How to create and keep an art journal
by aisling d'art ©2006
Artist's journals are illustrated diaries and journals on any theme.
An art journal can be a record of your daily thoughts, a travel journal, an exercise or diet diary, a dream journal, a place where you jot down your goals or to-do lists, or... well, almost any record that you'd like to keep in a book or notebook.
They become "art journals" when you add any kind of illustration or embellishment to the pages.
These pages share ideas and tips for creating and keeping your own illustrated journal.
How to create an art journal
How I started my art journals - Early notes about how I work, from a 2001 email.
Art journaling techniques
How to collage in your art journals - A summary of the basics.
Color basics for art and travel journals - An overview, preparing for my upcoming workshop and journaling tour.
Materials and supplies for art journaling
Composition book art journals - Affordable, fun notebooks for all kinds of journals and diaries.
How to sew on journal pages - Embellish your paper journal
pages and journal covers with buttons, beads, and embroidery. It's easy!
Gesso - what it is, how to use it - To support layers of paint, or heavy embellishments.
Journal art in the snow - Use snow and serendipity in your journal art.
Tea staining your art journal pages - Make your pages look 'old'.
Wax paper and art journals - Use it to keep wet pages from sticking together.
Saving images for your collage art - One way to stay organized.
Gel medium and clouding - Luckily, this is a rare problem.
Writing tips, prompts, and ideas
Thanksgiving Journals - Start a family tradition.
Fairy tale journal prompts - Revisit your favorite children's stories for journaling ideas.
Keeping a travel journal
Travel journals - Supplies - Suggested art supplies for your travel journaling.
Travel journaling - Choosing a subject - What to draw, paint, or photograph for your journal.
The art journal at the top of this page is one of my travel journals from my research trips to New Orleans' French Quarter. The page on the left is actually manilla paper--kind of yellowish--that's been splattered with white gesso and embellished with white tulle netting. On the right, I've created a mixed media collage showing one of the 'haunted' houses on Royal Street in the French Quarter. I embellished it with my own new and vintage photos, and trinkets related to the ghost story.