{"id":3367,"date":"2025-11-18T13:26:39","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T21:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/art-journaling-ideas-prompts\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T13:26:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T21:26:40","slug":"art-journaling-ideas-prompts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegoodtrade.com\/features\/art-journaling-ideas-prompts\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Start An Art Journal (With Our Editor’s Favorite Tips)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The written word is a place of refuge for me<\/a>. It\u2019s a space where I cannot be interrupted, corrected, or needlessly criticized, a place where I can feel my feelings without judgment. But lately, my words liquefy and fail me when I need them most, especially in the face of war, persistent human rights rollbacks, and the continued climate crisis. There\u2019s so much to say but few words left to use, not to mention that some of my feelings don\u2019t even seem to have <\/em>appropriate words to describe them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI still had all those same thoughts from before, but maybe I just needed to try a new way of expressing them.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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An entry from my art journal depicting my ideal morning routine.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I purchased a whiteboard to try and capture the tasks and thoughts on my racing mind, but I quickly realized I found much more enjoyment in scribbling and doodling than I did plotting out my to-dos. And when good old Pinterest started serving me up advice on art journaling, I realized that I still had <\/em>all those same thoughts from before, but maybe I just needed to try a new way of expressing them. So thanks to one-too-many aesthetic videos, I\u2019ve decided to start my own art journal, where I can express more of my feelings in shapes and colors and very, very bad drawings of stick figures \u2014 no words (unless they come to me), and no rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cImagine being able to walk into a rich landscape of your thoughts and feelings, where your dreams and anxieties are as concrete as forests and rivers,\u201d says Saudamini Madra<\/a>, an LA-based artist who turned to art to de-stress from a fast-paced work life. \u201cArt journals are where you can visualize these amorphous concepts as a tactile scene and better relate to yourself.\u201d Madra, whose work as a mandala artist, says that she\u2019s found art journaling to be an oasis of expression, especially during these times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a respite for me, too, to spend time with images instead of words. Outside of the restrictions of language, there is no need to self-edit, to come up with some deep insight, or to accurately express myself. The practice also brings me back to moments of presence in my childhood, where I\u2019d sit at the kitchen table with my cousins, drawing and chatting and generally having no place to be. (Seriously, when was the last time you sat and doodled with your old school supplies?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cImagine being able to walk into a rich landscape of your thoughts and feelings, where your dreams and anxieties are as concrete as forests and rivers.\u201d<\/p>\n\u2014 Saudamini Madra, artist<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Entries from my journals have included seaweed and sand from the Mediterranean (and olive juice!) and scraps from old planners.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Elizabeth Warson<\/a>, a trained narrative therapist who uses an arts-informed approach to navigating stress reduction and pain management, says I\u2019m not alone \u2014 creative journaling can lower anxiety<\/a> on self-reported scales. But many people have hesitations about starting, mainly because they assume you must be an artist to keep an art journal. But that\u2019s like assuming you must be a writer to keep a diary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We all have days like this, right?<\/em>
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Like written journaling<\/a>, there are actually few barriers to entry when it comes to keeping an art journal. Sure, you can go all out with aesthetic stickers and washi tape, incorporating dried flowers and old concert ticket stubs. But you don\u2019t have to have all the fancy accessories to express yourself\u2014just a pen, a spiral notebook, and maybe those crayons you brought home from Bob Evans all those years ago, still sticky with maple syrup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visual journaling is beneficial for those who find pressure, not pleasure, in words. Maybe you\u2019d rather not revisit your bad handwriting or don\u2019t have time to keep a detailed written journal. Maybe verbal processing is particularly challenging for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever your reason for exploring art journaling, here are a few tips I\u2019ve picked up along the way to help you face your first intimidating blank page. \ud83d\udcd3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to start an art journal:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n