Finding art journaling inspiration, for me, initially was challenging. I saw all of these wonderful artists who created such amazing art and was comparing myself with everyone else. Here I was .. little old me who could only scribble daisy doodles.
I have watched plenty of videos and taken many courses to help teach me different techniques and how to use different art supplies. But, the most powerful art journal pages I ever created have come from within myself and exploring the world around me.
Life transformations come from reaching within ourselves and communicating with the voice inside telling us we are amazing and wonderful human beings.
Gathering ideas is part of the process of art journaling as much as it is creating the images themselves. Your art isn’t going to be like anyone else’s.
It doesn’t have to be because you are you and no one can be you … but you. Art Journaling is self-expressive visual storytelling
Your journal, notebook, watercolor paper, or whatever paper you choose to create on, is your safe place to be free and allow your imagination, thoughts, and feelings to roam free without judgment or outside interference.
It is truly the place where you can be raw, real, and vulnerable.
These are some of the places where I have found inspiration and are trickled throughout the layers of meaning each and every drop of glue, ink, or paint holds.
Inspiration is only one piece of cultivating creativity. However, it is one of the most important aspects of transformation.
As a beginner, it really can be tough knowing where to begin. My suggestion is to experiment, play, scribble, doodle, and use whatever you can to inspire you.
You do not have to have any artistic abilities to start an art journal whether it be using pencils, markers, paints, pens, inks, or combining all of them for mixed media.
I have put together this guide to finding art journaling inspiration in hopes you will be more confident about starting your own creative journaling practice.
Gathering ideas is part of the process of art journaling as much as it is creating the images themselves. Your art isn’t going to be like anyone else’s. It doesn’t have to be because you are you and no one can be you … but you.
These are some of the places where I have found ideas for my own art journal and they are trickled throughout the layers of meaning each and every drop of glue, ink, or paint holds. Inspiration is only one piece of cultivating creativity.
However, it is one of the most important aspects of self-discovery and personal life transformation.
1. Nature’s Inspirational Haven
There is something about being outside in the fresh air that is mood-lifting. I have never been obsessed with nature, but the more I healed in my own life and improved my personal mindful practices, the more appreciation I have for nature.
Mindfulness is about being present in the moment and grounding ourselves right where we are at any given time. To do that, however, we must be able to observe the things around us.
Taking the time to observe what is around us not only can inspire us to create but over time will give us a much deeper appreciation for life and everything it holds for us.
Noticing and describing what is around us are essential components of mindfulness so using nature for inspiration for your art journal can help visually describe your experiences, while actively engaging in a naturally mindful creative activity.
I love anything by the water, and love watching the geese at one of our nearby parks. We also have an artsy type park in another town that gives me loads of inspiration such as using different shapes and colors.
Parks are a great place for colors, and there are no rules so gathering things like leaves, shells, rocks, flowers, feathers, and other materials can be wonderful.
Flowers are full of beauty and come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and a source of some stunning art journal ideas.
If animals are your thing, depending upon where you live, you have access to birds, bugs, bees, moths, caterpillars, four-legged creatures such as families of deer, none of which cost a cent but are priceless when it comes to feeling inspired.
2. Personal History and Memories
Something we all have in common is that we have personal histories and a lifetime full of memories. I remember creating a scrapbook for my daughter as a Christmas gift one year to commemorate my granddaughter Trinity’s first year of her life.
It definitely was something to cherish as a keepsake and one day pass on to her when she is all grown up.
We can use our art journals to express our feelings about our experiences or to help shift our focus from painful experiences to how we want to feel instead. It helps.
Using your own personal experiences for art journaling inspiration can truly bring healing to your life.
In fact, before I realized what I was doing was actually a form of art journaling, I just say down and moved the paintbrush around until I saw images that were representative of how I was feeling in the moment.
It was so powerful to me and I know it can be for you, too.
Whether you are seeking to answer questions you have about your life or to commemorate a victory for yourself or gratitude for something you learned from someone important in your life, you are sure to have some memorabilia saved that can spark ideas you can incorporate into your art journal:.
- Old greeting cards
- Photographs of you as a child
- Family photographs
- Wrapping paper or tissue from special gifts
- Children’s artwork or milestones
- Poetry you or someone important to you has written
- Old completed (or incomplete) journals or diaries
Personal memories and history can provide a rich source of visual inspiration for your art journal and can provide an opportunity for you to tell your life story one page at a time.
Use what is meaningful to you and can help tell your story and give your experiences a voice.
3. Literary Worlds and Textual Gems
Have you ever been reading through a book and had to read it twice because it was so profound? Or have you scoured the internet for that perfect quote to hang up on your wall because you needed a positive reminder for yourself everyday?
Or maybe you are a Christian like me and go search your Bible because you need a scripture to fulfill you for the day?
That is an inspiration! There are ENDLESS ways that we can use books for inspiration for art journaling.
I recently removed all of my clinical books and replaced them with a variety of books that vary from how-to art books to beautifully illustrated children’s books with positive messages.
Flip through some of these types of books for art journaling inspiration:
- Books about the human body and anatomy
- Art techniques books
- Books full of color
- Fashion books and magazines (one of my personal favs)
- Poetry books
- Children’s books
- Inspirational coloring books (these are awesome to cut out later!)
- Outdated calendars and planners
- Quote books or inspirational websites
- Biographies about people you admire
- Inspirational podcasts
- Comic books
Alternatively, here are some budget-friendly suggestions of where you may find some books to cultivate your creativity:
- Vintage book and record stores
- Rummage sales
- Thrift stores
- Auctions
- Estate sales
- Libraries
- Clearance sales at book stores
- Little Free Library (if you have one in your community)
- Websites
I travel for work and often listen to audio books, one of which is the muse for the above image which is a quote from Brene Brown who is someone I admire.
Who do you admire and why? What have you learned from the people you look up to? If they have books, podcasts, websites, or quotes you love, use those as a place to start if you are feeling stuck.
Create an image about that quote using different colors, materials, lines, shapes, or even collage.
4. Art Galleries and Museums
I remember years ago visiting a local contemporary art museum. Back then I was journal writing and not doing art. However, the art exhibit was incredible. I had taken my Bible journal with me because I was seeking some kind of inspiration or message.
I remember feeling so emotionally connected to a digital visual display it was if the artist was telling MY story. I went home that night and just cried, and wrote out my own thoughts and feelings.
I felt so angry, but that artwork fueled me. I was able to express myself and gained a lot of insight about why I was feeling the way I was feeling.
Although today I do less journal or diary writing, I do create images in my art journaling and highly recommend visiting art galleries or museums.
It isn’t necessarily to just gain inspiration for your own creativity, but to explore and connect with other artists who share similar personal experiences to your own.
There are so many famous artists out there who struggled with their mental health, some of the most famous being Vincent Van Gogh and Salvador Dali.
You can immerse yourself in art museums and learn how various artist’s express themselves with color, lines, composition, and movement. You can glean from them things that will provide inspiration for your journal.
5. Emotions and Self-Reflection
Of all the inspiration out there in the world, for me, emotions and self-reflection generate the most art journaling ideas I have ever had.
I have experienced a significant amount of trauma in my life and as a result, keeping my emotions in check is a lifelong challenge.
When I was attending school for art therapy, I learned about the healing power of art. It is there where my own personal art journaling journey began.
Though I decided that art therapy was not the path for me in life, I have continued my visual journaling practices consistently.
Visualizing emotions and being able to DESCRIBE them gives freedom and the introspection that comes from visual storytelling is beyond powerful.
I wish there was a way for me to tell you “do this” and make your page come alive.
The truth is, though, simply by sitting down in a quiet space with the intention of just letting go, or letting your intuition guide your creativity, you will never run out of ideas.
Your imagination holds so many secrets and can truly unlock infinite ways for you to express yourself. I encourage you to sit down, open up a notebook, and just make something.
Anything. That is the very first instruction I ever received that catapulted me into this art journaling experience.
I was beyond angry because I had no instructions other than “make a page.” Like you, I had zero experience, zero direction, and had no idea what to do.
So, I just collaged some of my old doodles together and while doing that, discovered that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Here are some suggestions as to where you may find some inspiration to help you express your own thoughts and emotions:
- Old magazines of faces
- Pictures of people who you feel connected to emotionally
- Your own personal doodles – “what was I thinking and feeling when I was doing this?”
- Colors that evoke certain emotions when you see them
- Children’s storybooks (In undergrad I retold the story of The Little Engine That Could and cut out pictures of the book and combined them with my own pictures)
When it comes time for you to tell your story using your own art journal page ideas, you will have access to them and your own intuition can guide the direction of your page.
Think about your emotions and self-reflection as being your personal muse. The possibilities are truly endless because the two things we were all born with are thoughts and emotions.
When you are searching your soul, you will always find a beautiful hidden treasure somewhere.
6. Travel Destinations and Cultural Exploration
Have you ever seen a cat cafe? Me, either, until I took my daughter and granddaughter on a week-long trip to Milwaukee, WI. We got out of the car, and on the next block was a cafe called Sip and Purr.
Yes, there were cats everywhere inside climbing in and out of microwaves, stoves, and hanging out on a couch in a full-blown cat lounge.
Connected to the cat cafe was an alley with brick walls decorated with amazing murals painted by local artists. It was incredible.
That experience inspired me in so many ways and I could not help but sit down and create images of faces in my drawing sketchbook that I had taken with me on my trip.
I think most of us can relate to taking a trip somewhere at least once in our lives. And what do we often do? We take pictures! Since the majority of us have cell phones, taking pictures of anything and everything is free, is fun, and is a snap.
Some suggestions for gathering inspiration for your art journal from your travels:
- Architecture
- Lighthouses
- Cemeteries (it’s weird but you would be surprised what you will find and learn from cemetery tours)
- Historical buildings
- Fountains
- People
- Fun and funky restaurants
- Eclectic shops
- Historical tours of artists and important figures
- Zoos and aquariums
You may not run into a cat cafe but you are sure to discover things that will generate ideas you want to express visually in your journal.
Maybe you would like to make a photo collage of your adventures, or just create some fun and simple sketches to color and write a blurb about your experience.
No matter how you choose to document your travels,, part of cultivating creativity is venturing out and experiencing the world around you in a mindful way.
7. Other Artists
As an art journaling beginner, you may find that using other materials to tell your story is easier than digging deep to find inspiration from within.
Begin collecting images of things that you like and store them in a folder, shoebox, empty drawer, little storage basket, or whatever you have to keep them safe..
Throughout your self-discovery and self-empowerment journey, you are going to naturally begin seeking out different ways to creatively express yourself.
This may include learning how to use different art mediums such as watercolor, acrylics, graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, markers, ink, and the list goes on.
As a beginner, you may have no experience using a single one of them. I know I certainly didn’t.
Maybe you will develop an interest in learning more about mark making, or how to create beautiful backgrounds using a gelli plate.
Or maybe you just want to connect with other people who also create art journal pages for self-expression.
I did not invent the world of art journaling. I was inspired by other women just like me who were doing what I wanted to do. I had to learn how to use different mediums and, therefore, had to go digging for all the how to videos.
When I got tired of just scribbling daisies, I learned how to draw and shade with pencils. So, I became attached to artists who drew with graphite.
When I was feeling desperate to learn how to use watercolors, I started finding other artists who knew how to paint.
From those lessons, my own work has become a conglomeration of inspiration that has profoundly helped me rewrite the story of my life.
8. Personal Goals and Aspirations
No art journal would be complete without setting goals and intentions. I always find the word intention to be cringy because I just don’t like internet jargon.
But, the truth of the matter is, when we sit in front of our journals, we do have intentions. That is, something we would like to focus on, resolve, find an answer to, discover, or respond to.
At the beginning of the year, many people make resolutions. Don’t do that. Set goals for yourself instead. I don’t know a whole lot of people who truly stick with resolutions.
It’s almost as if they were made to be broken. One way you can do that is by creating a vision board type of journal spread.
I have several different journals that I work out of. Some are large, some are small, some are goal-oriented, some are practice and technique-oriented, and some are simply because the paper in them is necessary for the goal I want to accomplish.
However, each one has a vision, goal, or intention. Each page in between the covers also has an intention.
Creating journal pages around your goals helps you stay focused on the direction you are headed for your life. Each page holds a story and is a piece of a puzzle that is needed for where you are going.
Include pages in your journal celebrating your wins as well. It will keep you inspired and you will feel self-empowered to continue in your journey.
Vision boards, vision board communities, goal supportive online groups are phenomenal ways for you to keep your focus and stay motivated. And how fun is it to make some art in the process?
Lists have their place, but creating entire journal pages around your goals will definitely help you make progress if you stick with it.
I wouldn’t be here writing this blog post if I hadn’t done this very thing. Believe in it and trust the process. It works. Adding some positive affirmations to your goal pages such as I did are helpful in keeping you focused as well.
9. Art Communities and Workshops
I cannot begin to tell you the value that being part of art communities and doing workshops (many FREE), has transformed my own art journaling processes.
Mind you, I never had this vision of becoming an artist. I literally was only trying to heal my scars of life.
When I began joining workshops and being part of different art communities, everything changed. I don’t think I have yet met someone who makes any kind of art NOT say that it has brought healing to their lives.
You will find people from all walks of the earth who have used art to manage their anxiety, use it as an outlet for stress, to help them during times of isolation due to depression, to help them through difficult life transitions, or to help bring meaning and purpose to their lives.
I have never met such kind and nonjudgmental people full of beautiful life stories, trials, triumphs, and inspiration, as I have in being part of art communities.
Most people love to share their work and many enjoy inspiring others to create their own art.
Art communities are wonderful and welcoming places to get ideas, connect with others, develop a sense of belonging, and share your own art journaling pages.
I would have to say that Facebook groups are probably the very best place to start. Don’t be intimidated if there are thousands and thousands of people in a group.
View it as an endless sea of encouragement, and there is no way you could scroll through posts and not find at least ONE thing to spark an idea.
10. Everyday Life and Observations
If you are like me and have experienced deep and serious depression and anxiety, you will know that finding joy is hard and seems impossible.
I know this blog post is about finding inspiration. But, what do you do if you just struggle being inspired by anything?
I met a woman named Kathy on Instagram who inspired me so much. I used to go to her Instagram page @confidenceandadventure almost daily simply because it made me smile.
I didn’t expect that I would begin immersing myself in the world around me and begin seeing the world around me differently.
Intentionally observing the things around you and seeing the beauty in it all definitely changes one’s perspective about life. It is a mindful practice that can shift your outlook on life over time.
At the same time, creating art journal pages based on the things you see can help keep you focused on the things that matter and help you find joy in living.
Many communities are full of culture and history. Start looking for murals and take a moment and reflect on what they mean to you, why you like them, or how you relate to them.
This can be a good starting point. The more you surround your life with creative joy, the less ideas you will need when you sit down in front of your blank journal pages.
I truly have to thank Kathy for showing me this. And part of taking is giving back and this is a pure gift from the heart that I am giving to you.
Not only will you begin seeing things around you from a different perspective, but if you are living in a world of darkness like I used to be, there is no greater joy in life once you can see in color.
The world is much brighter and definitely hope at the end of the tunnel.
11. Journal Prompts and Challenges
There is nothing worse than being a beginner and feeling overwhelmed because you don’t know where to start. Using art journal prompts and participating in challenges can generate a multitude of creative ideas.
For example, use a writing prompt you intuitively feel drawn to and then build layers on top of your written words.
Consider your thoughts and feelings and randomly choose some marker colors and doodle or scribble on top of your words. Add some more colors with acrylic paints, and then add collage elements.
Or, you could do what I did in this image and scribble the answers and cover up with some transparent acrylic paints.
Each time you add layers you are processing your thoughts and feelings and by the time you are finished, you will have created a visual diary that only you have access to because the experience of it all is stored in your mind.
Participating in challenges is an excellent way to get you warmed up to the process and also help you get through your infamous fear of the blank page. Or, you may want to push yourself as a personal challenge.
There are a plethora of art journal writing prompts you can find on social media such as Instagram, and a multitude of social groups that specifically focus on writing prompts, but you can use them as inspiration for your visual journal.
In addition, using words combined with images has a powerful impact on our healing and well being. Art therapist Cathy Malchiodi writes:
“The practice of visual journaling, with or without the presence of words or verbal narratives, can be a powerful container for life’s more difficult experiences and transitions, a source of mindful moments, and ultimately a method of self-care via the visual language of art.”
Sussex Publishers. (n.d.). Visual journaling as a reflective practice. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/arts-and-health/201604/visual-journaling-reflective-practice
12. Using Music Lyrics for Art Journaling Inspiration
Have you ever listened to a song and felt so connected to it that you couldn’t help playing it over and over until you wore the threads off of it? (I think that just aged me a little bit .. I grew up with vinyl records).
Or have you ever been going through a breakup and listening to that one song made you cry and you listened to it on purpose?
Maybe you have listened to a particular song and found yourself doodling words, or writing down the lyrics.
You did so because it inspired you. You connected with it in such a way that it moved you to do something. The image above was inspired by Trinity’s spring sing.
I was so moved that I was in tears. I could not help but reflect on the moment by creating this image as a reminder not only of her singing but that life truly is a symphony and all if the parts are working together in harmony.
Your doodles came from words that have meaning for you just as my spiral doodles are for me. The lyrics or the sound is likely telling your story or something that makes you feel energized and motivated.
If you are feeling stuck and need a pick me up, a good cry, a boost of creative inspiration, or some help putting words on your own experiences, song lyrics are where it is at.
To help cultivate your own creativity, throw on a pair of headphones while sitting in your quiet space, listen to some music, and keep an inspiring song on repeat until the journal page you are creating expresses every piece of you that you need it to.
Conclusion
There are an array of places to find creative art or visual journaling. People, places, things, feelings, and personal experiences are only a few places from which to glean ideas.
It is my personal belief that the most powerful inspiration we will ever have is that which we find within ourselves.
When you have a thought about something you cannot seem to let go of and it is followed by feeling, I urge you to listen to it and follow it. That is your intuition calling you and giving you direction.
Trust your voice within and may it guide you along your journey.
Throughout your creative process, you will begin cultivating a creative and mindful life that will bring you inner peace through personal growth and transformation.
I encourage you to take along a little sketchbook and pencil or a camera and start keeping some sketches or photos to reflect on later.
Nurture your God-given creative gifts by exploring some of the ideas that I have shared in this guide. Remember that “creativity takes courage. Never give up.”
This is not an exhaustive list. Leave a comment below and share some of your own ideas so our community of beautiful people can learn together.
Be blessed.
- Nancy
Need some art materials to create your art journal masterpieces? I have put together a MASSIVE list of art journaling supplies for you!
What a wonderful post!! full of great inspiration for art Journaling!
Thank you so much Sasha! You are the source of great inspiration for me. Where are some of the places you find inspiration for your own creativity?
Thank you for sharing! Last year I started an art journal. I struggled with how it should look, what to put in it and trying to get it to look like the beautiful whimsical spreads I kept seeing online. As I’ve spent more time in the art community, I’ve discovered that there are so many styles and different ways to art journal. I do whatever feels right at that moment. You’ve helped a lot with that “letting go” process. Lately, I’ve been combining my written journal time with my art journal and devotional time. It’s been so good for my soul. There’s no right or wrong way to do it! Thank you again, for sharing your insights and tips!!
Sharon (@happyrn_art)
Hi, Sharon! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. It has been wonderful getting to know you and am grateful we share a love for being part of one of the same art communities! I agree with you 100% that there are so many different ways to keep an art journal and can totally relate to wanting ours to look like everyone else’s! I have definitely been there! It sounds like you are definitely on your way to a magnificent and wonderful experience. We are all different individuals so how we express ourselves is not ever going to look the same. The process of it all is what is important and our experiences are unique to each and every one of us. I look forward to seeing your art journal pages if and when you choose to share them. What are some of your favorite art communities and what are some inspirational things you have gleaned from them?