Table of Contents
What is a creativity journal?
Simply put, creative journaling is a mix of written words and art, all in one place. Doodles and diary entries, colors and poem collections, new ideas, and newspaper clippings… can all find a home on the pages of a creative journal. There are really no rules when it comes to the creative form of journaling. Art journaling is a visual diary where you can creatively express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, memories and emotions through any type of art form you enjoy. You have endless possibilities for artistic experimentation as your journal can be as unique as you are. Combining scraps of paper, paint, and other stubs together with mixed media supplies like acrylics and watercolors turn a junk journal into an art journal! Some people use the already filled junk journals as the base for an art journal and then fill it up with patterns and other stuff. Personal Diary A junk journal can be a great place to record your thoughts, dreams, project ideas, or even appointments and events. If you plan to do lots of writing, you can leave plenty of blank space on the pages. Tags and foldout journaling spots provide more unique places to write. Pens and pencils are equally sufficient for the purposes of journal writing. However, pens typically offer a smoother feel while writing (depending on the pen type) and are more likely to stand the test of time. Rereading Journals is a Valuable and Powerful Activity. We not only keep journals and find the process of writing in our journal valuable. We also often reread our journals, for all sorts of reasons. This rereading experience can be just as valuable and powerful as the initial writing experience—sometimes, even more so …
What does an art journal look like?
An art journal is the same as a written journal, except that it incorporates colors, images, patterns, and other materials. Some art journals have a lot of writing, while others are purely filled with images. It’s a form of creative self-care. Size – If you’re just starting out, a smaller journal may be less intimidating. But larger journals provide more space for journaling and play. If you’re unsure, a good size to start with is around 6×9″. It’s just big enough to paint, doodle, and journal; but small enough as to not scare you off! Part of why journaling is so hard is that it requires time. When we’re busy, it’s hard to spend much time sitting, quietly, writing our thoughts on paper. It’s important to think about what makes journaling fulfilling for you and how you can use journaling as a tool in your daily life to reduce stress, not add to it. The elements of art are color, form, line, shape, space, and texture. The principles of art are scale, proportion, unity, variety, rhythm, mass, shape, space, balance, volume, perspective, and depth. A Junk Journal is a handmade book of recycled and found materials and ephemera. The pages can be used to write, draw, paint or record memories, thoughts, ideas, and inspiration.