Art journaling spread
Skill Archive

Art Journaling

Art journaling is a way back to your voice and instincts. A page that does not demand perfection, only presence. Color, line, texture, symbol, shadow. A private place to spill what you cannot yet say and turn it into something meaningful.

Overview

The why beneath the practice

Many of us stop making art somewhere between childhood and adulthood. The imagination is still there, but it gets buried under pressure, comparison, and the constant question of whether it is good enough. Art journaling is a return to that fearless part of you. Not as a performance, but as a homecoming.

Traditional journaling can keep you circling the same thoughts, writing around the feeling instead of moving through it. Art journaling shifts the process into the body. You put emotion into color, tension into line, restlessness into layers. The page becomes tangible proof that you can transform what you carry.

Teachings

Short truths that guide the work

Art Journaling Is a Way Back

The goal is not to prove talent. The goal is to reconnect with the part of you that makes without permission. The page becomes a place where you can be honest, wild, and real.

Make It Tangible

On the hardest days, you can pour sadness, tension, or restlessness into layers. When emotion has shape and color, it stops being a fog and becomes something you can witness and transform.

No Perfection Required

Art journaling does not demand a plan. It does not care about training. It asks for presence, and it rewards play. The mess is not failure, it is evidence that you showed up.

The Container Shapes the Practice

Your journal format changes how you create. A bound book can feel sacred and continuous. A binder can feel flexible and forgiving. Choose the container that supports your honesty.

Techniques

Start here, then evolve
Layer Color Without Thinking Entry point

Begin with instinct. Lay down color fast. Let it be imperfect. The first layer is not a decision, it is a door.

  • Use when you feel stuck or overcontrolled
  • Tip: stop before it looks finished
  • Reminder: you can always add another layer
Tear, Glue, Build Meaning Collage as emotion

Tear paper with feeling, then place it like you are arranging a truth. Collage turns chaos into composition.

  • Use when you cannot find the words
  • Tip: let the torn edge stay visible
  • Try: add one symbol that explains the mood
Start in the Middle Defeat the perfect first page

If a pristine beginning freezes you, do not begin there. Flip forward. Make a page. Then make another. Confidence is built by pages, not by waiting.

  • Use when the blank page feels too loud
  • Tip: if you dislike a page, glue over it and keep moving
  • Outcome: momentum replaces self judgment

Articles

Learning path + deeper dives

Start with the foundation, then move through the step sequence. Each article is designed to be practical, readable, and reusable as you build your own process.

Foundation Why it matters

Why Art Journaling Changed Everything for Me

The philosophy behind the practice, and why the page can become a place of return.

Foundation Setup

Choosing the Right Journal

Bound books, binders, and formats that actually support your life and your style.

Essential Mixed media

What Is Mixed Media

A clear explanation of what it is, why it works, and how it creates depth and story.

Step 1 Foundation

Page Prep

Set the surface so it can take layers without fighting you.

Step 2 Color

Add Color

Build mood first, then meaning. Color is the first honest sentence.

Step 3 Texture

Build Texture

Layers create time. Texture creates memory. This is where the page becomes tactile.

Step 4 Symbolism

Add Symbolism or Intentional Imagery

Turn the page into a story. Symbols are how your inner world leaves fingerprints.

Video

Mini videos + workshops
Mini Videos Library Short, satisfying glimpses into process. View the full collection here.
Open

A Peep Inside

A quick look at the layers, marks, and quiet decisions that make a page come alive.

See in library

They Start as Moleskins

How the precious blank book becomes a working space. Permission, first layer, momentum.

See in library

Broken CDs

Repurposed materials, texture, shine, and the joy of turning “trash” into relic.

See in library

Publications

Featured work

I was honored to have my work featured in Art Journaling magazine, where I had the opportunity to showcase my creative process, philosophy, and the deeply personal narratives embedded in my art.

This feature highlights my approach to mixed media, storytelling through layers, and the transformative power of art journaling, a practice that allows me to blend fine art, mythology, and raw emotion into tactile, immersive pieces.

Through this publication, I was able to share my insights on creative exploration, emotional expression, and the importance of embracing imperfection in the artistic journey. Being recognized in this space reaffirms my belief that art is more than just an aesthetic, it is a vessel for self discovery and connection.

This feature is a testament to the power of creativity, resilience, and the magic that happens when we allow our imagination to take shape on the page.

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Questions, Classes, Workshops

Reach me + pricing

Want help starting your first journal, building a repeatable process, or learning mixed media techniques without overwhelm. This is structured, supportive, and practical, with room for your own voice to show up.

Quick Question (Email)

$0

One simple question, answered by email, when you are stuck and just need a clear next step.

  • Best for: supply confusion, page fear, which step next
  • Reply window: 2 to 5 business days
  • Limit: one focused question per email
Use the subject line: Art Journaling Question

Contact

Private Session (One on One)

$85

A guided session focused on your journal, your goals, your blocks, and a practical plan you can actually keep.

  • Length: 60 minutes
  • Includes: personalized step plan + prompts
  • Best for: beginners, returning artists, creative reset
Optional follow up: $15 for a short check in email within 7 days.

Book Inquiry

Workshop (Small Group)

$35

A structured class with live demonstration and guided page building, designed to get you unstuck fast.

  • Length: 90 minutes
  • Includes: supply list + step sequence + prompts
  • Group size: 6 to 14 people
Host a private group workshop: starting at $250 (up to 8 people), plus materials if needed.

Workshop Inquiry

Prefer email Use my contact page for questions, bookings, and workshop requests. Tell me your level and what you want to learn.
Reach Me

There Is No Wrong Way to Begin

Start where you are. Make the first layer. Add color. Build texture. Place a symbol. Let the page hold what you are carrying. The practice is not about being good at art, it is about being present with yourself.