Last Updated on July 18, 2021 by Dee
Wondering What a Vision Board Art Journal is?
A vision board art journal is a wonderful art space for you to visualize and explore what you really want for your life.
It helps to get you a greater sense of clarity about what is important to you and what your values are.
An art journal vision board also helps to get us thinking about how we can get to what we want. It helps us come up with creative solutions and use the right side of the brain to make new connections and invent creative ideas.
Our lives are filled with so much going on that we don’t often get time to sit and think about what we really want, what truly makes us happy, and how we can actually achieve those things.
I find that through creating my own vision board art journal I was able to uncover some false beliefs I had about myself and what I could achieve.
Perhaps you don’t believe there are certain things you could achieve? A vision board art journal will really help uncover some ideas about yourself that aren’t helpful – or are just false.
A vision board art journal allows you to explore your hearts desires and create visual images of them. This is different from a standard vision board, because in an art journal use art techniques, and images to express your feelings and ideas.
In an art journal vision board, meaning comes from both images and text.
Essentially, a vision board art journal allows you to make art and combine text in order to process your thoughts and feelings.
[Related Article: How to Make Your Own Art Journal]
A vision board art journal can take many forms. It can be large or small. You can use a store-bought notebook to journal in, or you can make your own. If you would like to explore binding your own art journal read my article on Junk Journaling 101.
You can also choose a theme for your vision board art journal. This can be helpful because it will give you a starting point from which to work from.
Here are some of the themes that are used for a Vision Board Art Journal:
Specific goal vision board art journal
You may have a very specific goal in mind (like training to run a marathon or saving to buy a house). You can use your art journal to explore this goal through images and text.
You can break down your goal into smaller goals and then dedicate a page of your journal to each of these smaller goals. This is a very good thing to do because it makes your goals SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
Using SMART goals is a winning strategy for getting where you need to be, or achieving what you set out for yourself.
Prayer Vision Board Art Journal
Your art journal becomes a love letter between you and God. Each day you set some time apart to create art about the things you are praying for and the conversations you are having with God.
This is a wonderful tool to deepen your relationship with God or your higher power.
Gratitude Vision Board Art Journal
This is a great tool for reflecting on the blessings in our daily lives. Not only does it help us feel more positive about things, but gratitude often leads to abundance.
Set out a regular time where you can sit down and journal about things that you are grateful for. Use photos, magazine pictures and your own drawings or paintings to express your gratitude.
Themed vision board art journal
- Wedding theme
- Birthday theme
- Memorial theme
- Friendship theme
- Self-love theme
- Dream theme
- Organizer theme
- Healthy living theme
How do you make a vision board art journal?
So, you are ready to begin making your own vision board art journal, but where do you begin?
Below is my step-by-step process on how to make your own vision board art journal.
Brainstorm Your Goals
What are the things that you really want? Can you clearly visualize them?
If you are struggling to work out what exactly you want to create your vision board on then it is always good practice to create a brainstorm and put down all ideas and thoughts on paper.
Get a large piece of paper and write down every single goal that comes to mind – whether it’s unrealistic or not! It’s important to try and fill the space with your ideas, thoughts and feelings about your goals.
Vision Board Art Journal Prompts
- Self-care
- Self-love
- Self-acceptance
- Health
- Healing
- Do more of what you love.
- What can I build?
- Play
- Home
- Bucket List
- A new skill or hobby
- I attract _____________ into my life
Define your vision
Once you have filled up your page, you can browse over what you have written down and select the ideas or goals that are most important to you. Use these to start your art journaling process.
Collect materials
Go on a scavenger hunt and find materials, pictures, textures, fabric, and paper you can use to build up your vision board art journal.


Collect art supplies
Gather all your art supplies – whatever you have!


I recommend the following art supplies:
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pencils
- Gesso
- Tape
- Glue stick
- Colored markers
- Pitt Pens
- Watercolor Pans
- Sharpie Markers
- Gel Pens
- Stamps
- Stencils
- Sketchbook (or art journal)
Which notebook to use? You can buy or make your own altered art journal by reusing an old novel or textbook.
You can also explore using Translucent Paint to create layered backgrounds!
More Art Journaling SuppliesPlan Out Your Vision Board Spread and Stick:
Arrange your materials and text on the pages in your art journal. I often move my images and text around multiple times before I am happy with the position, they are in.
Keep playing with your materials until the arrangement feels right. Then stick it down. I like to use glue stick for this because it doesn’t make the paper buckle and its very user-friendly.

Paint, Write, Draw, Doodle, Sketch, Stitch, and Stick some more…
Layer your images, ideas and text and add things as you go along. This is a cyclical process, so it’s important that you continue to keep going back to add to your art.
You will find your vision board is a growing creature. I often go back to pages from months ago and add little doodles and words to the pages.

What can I write in my Vision Board Art Journal?
Many people get stuck wondering what they should write about on their vision board and how they can do this.
When writing down your visualizations it is recommended that you write the desire as though it is something you already have. Instead of saying “I will be happy when I live in a big house with a swimming pool”, you should rather say “I am deeply happy living in a big house with a swimming pool”.
Use affirmations in your art journal. An affirmation is a statement that confirms something to be true. Repeat your affirmations to yourself as you make art in your art journal.
The Guided Meditation Site has a great article on how to write affirmations.
Add pockets or pop-ups
I like to add pockets to hold little doodles or notes. Pop up’s also can be really effective!

Add Embellishments
If you have little items that have significant meaning to you and are linked to your goal, then you can stick them onto your vision board art journal pages.
Want Free Vintage Printables to Add to Your Vision Boards?
Display it
The reason we call it a vision board art journal, is because we need to visualize our goal. In order for it to become a reality, it is really important to visualize it clearly in your mind.
Place your vision board art journal on a stand (like a small recipe stand) or take a photo of your page and use it as your mobile phone’s background. You can also use a temporary box frame and turn the vision board art journal pages when you need to focus on a specific goal.

[Related Article: How to Start a Junk Journal]
Conclusion
A vision board art journal is a wonderful tool to help you achieve your goals and gain clarity on what you actually want. This is a fun and therapeutic activity to explore your desire and stretch your creativity.