Art Journal Inspiration: 50+ Creative Ideas for Your Visual Journal

Last Updated on December 11, 2025 by Dee

There’s something almost magical about cracking open a blank art journal. All that potential. All those empty pages waiting for paint splatters, collaged ephemera, messy thoughts, and beautiful accidents.

But let’s be honest — sometimes that blank page feels more intimidating than inspiring.

If you’ve ever sat staring at your art journal wondering what on earth to create, you’re not alone. Every artist hits creative blocks. The good news? Art journal inspiration is everywhere once you know where to look.

Whether you’re drawn to funky abstract pages, dreamy vintage collage, or simple sketchbook diary entries, this guide is packed with ideas to get your creative juices flowing. I’ve gathered over 50 art journal page ideas spanning different styles, techniques, and moods — so no matter what kind of creative energy you’re bringing today, there’s something here for you.

Want a head start? Grab my free Art Journal Starter Kit at the bottom of this post — 9 printable pages including prompts, collage backgrounds, and reflection templates to fill your visual journal!

What Is an Art Journal (And Why You Need One)

An art journal is essentially a visual diary — a place where art meets personal expression. Unlike a traditional sketchbook focused purely on drawing practice, an art journal welcomes everything: paint, collage, writing, doodles, photos, tickets, dried flowers, angry scribbles, grateful lists, and whatever else wants to land on the page.

There are no rules here. That’s the whole point.

Some people use their art journal as a daily practice, working in it every morning with coffee. Others reach for it only when emotions need an outlet. Some create polished, Instagram-worthy spreads while others embrace raw, messy, deeply personal pages never meant for anyone else’s eyes.

All of it counts. All of it matters.

If you’re curious about getting started, my guide to art journaling basics walks you through everything from choosing your first journal to finding your creative voice.

Art Journal Supplies You Actually Need

Before diving into inspiration, let’s talk supplies. You don’t need much to start — honestly, a notebook and whatever pen is nearest will do. But having a few key materials makes the process more enjoyable.

The basics:

Journal or sketchbook — Look for one with thicker pages (at least 90 lb/180 gsm) if you want to use wet media. A watercolor sketchbook works beautifully for mixed media.
Acrylic paints — A basic set in primary colors plus white gives you endless mixing options. Arteza paints offer great pigment at a friendly price.
Collage materials — Old magazines, book pages, scrapbook paper, washi tape, vintage ephemera. Start collecting things that catch your eye.
Mark-making tools — Pens, markers, pencils, pastels. Micron pens are perfect for adding fine details and journaling text.
Glue — A good glue stick for paper, plus gel medium if you want to seal and layer.
Gesso — This white primer creates a fresh surface over existing pages and adds texture.

Don’t let supply lists overwhelm you though. Some of my favourite art journal pages were made with nothing but a ballpoint pen and whatever was in my recycling bin.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. I only recommend products I genuinely love and use myself!

50+ Art Journal Inspiration Ideas

Right, let’s get to the good stuff. I’ve organized these ideas by style and mood so you can jump to whatever speaks to you today.

Funky Art Journal Pages

Want to shake off perfectionism? Funky art journal pages are all about bold choices, unexpected colour combinations, and embracing the weird.

Ideas to try:

Neon colour explosion — Use the brightest, most “clashing” colours you own. Hot pink next to lime green next to electric orange. Let them fight it out on the page.
Geometric chaos — Fill your spread with overlapping triangles, circles, and squares in contrasting colours. Add patterns inside each shape.
Drippy paint layers — Dilute acrylic paint and let it drip down the page. Once dry, add another colour. Keep layering until it feels alive.
90s nostalgia collage — Channel your inner teenager with magazine cutouts, stickers, and bubble letters.
Abstract faces — Paint loose, wonky portraits with features in the “wrong” places. Two noses? Three eyes? Why not.
Texture party — Use crumpled paper, bubble wrap, string, and anything textural to stamp and print patterns.
Bold word art — Paint a single powerful word across your spread in massive letters. Fill the negative space with doodles.

For more abstract inspiration, check out my collection of zentangle art patterns — they’re perfect for filling backgrounds with meditative mark-making.

Sketchbook Diary Ideas

A sketchbook diary blends drawing with personal reflection. It’s less about creating “art” and more about documenting your life through quick sketches and honest words.

Ideas to try:

Daily object sketch — Draw something from your day: your coffee cup, keys, the plant on your windowsill. Add a sentence about how you’re feeling.
Meal documentation — Sketch what you ate today. It sounds mundane but becomes a sweet record of ordinary life.
Weather diary — Draw or paint the sky each day. Note the date and temperature. Watch the seasons change through your pages.
Gratitude doodles — Write three things you’re grateful for, then doodle small illustrations next to each one.
Conversation snippets — Write down an interesting thing someone said today. Illustrate it however feels right.
Dream journal — Sketch imagery from your dreams before you forget. The weirder, the better.
Monthly reflection spread — At month’s end, fill a spread with highlights: places you went, people you saw, things you learned.

If you want to build a regular drawing habit, my fun drawing ideas post is packed with simple subjects perfect for sketchbook diaries.

Art Journal Drawings

Drawing in your art journal doesn’t need to mean perfect, polished illustrations. Loose, expressive, imperfect drawings often carry more emotion than technically “correct” ones.

Ideas to try:

Blind contour portraits — Draw someone (or yourself) without looking at the paper. The results are always wonderfully weird.
Gesture figure sketches — Quick 30-second poses capturing movement and energy rather than detail. See my pose reference guide for templates.
Botanical studies — Draw plants and flowers from life or imagination. Flower doodles work beautifully in journals.
Architectural snippets — Sketch doorways, windows, rooftops. Just fragments, not whole buildings.
Hand studies — Your own hands in different positions. Always available, endlessly challenging.
Animal character sketches — Draw cute animal characters with human expressions or clothing.
Pattern-filled shapes — Draw simple silhouettes (birds, leaves, bottles) and fill them with intricate patterns.

Vintage Collage & Book Art DIY

There’s something deeply satisfying about giving old paper new life. Vintage collage transforms forgotten book pages, letters, and ephemera into layered, textured art.

Ideas to try:

Old book page base — Glue down pages from damaged books as your background. Paint and draw over them, letting text peek through.
Botanical layering — Layer vintage botanical prints with watercolour washes and pressed flowers.
Ephemera pockets — Create little pockets or envelopes on your page to tuck in tickets, notes, and collected bits.
Dictionary poetry — Circle or highlight words on an old dictionary page to create found poetry. Illustrate around them.
Vintage portrait remix — Print old photographs or portraits and add drawn elements: crowns, wings, speech bubbles, new backgrounds.
Map adventures — Collage with old maps. Mark places you’ve been or dream of visiting.
Love letters to yourself — Write on aged, tea-stained paper as if writing to your past or future self. Collage it into your journal.

For endless vintage collage materials, explore my free junk journal printables — hundreds of beautiful papers ready to print and use.

Mixed Media Art Journal Pages

Mixed media is where art journaling really shines. Combining multiple materials creates depth and texture that flat paint alone can’t achieve.

Ideas to try:

Gesso resist — Apply gesso through a stencil, let it dry, then paint over with watercolour. The gesso resists the paint, revealing your pattern.
Tissue paper layers — Glue down torn tissue paper in overlapping colours. The translucency creates gorgeous depth.
Gel medium transfers — Transfer images from magazines or prints using gel medium. The slightly ghosted effect looks beautifully ethereal.
Ink and bleach — Cover a page in dark ink, then draw into it with a bleach pen. Watch your design appear like magic.
Wax crayon resist — Draw with white or light crayon, then wash watercolour over top. Your crayon marks stay visible.
Fabric and paper — Incorporate fabric scraps, lace, or ribbon alongside paper elements.
Stamp collection spread — Carve your own simple stamps from erasers and build a page of repeated marks.

Want to go deeper with techniques? My watercolor inspiration guide covers lots of effects that work beautifully in journals.

Visual Journal Inspiration: Emotional Pages

Sometimes art journaling isn’t about making something pretty — it’s about processing what’s happening inside. These ideas help you express emotions that words alone can’t capture.

Ideas to try:

Colour your mood — Don’t think, just choose colours that match your current emotional state. Cover the page with them however feels right.
Anger page — Scribble, scratch, tear, paint aggressively. Get it out. You can cover it later or leave it raw.
Comfort collage — Fill a spread with images of things that soothe you: soft textures, favourite places, people you love.
Before and after — Divide your page in half. On one side, how you felt at the start of the day. On the other, how you feel now.
Unsent letter — Write a letter to someone (or yourself) that you’ll never send. Collage and paint over parts you want to release.
Fears page — Draw or write your worries, then cover them with protective layers of paint, paper, or affirmations.
Joy list — Write tiny joys down the page with small illustrations: sunshine through windows, that first sip of tea, your cat’s purr.

Art Journal Inspo: Quick & Easy Pages

Not every page needs to be a masterpiece. Sometimes you just need to make something to keep the creative habit alive.

Ideas to try:

Washi tape borders — Frame your page with washi tape. Done. Fill the middle later or leave it minimal.
Single quote — Write or print a quote that resonates. Decorate simply around it.
Colour swatch page — Test all your paints or markers by making organised swatches. Functional and beautiful.
Magazine transfer — Paint a thick layer of matte medium over a magazine image, press it face-down on your page, let it dry, then rub off the paper backing. Instant art.
Splatter and go — Flick paint across your spread. Walk away. Add to it another day.
Envelope page — Glue an envelope into your journal. Tuck notes, photos, or found objects inside.
Index or table of contents — Create a decorative index of your favourite spreads so far.
Just write — No images at all. Fill a page with stream-of-consciousness writing. Let your pen move without editing.

Seasonal Art Journal Ideas

Connecting your journal practice to the seasons keeps things fresh and gives natural prompts throughout the year.

Spring: Paint cherry blossoms, press actual flowers into pages, create growth and renewal themes. See my spring junk journal printables for ready-made elements.

Summer: Bright, saturated colours. Beach finds collaged in. Sun-drenched photographs. Ice cream illustrations.

Autumn: Warm earthy palettes. Leaf prints and rubbings. Gratitude pages. Cosy preparation themes.

Winter: Deep blues and silvers. Winter drawing ideas like snowflakes and bare branches. Reflection spreads for the year past.

How to Use the Free Art Journal Starter Kit (Download full FREE PDF at the end of this post!)

To help you jump straight into creating, I’ve put together a free Art Journal Starter Kit. Here’s a few examples of what’s inside and how to use each page:

Vintage Botanical Collage Background — Print on regular paper and glue directly into your journal as a ready-made base layer. Paint, draw, and collage on top.

Funky Abstract Collage Background — Same idea, bolder energy. Perfect for days when you want something more contemporary.

Face & Figure Drawing Template — Use as tracing practice or reference for proportions when adding people to your journal.

Feelings Wheel — A tool for identifying emotions before you create. Check in with yourself, find your feeling, then let it guide your page.

Creative Goals Reflection Page — Journal prompts for setting intentions around your art practice. Perfect for the start of a new journal or new year.

Tips for Keeping Your Art Journal Practice Alive

Starting an art journal is easy. Keeping it going when life gets busy? That takes a bit of intention.

Lower your standards (seriously). The enemy of a consistent practice is perfectionism. Give yourself permission to make ugly pages, half-finished pages, pages that are literally just scribbles. They all count.

Keep supplies accessible. If you have to dig through a closet to find your paints, you won’t bother. Set up a small, permanent creative space — even just a corner of your desk.

Use prompts. When you don’t know what to create, prompts remove the pressure of deciding. My easy doodle drawing ideas work brilliantly as quick journal starters.

Create rituals. Maybe it’s art journaling with your morning coffee, or 15 minutes before bed. Attach your practice to existing habits.

Don’t compare. Instagram art journals are curated highlight reels. Real journals have bad pages. Lots of them. That’s normal and fine.

Finding Your Art Journal Style

As you fill more pages, patterns will emerge. Maybe you discover you’re drawn to maximalist collage, piling layers upon layers until the page practically crackles with texture. Or perhaps you find calm in minimal ink drawings with plenty of white space. Neither is better — both are valid.

Your journal is allowed to contain multitudes. Funky abstract spreads can live next to quiet meditative doodles. Angry scribbled pages can sit beside careful botanical studies. The variety is the point.

If you want to explore a particular direction:

For more drawing-focused journaling, explore my pencil drawing ideas
For collage-heavy pages, browse my junk journal ideas and themes
For colour inspiration, try my simple watercolor paintings guide

Your Turn

An art journal is one of the most forgiving creative spaces you can have. No clients, no grades, no audience unless you choose to share. Just you and the page.

So here’s my challenge: open your journal today. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike or the perfect supplies to arrive. Use what you have. Make one imperfect mark. Then another.

That’s how every page begins.

Happy creating,
Dee x

Grab the Free Drawing Templates HERE (below)!

Table of Contents

What Is an Art Journal (And Why You Need One)

Art Journal Supplies You Actually Need