Last Updated on October 27, 2025 by Dee
Starting an art journal might just be the best creative decision you make this year. But here’s the thing—staring at rows of art supplies at the store can feel overwhelming. Which paints should you grab? Do you really need that fancy pen set? And where’s the best place to shop without breaking the bank?
I’ve spent years filling art journals with paint splatters, collaged ephemera, and late-night doodles. After teaching high school art for 18 years and now running my own creative business, I’ve figured out exactly what supplies actually get used versus what sits untouched in a drawer.
This guide breaks down the essential art journal supplies you need, where to find them (hello, Walmart runs!), and honest tips on what’s worth splurging on versus what you can grab on the cheap.
Download the free art journal background pages at the end of this post!
What Makes Art Journaling So Special?
Before we dive into shopping lists, let’s talk about why art journaling matters.
Art journaling isn’t just making pretty pages (though that’s definitely part of the fun). It’s therapy without the couch. It’s where your messy thoughts meet paint and paper, and somehow, things make more sense. You process feelings, spark new ideas, and give yourself permission to play—something most of us desperately need more of.
The best part? There are zero rules. You can paint, paste, write, or smear coffee across the page. If you’re looking for creative ways to find your unique style, an art journal is your perfect experimental playground.
The Foundation: Choosing Your Art Journal
Let’s start with the obvious—you need something to create in.
Option 1: Make Your Own Junk Journal
Some of the most beautiful art journals are handmade from scratch. Grab some cardstock, old book pages, and interesting papers, then bind them together with ribbon or thread. My junk journal tutorial walks you through the whole process if you want to go this route.
Option 2: Buy a Ready-Made Journal
If you’d rather start creating right away, pick up a mixed media journal with thick pages that can handle paint, glue, and wet media without buckling.
My recommendation: Strathmore 500 Series Hardbound Mixed Media Journal – The paper weight is perfect for layering, and it lies flat when you’re working.
Budget-friendly option: Check Walmart’s art section for their Artist’s Loft mixed media journals. They’re surprisingly decent quality for the price, and you won’t cry if you “mess up” a page (spoiler: there are no mess-ups in art journaling).
Essential Art Journal Supplies: The Starter Kit
1. Gesso or White Acrylic Paint
Gesso is your secret weapon. It primes pages, covers mistakes, and creates dreamy backgrounds for layering.
Why gesso over regular white paint? It dries matte, so you can draw over it with pencil without everything sliding around. Plus, it gives thin pages more body so they don’t tear when you’re going wild with mixed media.
Get it here:
- Liquitex Basics Gesso (Dick Blick)
Budget tip: Walmart sells Craft Smart gesso for under $5. Perfect if you’re just starting out.
This post contains affiliate links to products I genuinely use and recommend. If you purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you—which helps me keep creating free content like this!
2. Drawing Tools: Pencils & Pens That Actually Matter
You don’t need every pencil grade in existence, but having a few good drawing tools makes a huge difference.
Graphite Pencils
Start with a basic graphite set. I always reach for my 2B and 6B—they give you rich, dark lines without pressing hard. Perfect for quick sketches or working through gesture drawing poses.
If you’re sketching in your daily journal, mechanical pencils are lifesavers. No sharpening needed.
Colored Pencils
For blendable color, you can’t beat Prismacolor Premier pencils. But honestly? The Crayola colored pencil sets from Target or Walmart work fine for art journaling. Save the fancy ones for finished art pieces.
Watercolor Pencils
These are magic. Draw with them dry, then brush water over your marks to create instant watercolor effects. My lily flower drawing tutorial uses watercolor pencils and the results are stunning.
Try: Derwent Inktense Pencils or grab a cheaper set from Michaels with a coupon.
3. Pens That Won’t Bleed Through Your Pages
Not all pens are created equal. Some bleed through paper like it’s their job, while others stay put beautifully.
Black Fine-Tip Pens
Faber-Castell Pitt Pens are waterproof and permanent—meaning you can paint right over your pen drawings without turning everything into a muddy mess. Grab them here.
Sakura Micron Pens are archival quality, so your art journal will last for decades. Amazon sells them in sets.
Gel Pens & Metallic Markers
Gel pens in white, gold, and metallic colors are perfect for adding sparkle over painted backgrounds. The Gelly Roll brand is my go-to, but Walmart’s Pen+Gear metallics work in a pinch.
Brush Pens
If you love intuitive, loose line work, try watercolor brush pens. They’re less messy than traditional watercolors and perfect for adding pops of color.
Sharpies deserve a shout-out too. Get the big pack because you’ll use them constantly for bold outlines and quick color.
4. Paint: The Fun Stuff
Watercolor Paints
Watercolors are my favorite medium for art journaling. They’re portable, forgiving, and create gorgeous dreamy backgrounds.
Beginner pick: Prang Watercolors from Dick Blick or any basic pan set from Walmart.
Step-up option: Winsor & Newton Cotman Set has richer pigments and better blending.
Pro tip: If you want to paint with tea and coffee for vintage-looking backgrounds, you don’t need any fancy supplies—just steep some tea or instant coffee and use a paintbrush.
Gouache Paint
Himi Gouache Jelly Cups are my ride-or-die. The paint comes in adorable little jelly cups, dries matte, and covers mistakes like a dream. Read my full review here.
Gouache is basically watercolor’s confident older sibling—opaque, vibrant, and totally reactivatable with water.
Acrylic Paint
For bold, opaque color, grab some Liquitex Basics (Dick Blick) or the Craft Smart line from Michaels/Walmart.
Acrylics dry fast, so they’re great when you want to keep layering without waiting around. Just know they’re harder to draw over with pencil once dry.
5. Fun Extras: Crayons That Aren’t Just for Kids
Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Crayons are water-soluble wax pastels that create the most beautiful watercolor effects. Draw with them, then brush water over your marks. Magic.
These are especially fun if you’re exploring intuitive perspective drawing because the colors blend so smoothly.
6. Adhesives: Making Things Stick
You need glue. Lots of glue.
Glue stick – For paper and lightweight ephemera. Elmer’s is reliable.
Matte medium – This stuff is a game-changer. It’s glue, sealer, and finish all in one. Use it to collage photos, seal painted pages, or create transfers.
Washi tape – Not technically glue, but essential. Walmart, Target, and Dollar Tree all carry cute patterns for cheap. Use it to create borders, attach ephemera, or just add decorative strips.
Tip: When taping down watercolor paper for painting, use artist’s tape (not regular masking tape) so it doesn’t tear your paper.
Embellishments & Ephemera: Where the Magic Happens
This is where art journaling gets really fun. Ephemera is just a fancy word for “interesting paper stuff”—ticket stubs, vintage labels, old book pages, postcards, receipts, anything.
Where to Find Ephemera:
- Thrift stores – Old books, postcards, maps, sheet music
- Dollar Tree – Scrapbook paper, stickers, stationery
- Your mailbox – Junk mail has surprisingly pretty graphics
- Nature – Pressed flowers, leaves, feathers
- Library book sales – Outdated atlases and vintage magazines
If you’re creating a page inspired by something like a pineapple drawing, vintage fruit crate labels make perfect collage elements.
Other Embellishments:
- Fabric scraps
- Buttons and pins
- Dried flowers
- Stickers (the vintage ones are my weakness)
- Lace trim
- Old photos
- Stamps (the postal kind)
Shopping tip: Joann Fabrics, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby have entire aisles of scrapbook embellishments. Wait for their 50% off sales and stock up.
Stencils & Stamps for Easy Pattern-Making
Stencils save you when you want pattern without the fuss. Layer them with paint, ink, or crayon to create backgrounds and borders.
Budget-friendly: Check Dollar Tree for basic shape stencils or make your own by cutting designs from cardstock.
Splurge-worthy: Tim Holtz Layering Stencils are beautifully designed and reusable forever.
Free option: I’ve created tons of free printable stencils you can download and cut out yourself.
Sealing & Protecting Your Work
Once you’ve created a gorgeous art journal page with charcoal or pastels, the last thing you want is for it to smudge all over the next page.
Fixative spray keeps everything in place. Krylon Workable Fixative lets you spray a page and still draw over it afterward.
Old-school trick: Rub a plain white candle over your finished page. The wax creates a protective barrier between pages. Free, easy, and it works.
Art Journal Supplies for Travel
Planning a trip? Art journaling while traveling captures moments in a way photos never can.
Pack light with these essentials:
- Small mixed media journal – Fits in your artist backpack
- Travel watercolor set – Comes with its own brush
- 2-3 graphite pencils (2B and 6B)
- A few watercolor pencils for quick color
- One black waterproof pen
- Glue stick
- Small scissors
- Washi tape roll
This tiny portable drawing kit takes up almost no room but lets you create anywhere.
Where to Shop for Art Journal Supplies (Store by Store)
Amazon
Best for: Complete sets, hard-to-find brands, Prime shipping convenience
Dick Blick
Best for: Professional-grade supplies, artist tools, serious paint collections
Walmart
Best for: Budget basics, impulse creative shopping, when you need supplies NOW
- Look for: Craft Smart paints, Artist’s Loft journals, Crayola pencils, Pen+Gear pens
Michaels & Hobby Lobby
Best for: Scrapbook embellishments, stencils, washi tape, weekly coupons
- Pro tip: Never buy anything at Michaels without a coupon. Ever.
Dollar Tree
Best for: Stickers, basic paper, cheap embellishments, glue sticks
- Surprise wins: Their watercolor sets are actually decent for experimenting
Target
Best for: Cute aesthetic supplies, impulse buys in the dollar bins, trendy stationery
Joann Fabrics
Best for: Fabric scraps, lace, ribbons, mixed media supplies
- Always check for 60% off one item coupons before buying anything expensive
My Honest Take: What You Actually Need to Start
Look, you don’t need everything on this list to begin art journaling. Start with:
- A journal (even a cheap composition notebook works)
- A pencil
- Something to add color (crayons, markers, watercolors—whatever you have)
- Glue
- Scissors
- Old magazines or interesting paper
That’s it. Seriously.
The fancy supplies are fun, and I absolutely encourage treating yourself to quality tools as you go. But the best art journal is the one you actually use, not the one waiting for you to feel “ready enough” or “good enough” to start.
Art journaling is about process, not perfection. It’s where you experiment, make messes, and figure out what moves you creatively. If you want to make prints of your finished pages later, great. If not? That’s great too.
The pages are for you.
Let’s Create Something Beautiful
Art journaling changed my creative life. It gave me a place to play without pressure, to process feelings through color and texture, and to rediscover the pure joy of making art just because.
Whether you’re grabbing supplies from Walmart on your lunch break or carefully curating a collection from Dick Blick, what matters is that you start.
Pick up a journal. Add some color. Make a mess.
Your art journal is waiting.
What’s your favorite art journal supply? Drop a comment and let me know what you can’t create without!
Happy creating, Dee 🎨
More Art Journaling Resources:
Looking for more creative inspiration? Check out these posts:
- How to Start an Art Journal for Beginners
- Junk Journal 101: Make Your Own Creative Journal
- 101 Art Journal Prompts to Spark Creativity
Grab the Free Art Journal Pages from HERE (below)!
To access the free in-post printables for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or login with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!
Love These Junk Journal Pages? Get Even More Exclusive Creative Goodies in my Junk Journal membership! 🎨
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