1. Start with What You Have
Don't wait to buy fancy supplies. Grab a notebook or sketchbook, pens, pencils, or whatever materials you already own (even old magazines for collage). Your journal is for you, not for perfection.
✍️ Bonus: Even a cheap notebook becomes magical when it's filled with your marks.
2. Set Aside Judgment-Free Time
Give yourself 10–20 minutes where the goal isn’t to “make something good,” but just to play. Experiment, mess up, scribble, spill paint—whatever comes out is valid.
🧠 Think of it as visual freewriting.
3. Use Prompts or Themes
If you're stuck, try starting with one of these:
- How you're feeling right now
- A quote you find meaningful
- A dream you remember
- “Today felt like…”
- "I wish I could be..."
📌 Prompts help break creative blocks and give you a direction without pressure.
4. Mix Words and Images
Combine writing with doodles, collage, paint, or whatever feels natural. You can journal your thoughts and then illustrate them—or vice versa.
💡 There are no rules: poetry and watercolor, or a grocery list with bold strokes of paint—anything goes.
5. Embrace Imperfection
Don’t tear out pages you dislike. Let your journal be a record of growth and honesty. "Ugly" pages are just part of the process—and they often lead to breakthroughs later.
🔥 Remember: Your art journal is not a competition. There's no need to compare yours to anyone else's. It’s an expression of you; that's what makes it rad!
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