Unleash Your Creativity: Journaling Tools for Artists
If you're an artist, you know that inspiration can strike at any moment. The best way to capture those fleeting thoughts and ideas is through journaling. It serves as a sanctuary for your creativity, a place where you can articulate your visions without judgment. In this post, we’ll explore some essential journaling tools that will help you bring your artistic ideas to life.
Tonia Kay
Journaling for Artists
Journaling provides a safe place to bring your ideas to paper, see them come together in front of you. That's not all it does though. I admit, I was not a fan of the whole art journal idea until I participated in a program by Nicholas Winston called Art2Life. What a journey it was. It changed the way I approach painting and my creative process drastically. I found my voice in an art journal. I was able to identify characteristics of my style, what my art was always meant to be. I poured myself into the pages of my first journal and saw my reflection there. My work took a serious leap in composition and value. My understanding of color harmony clicked, if you know what I mean. The best advice I can give you is to get an art journal and use it. In this post, we’ll explore some essential journaling tools that will help you bring your artistic ideas to life.
Choosing the Right Sketchbook
The first step in your journaling journey is selecting the perfect sketchbook. There’s a myriad of options available, so it’s important to choose one that complements your style. If you enjoy watercolors, look for a sketchbook with thick, textured pages designed to handle moisture. For graphite and ink lovers, a smooth paper surface is ideal. Popular brands like the smaller 7 x 9 Strathmore and the 7 x 10 inch Canson offer excellent options that cater to different mediums. Always consider the size of your sketchbook, too; smaller books are portable and great for on-the-go, while larger formats allow for more expansive artwork. I currently have the 11 x 14 inch Bianyo Mixed Media Paper Sketchbook. I recommend a mixed media paper so that you can use just that, a variety of mediums. When I travel, I bring water soluble crayons, a paint brush, and my Posca Markers. If you have not heard of Posca Markers, you can thank me.
Posca markers can be used to add marks, trim, and enhance artwork. I like to use a combination of things. When I travel, I need things that don't take up room. My favorites are watercolor markers by Art Intrend, water soluble crayons can give you light washes when spread with a brush and water and bold saturation when dipped in water and applied directly to paper. These in combination with the fine tip Posca Markers can keep me busy for hours.
Essential Pens and Markers
Once you’ve found your ideal sketchbook, it’s time to fill it with your ideas using the right pens and markers. The variety can be overwhelming, so here's a quick guide! If you're looking for versatile pens, consider the Micron pens. Their archival quality ink ensures your lines remain crisp and clear over time. For those vibrant sketches and bold designs, alcohol-based markers like Copic markers are a must have. They blend beautifully and provide an expansive color range, making them perfect for expressing your artistic vision.
Using Your Journal Effectively
Now that you’ve got your sketchbook and writing tools, how do you make the most out of your journaling experience? Start by setting aside some time week dedicated to jotting down ideas or sketching something that inspires you.
The first thing I would do is to take a deep dive into who you are. Place 4 headings at the top of one page that represent what makes you who you are. Mine were family, faith, experience, and DNA. Under each one, brainstorm what encompasses those things. You can use words, emojis, or small thumbnail images for this. Fill that page with who you are! Once you are done, take a good look at it, even the type of images you drew. Think about the places you've been, the things you've experienced, and the accomplishments you have achieved. Get a good grip on the amazing person you are.
Next, fill a half a page with your favorite colors. Use whatever medium you need to accomplish this. When you are done, notice how saturated or muted they are, how warm or cool they are, Take a few and mix them together. Take a few and add white or black to them. Find a space on the page to write down what you are noticing about the colors you chose and any other thoughts that come to mind.
Take the other half of that page and make what you feel are beautiful marks and shapes. Fill the entire half of the page with marks and shapes. find a space on that page or another to write your thoughts on what you notice.
Divide a page into smaller rectangles depending on the size of your journal, I can get about 9 on one page or more. In these rectangles, create thumbnail compositions of paintings you want to paint. Take your time here. This may take a few days if you are really paying attention to composition rules. Always visit what you did after and write your thoughts somewhere the journal.
This journal is your playground and the more you play, the better you and your art will become. It is your playground, your hiding place, your door to Narnia.
Don't hesitate to experiment! Use your journal not only for finished pieces but also for doodling, brainstorming, and even collaging. Mixing mediums like watercolor with ink, acrylic paint, markers, and paper can lead to surprising and beautiful results. Remember, the goal isn't perfection; it's about capturing your thought process and creativity.
Conclusion
In the end, distractions will always circle like shadows at the edge of your light. But every time you choose to turn toward your work, you choose to honor the part of you that creates, dreams, and leaves something behind. Guard that space fiercely. Step into it with reverence. And let each moment you protect become another thread in the tapestry of the life you were meant to live. So grab your tools, put pen to paper, and let the world see what you create!
Follow Me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and Pinterest. See links in the footer.
This article contains Amazon Affiliate links that I do get a small commission from. I promise to never mislead you about my recommendations which are genuine and feature many of the products that I use myself. It is just one small way to pull in a little extra money to support my many opinions.
Let's Stay in Touch!
Sign up to read the latest. It’s FREE!
hello@artbytoniakay.com
©2023 The Guidry Gallery, LLC
All blog posts are the sole property of The Guidry Gallery LLC, DBA ART by Tonia Kay and are held under copyright. ArtNerd is a product of ART by Tonia Kay. Images, artwork, and contents of this website may not be copied, collected, or used for personal or professional gain without written permission from Tonia Kay Guidry.