often, but I read your blog daily. I just want to say thank you for your commitment to your readers and followers. You have a special blend of endurance, resolve, discipline and playfulness that continues to inspire so many people year after year. Wishing you a wonderful new year ahead!
I don’t comment often, but I read your blog daily. I just want to say thank you for your commitment to your readers and followers. You have a special blend of endurance, resolve, discipline and playfulness that continues to inspire so many people year after year. Wishing you a wonderful new year ahead!
I don’t comment often, but I read your blog daily. I just want to say thank you for your commitment to your readers and followers. You have a special blend of endurance, resolve, discipline and playfulness that continues to inspire so many people year after year. Wishing you a wonderful new year ahead!
I don’t comment often, but I read your blog daily. I just want to say thank you for your commitment to your readers and followers. You have a special blend of endurance, resolve, discipline and playfulness that continues to inspire so many people year after year. Wishing you a wonderful new year ahead!
I don’t comment often, but I read your blog daily. I just want to say thank you for your commitment to your readers and followers. You have a special blend of endurance, resolve, discipline and playfulness that continues to inspire so many people year after year. Wishing you a wonderful new year ahead!