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Intro to Visual Journaling (PLUS 50 Prompts!)

Hello friends!

Today’s post is about Visual Journaling, a creative outlet that combines drawing, typography, collage, writing, and pretty much anything else you want to throw in there! If you’ve ever doodled while taking notes in class, or wanted to write a journal but get bored by just words, this is a fun way to combine image + text in a day-to-day way.

With just a few supplies and your imagination, you can start visual journaling. Keep in mind that I’m sharing the way that I personally journal – there really are no rules! The point is to take a little time to reflect in a creative way.

Here are the basic supplies you need for visual journaling:

• A journal. I like this journal I got at Staples because the pages are lined, it has an elastic band to keep everything inside, and it has a pocket in the back for extra images/magazine clippings.
• Scissors. Although you don’t have to collage, I find that cutting out an image and gluing it down keeps me from feeling afraid of the blank page and gives me an interesting shape to work around.
• Magazine clippings/images. Again, you don’t have to include printed images – you can draw your own! – but I like the way that cutting & pasting adds texture and layers.
• Pens. You want a good black pen – felt tip or ball-point. I also included a gold pen here.
• Glue Stick. Another necessity if you’re going to go the collaging route.
• Colored pens/markers. One of the easiest ways to add interest is to play with different fonts in different thicknesses. Using markers or colored pens allows you to add color to your page too.

Below, I’ve shared a few images from my Visual Journal. Many entries are personal, as I write about my goals, resolutions, and memories. But here I’ve shared some of the less-serious pages, which I find just as important to record. I love to write about my favorite things – A really good book, a funny TV show, or one of my all time favorite movies. I also love to make pages about my dreams, as they are often quite odd!

A page about one of my favorite movies, The Happiest Millionaire, and one of my favorite books, The Outsiders. I used listing for both to record what I liked about each.

I made this page before a trip to Disneyland. I was thinking about some of my favorite Disney movies and dreaming about rides that don’t exist.

This page is kind of a fashion snapshot – my best-dressed list from the most recent Golden Globes.

So now that I’ve given you a sneak-peek into my journal, I encourage you to try visual journaling for yourself! It’s a great way to pause and take note of the bright things in life.

Because I want you to love visual journaling as much as I do, I’ve put together a list of 50 Visual Journaling Prompts that’s available to my BrightMail subscribers. Click here or on the image below to get access to this free printable and ALL of my other printables. Pretty cool, huh? (If you’re already a subscriber, click here to go to my library and enter the passcode from your last email. Easy-peasy!)

What are your favorite things to journal about? Do you like to draw, paint, collage, or stamp in your visual journal?

Thanks for reading!

p.s. If you do start visual journaling, or you decide to try out one of my prompts, be sure to tag me @haleympettit on Instagram or Twitter! I can’t wait to see what you create.

You may also like

Papercrafters unite against racism blog hop – she shines art journal entry, journal with me february 2017, visual journaling with magazines & paint (plus 50 more prompts).

What’s not to love about this?! It’s amazing and something I never thought of. I just may have to update my vision board. 😉

Yes! I love using mine to record goals in a creative way. It’s one part vision board, one part journal. It’s also fun to look back on too 🙂 Thanks for reading! xo, Haley

My dream is to one day be able to have beautiful handwriting like you! ?

*blushing* oh thanks!

This is such a cool idea! I don’t think I am creative enough to do it as well as you, but it’s a really neat way to journal!

Well, I only showed my best pages – there are some not-so-pretty ones in there too! Like a journal or sketchbook, it’s okay to make mistakes! Thanks for reading 🙂 xo, Haley

Journal With Me February 2017 - Whatever Bright Things

[…] The idea behind this journal is similar to visual journaling (see my posts on visual journaling here and here), but with more focus on recording daily life. I’ve been using a planner as a […]

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Visual Journaling with Magazines ...

Art Journal Ideas, Inspiration, Courses, Prompts + Even more Creative Exploration!

art journaling

57 art journal prompts.

Sometimes we want to make art in our art journals, but ideas just don’t come to us! The thing is, in reality, ideas are limitless, but that can be hard to believe when you’re blocked. Which is why I came up with this list of 57 art journal prompts.

Be sure to bookmark this page to come back for more art journal inspiration. And look below this list of art journal prompts to see some of the ideas in my own art journal!

57 Art Journal Prompts:

• Collage a self portrait.
• Something you’re grateful for
• The color green
• Someone you love
• Your favorite beverage
• Something that makes you laugh
• A happy memory from your childhood
• Your favorite animal
• The color blue
• Fill a page with blind contour drawings
• A favorite quote
• Cloudy days
• In the garden
• Tell a story with images only
• Use only colored pencils to fill a page
• Re-use old artwork in a new way in your art journal
• The color yellow
• Your favorite objects
• A drawing of you when you were six
• Shapes on shapes on shapes
• Your favorite color
• How your favorite song makes you feel
• Write a love note to your 10 year old self, cut it into heart shapes and glue them into your journal. Add paint/pen/etc., too, if you’d like!
• Black & white
• Create a pattern
• Draw all the shoes you own
• Butterflies
• A small abstract painting
• Drawings of your favorite art supplies
• Paint using only coffee or tea
• Kitchen Utensils
• The color red
• Party supplies
• Keep it simple: use only 2-3 things (like a black pen, a collage element, and washi tape)
• Woodland creatures
• Illustrate a poem
• Your favorite artist
• Vintage maps (if you don;t have any, draw some!)
• Combine art and words
• A secret dream
• Birds dressed like people
• Draw over an old photo

Since originally posting this article, I wrote and published two art journaling idea generating books:

250+ Joyful Art Journaling Prompts: Book One

250+ joyful art journaling prompts: book two.

Please feel free to share any/all of these examples on Pinterest!

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Thanks my creative friend! 

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One comment on “ 57 Art Journal Prompts ”

I came here for sketchbook prompts, but got something better. But for those like me (that cant art journal for crap T~T) Most of these can also be sketchbook prompts. Happy Sketching <33

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Your Visual Journal

Journaling + Sketchnotes + Bullet Journal Ideas

301+ Journal Prompts for Freedom and Insight

Last updated on April 24th, 2022 • Journal Prompts

Journal prompts are like a “cheat code” for shifting your perspective and sparking your imagination. Spend some time with your notebook engaging with a journal prompt, and you’ll find yourself breaking out of tired patterns, inspired by new points of view. 

And the best part?

Using a prompt produces way better journaling than just sitting in front of a blank page, trying to figure out what to write.

Do you love questions that bring your ideas to life, expand your emotional intelligence, uncover hidden dreams, and reignite your passion?

Then you’re going to love this post.

We’ll provide a huge list of journaling prompts for use in different contexts. Specifically, we’ll cover:

• How journal prompts can take you off autopilot to get what you REALLY want
• 6 Fear-dispelling journal prompts proven to ease anxiety
• Over 50 prompts to help you build optimism through gratitude
• 12 journal prompts to give clarity when making a tough decision
• 30 questions to ask kids for great journal stories
• And a huge list of other journal prompts—sorted by category—that you can use now, or bookmark and reference, again and again

** Free Bonus: Click here to download all 301+ journal prompts in one handy PDF. **

What are journal prompts? 

Journal prompts are questions or first lines that serve as a guide for what to write on a blank page. Of course, you can always pick up a pen and start writing on your own, but a journaling prompt can help you think in new ways.

By giving you a path to follow as you write, journal prompts encourage you to examine parts of your experience that you may not have looked at before. They help to clarify how you think and feel about things, allowing you to find a fresh perspective. 

Clear as dishwater?

Let’s look at an example. Consider this journal prompt, and some potential scenarios it might speak to:

Who helped you this week that you would like to thank and why?  

• Maybe someone said something encouraging to you when you felt like your week was a colossal shitshow
• Or someone gave you a hand to finish a complex task that was weighing you down
• Or maybe someone just made your week better by their very presence with you

Taking time to write out the who and the what will change your emotional space. You’ll begin to feel grateful—which, in positive psychology research, is consistently proven to produce greater happiness.

Inspiring, right?

Here’s why:

We spend a lot of our life on autopilot. 

It’s actually a helpful feature of the human mind. Your brain focuses on actions that are new, but automates the “known,” to be more efficient with its resources. This is the reason we can wash dishes and plan a presentation at the same time. It’s the reason why we decide where we are going to sit the first time we walk into a class, and continue to choose that same seat for the rest of the semester. It’s the reason we can get in a car and drive—without going through the driver’s ed checklist of fastening the seat belt, adjusting the mirror, and putting our hands “at 10 and 2,” the way we did when we first learned to drive.

But while autopilot is a helpful feature in terms of resource conservation, it can keep us in a reactive mode, rather than a proactive mode. 

Our automated actions are based on decisions and circumstances of the past—which aren’t necessarily aligned with what we want in our future.  

But we won’t know unless we take the time to think it through. 

Enter the magic of journaling with a prompt: a prompt can push us to examine things we don’t usually consider. 

Which takes us off autopilot. 

The benefit? 

We bring more intention to our decisions. We stop reacting, and start choosing. 

Are you looking for a way to live more intentionally? 

Do you want to stop feeling like you are living your life on a hamster wheel, and take back some control? 

Then ask yourself better questions—and record your answers to them—so you can find clarity on what you want, what you think, and how you feel. Using a journal prompt could be the key to doing just that.

Categories for our 301+ journal prompts

We’ve organized our journaling prompts into 11 different categories. Each section begins with a bit of explanation about how each type of prompt works. 

This is a really long list, so feel free to use these handy jump links to take you where you want to go.

Or, you can click the link below and just download all the journal prompts in PDF format.

Prompts for gratitude and optimism

Let’s do a little experiment.

Suppose you’ve had a really crappy day. Truly, truly terrible. 

It can start to feel like nothing is good in your life. The weight of your day will color every thought you have for the rest of the evening. 

But let’s say that, as a discipline, you sit down at your desk, pull out your notebook, and answer some journaling prompts on gratitude. 

Soon, you will have pages of evidence of the good in your life that will counter the terrible stuff, and begin to bring balance—and maybe, just maybe, tip the scales in favor of a bit of optimism.

Here is a list of journaling prompts for gratitude: 

• Write about a person who always makes you laugh. 
• What was the best gift you received as a child? 
• Write about an event in your life that changed it for the better. 
• Who has loved you unconditionally? 
• What guilty pleasure are you secretly grateful for? 
• Write about a person you are grateful for, but sometimes take for granted.
• What about today made you smile? 
• What did you eat this week that was delicious? 
• What is something great about your community?
• Write about something that always makes you smile, no matter what. 
• What about your living space are you especially thankful for? 
• Write down one good thing that happened to you today.
• What in your childhood are you grateful for? 
• Who served as a mentor to you (whether they knew it or not)? 
• Write about three skills or talents you have that serve you well.
• What do you really appreciate about your life? 
• What has surprised you, in a good way? 
• Describe your favorite mundane moment of the day.
• What gift have you given that has made a difference in someone’s life? 
• Write about a positive interaction you had with a stranger. 
• Who or what in your life are you happy to have let go?
• List 5 positive qualities of the first person you usually talk to each day.
• What was your best day ever? 
• List 5 things that spark your curiosity and inspire your interest.
• What friend are you most grateful for? What makes them special? 
• What makes you laugh so hard you get tears in your eyes? 
• Where is your “happy place”? Describe it.
• What positive impact did you have this week? 
• What could you do this week to express gratitude to others? 
• What one thing do you own that makes every day a little bit easier?
• What character trait are you most grateful for? 
• What adversity are you grateful for? 
• What are your favorite things in the natural world? 
• What about your daily routine are you grateful for?
• What do you deeply enjoy doing alone? 
• Did a stranger ever do a favor for you?
• Write about something you think is adorable. 
• What 5 songs are you grateful for? Why? 
• Write about what makes your pet so special.
• What freedoms are you grateful for? 
• How have you grown in the past year?
• What book or movie are you grateful for? How did it impact you? 
• Write about a favorite memory.
• Which day was more special than any other?
• What’s the most memorable conversation you’ve had in the past year?
• Who helps you achieve your goals? 
• List 10 frivolous things that bring you joy.
• What could you not live without? 
• Write about a random act of kindness.
• Who taught you about unconditional love? 
• What about your upbringing are you most grateful for?
• Who made you feel good this week?     

Prompts for self-discovery

Want to find a new internal spark? 

There is something about asking yourself about what you want and how you feel that can renew your motivation in the most surprising of ways.

It’s ideal to schedule self-discovery prompts around milestones, like birthdays or the beginning of a year. It’s also powerful to create a plan to engage with them on a recurring schedule (monthly or quarterly works well). 

Here’s a list of journal prompts for self-discovery, so when you pull out your journal to write, you’ll have inspiring things to explore about yourself. 

• Describe yourself in 10 words or less. 
• What’s your passion, and how did you discover it? 
• What in your life has given you the greatest fulfillment? 
• If you knew you wouldn’t fail, what would you do?
• What’s your biggest dream? Is there a smaller version of your dream that you could accomplish in two weeks? 
• What have you learned that has changed your values?
• Write about a “hell no” moment—a time when you were so outraged, you couldn’t help but take action. 
• Fast forward to your 90th birthday. What would you want your favorite future relative (who doesn’t exist yet) to say about your life?
• Where do you show leadership? 
• What are your plans for going after what your heart wants? 
• What do you wish you were doing more of? 
• Who do you want to spend more time with? Why? 
• Who do you want to be in three years? How do you want people to see you? 
• What’s the most important thing to focus on this week? 
• Where are you giving something that you don’t actually want to give? 
• When people complain about you, what do they say? 
• What expectation do others have of you that you wish they didn’t? 
• What demand(s) on your time do you need to get out of? 
• What is the one thing you need to focus on now, that will make everything else better in the future? 
• What one discipline sparks your personal growth the most? 
• What three keystone habits do you need to perform daily? 
• If you had $150,000 to spend in 24 hours or less, how would you spend it? 
• What do you happily spend a lot of money on (without feeling guilty about it), but suspect others might judge you for? 
• What do you need to stop doing? 
• If you only had two years to live, what would you most want to accomplish? 
• Create a schedule for your dream life.
• What are you most excited about right now?
• What is your favorite way to start the day? 
• What do you need to say to someone that you are afraid to say? 
• What would you like to be remembered for?
• List 3 of the best compliments you’ve received.
• Write about a mistake that turned out to be a blessing. 
• What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever purchased? Did it turn out okay?
• What rule do you most want to break? (Or what rule have you broken that you wish you hadn’t?)
• Where does your future self live? What does that look like? 
• If you could go back 10 years and spend 5 minutes with your former self, what advice would you share? 
• When you are working in an optimal job, what do you enjoy the most? 
• If you could spend twelve hours doing anything you want, anywhere you want, how would you spend them?
• How do you feel about current events? What worries you, and what gives you hope?
• Are you an Eeyore or a Tigger?
• What kinds of activities take up most of your time? Are you happy about that? If not, what could you give up to gain back 30 minutes? 
• What’s important to you right now? 
• List 10 of your favorite things.
• What task are you putting off that you just need to get done? How could you finish it within the next week? 
• Has there ever been a time you were on a path and something happened to completely shift your trajectory?
• What are you thinking of doing that you are afraid to tell anyone about? 
• What are you holding onto too tightly? 
• How could you play more? 
• What question are you grappling with?
• What makes you feel overwhelmed or paralyzed? Who could you ask for help? 
• What is something you have always wanted to try, but never have?
• What time of day are you most creative? How do you want to use that time?
• What is your time frame for achieving your dream?
• What do you value most?
• What are you not saying that needs to be said?
• What decision(s) are you procrastinating on making?
• What’s your biggest priority this month?
• What gets you excited about the future?
• What are your core values?
• What is your take on love?
• Why do you live where you do?
• What is your favorite thing about your current living space? What drives you crazy?
• Write down the steps you need to take to get from who you are to who you want to be. 
• How are you contributing to the situation in your life that frustrates you the most?
• What is your personal definition of success, stripped of others’ expectations? 
• What would you write, if you felt it wouldn’t be judged? 
• What short-term losses are you willing to accept now, for longer-term gains in the future?
• If people become the amalgamation of the 5 people they spend the most time with, who are you going to be?
• When everything else is stripped away, and no one else’s opinion is influencing you, what is your truth? 
• Write your future self a letter that begins: “Dear future me, this is what I want for you…”
• When did you last boldly take action?
• What is your relationship with technology?  
• What skill do you need to learn to advance to the next level?
• What place do you want to visit, but haven’t been to yet? 
• What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

Journal prompts for anxiety

Like it or not, fear is a core human emotion. 

And the media knows it! Every day we are bombarded with a steady stream of reasons to be afraid. 

Our brains are wired to pay attention when something feels frightening. Even when we are perfectly safe, the threat of “what might happen” makes it hard to shut that anxious response off. (The “fight or flight or freeze” response is hard-wired into us.) 

Journaling about your anxiety can give your mind a place to pour out that mental chatter so that it feels heard . Once you acknowledge that an anxious thought or feeling exists, your mind feels safe enough to stop screaming at you to pay attention. 

Sitting with a notebook and honoring what you are worried about by writing it down can be oddly calming.

These 6 powerful journaling prompts can help calm your mind by addressing different types of anxiety. Find the one that resonates most with your experience, and try it now:  

• What do you feel anxious about? Write your stream-of-consciousness, and let it feel as if all the random fears (or that one big fear) are draining out of you onto the paper. 
• How are you experiencing anxiety in your body? What does it feel like? Write words or use doodles to get this onto the page. What kind of self-care might calm you, allowing those feelings to pass? 

For example: breathing deeply, going for a run, sitting on the couch to snuggle a pet.

• Write down the worst thing that could happen if what you fear comes to pass— and make it as extreme as possible.

For example: “…and then I’ll be laid off, and then I won’t be able to  find a job, and then I’ll be homeless and have to dig in the trash for food… ”

Then, write what would probably really happen.

For example: “…and then I would reach out to people I know for ideas on what my opportunities are, and, if needed, I would move back in with my family for a short time while I look for a new job.”

• Write the serenity prayer at the top of the page: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can. And the wisdom to know the difference.” 

Below it, draw a line down the center of the page.

On one side, write the heading: “cannot change.” On the other side, write: “can change.”

Take everything that is prompting anxiety for you in this moment, and put it into one of those categories. (Note: Most of the time the only thing you can change is yourself. Most of the “cannot change” list will be about others.)

• If your anxiety centers around your own performance, name your inner critic. Give it a voice and a personality. (Mine is Edith Prickley, based on the SCTV character.) Write out all the things your inner critic is saying to you. 

For example: “ Edith says I’m going to fail at my presentation tomorrow. She says it is going to be boring and lame and no one will be interested in what I have to say.”

Writing your inner dialog out from a third-party perspective creates separation. It changes your vantage point, so you can see your thoughts more objectively. 

Now write back to your inner critic.

For example: “ Oh Edith, I know you are afraid for me. Come here. Let me give you a hug. We are going to be okay.”

Giving your inner critic a persona allows you to question it. You don’t have to accept what it says as truth. 

• If your anxiety is sparked by overwhelm, create “popcorn pages.” Your brain knows when it has committed to a task that remains unfinished. In fact, it will ping you endlessly with reminders. After all, part of the brain’s job is to keep track of things until they get done. But when there are too many open loops, you can start to feel overwhelmed.

Pull out a piece of paper and write down every open loop your brain keeps pinging you with. Scatter them popcorn-style across your page. If you are like most people, you will probably end up with a weird mix of the essential and the trivial—from all different areas of your life. Write fast, then pause to see what comes into your brain next. (Your brain is going to be so happy that you’re doing this, it will flood your thoughts with all the things.)

Now, use a highlighter to color-code similar things—items that can be addressed together. Block out time on your calendar to schedule when you are going to deal with each collection of color-coded items. Once a task’s completion is scheduled, your brain can start to relax. (You’ll find even more relief if you take care of at least one piece of “popcorn” on the page immediately.)

Journal prompts for depression

Depression is a serious mental state—characterized by feelings of sadness, withdrawal from connection, and a lack of interest in daily life. 

If you are currently struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Hopeline Network: 1-800-784-2433. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also has a hotline to help you find resources to treat and manage depression: call 1-800-662-HELP.

Journaling is not a cure for depression, but it does have benefits for people who are depressed. Depression creates a fog around who we are, what we think, and how we feel. Journaling can empower you to regain clarity.

Here are some journal prompts that may help:

• Write morning pages. Artist Julia Cameron popularized this practice of unloading the mind first thing every morning. In her book, The Artist’s Way , Cameron writes: “In order to retrieve your creativity, you need to find it. I ask you to do this by an apparently pointless process I call the morning pages…the morning pages are three pages of longhand writing, strictly stream-of-consciousness.” Morning pages are not intended to be either writing or art. Rather, they are a kinesthetic exercise that helps your brain clear itself, so you can be more focused and creative for the rest of your day. (For more on this, watch Julia Cameron’s video about Morning Pages .)
• If some of your depression is being caused by anger you’ve felt helpless to act on, write an angry letter. (You don’t have to send it.) 
• Write about a need you know someone has, and describe how you could help alleviate their suffering.
• What are you tolerating that you shouldn’t be?  
• Write about something you know to be true.
• Write a letter of forgiveness to someone who hurt you.
• Write a letter of forgiveness to yourself.
• When did you start to lose interest in things? How far back can you trace these feelings? 
• How are your current circumstances affecting your mental health? 
• Can you see beyond where you are now to a better future? 
• What is the thing you are afraid to say out loud?
• What would you write, if you didn’t feel like you would be judged for it?
• Write what you wish someone would say to you.    

Journal prompts for therapy

Great therapists ask great questions. 

They draw out what  you are really thinking and how you are feeling with their queries. And while there is no substitute for someone trained in this art, this process of querying and answering yourself can be a very therapeutic process. 

Here are some prompts for using your journal as a complement to therapy: 

• Who in my life can I be my full self with, unapologetically? 
• What am I doing when I feel most free? 
• Who am I, outside of the roles I play? 
• What do I need to forgive myself for? 
• Am I a victim or a hero in my own story?
• What do I need to do to change for the better?  
• What am I feeling right now? How long have I had this feeling? 
• Who triggers negative emotions in me? Why? 
• Who triggers positive emotions in me? Why?
• When I get caught in a thinking loop, what am I thinking about?
• When have I cried happy tears? What made that happen?
• Who have I lied to? Why? What would have happened if I’d told the truth?
• What is my biggest regret? How can I make amends?
• What is something I am angry about, but haven’t dealt with?   
• How do I feel about the statement: “I am enough”?
• What do I not get credit for?
• Would I parent your children in the same way I was parented? Why or why not? 
• My past doesn’t define who I am because… 
• I have trouble sleeping when…
• How would I tell the story of my life in three sentences? 
• “Dear [name of a person I’ve lost], …”
• One area I need to improve on is… 
• Right now, my thoughts are _____________. I wish they were _______________.
• I really wish others knew this about me: …
• What barrier(s) do I need to overcome?

Journal prompts for self-love

No matter how amazing we are, our self-talk can be downright mean. 

Phrases we would NEVER say to a friend spin around in our own minds like ninja throwing stars. What’s worse: we can become so immersed in these thought patterns that we never notice how they’re doing damage to our beautiful souls, over and over again.  

Journaling for self-love is a fierce shield of defense against this roaring inner voice. It retrains our minds and heals our hearts. 

Here are some journaling prompts that can foster self-love: 

• What does my inner child most need me to say to him/her? 
• Where have I shown kindness to others? 
• How can I be kinder to myself? 
• What am I wearing when I feel really beautiful?
• What about my personality do people compliment me on?  
• How do I want to grow? What do I want to experience?  What do I want to contribute? 
• What barrier keeps me from loving myself? 
• What do I need to feel at peace? 
• How would I talk to myself if I were 3 years old? 
• Some of the most wonderful words ever said to me were…
• What fulfills me? 
• What change do I most want to see in my world? 
• What kind of self-care would be most useful right now? 
• When I feel loved, how do I show up? 
• How does my inner voice sound when it is beautiful?  

Journal prompts for clarity of action

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we just don’t know what to do. We have to make a decision—a hard choice—and it feels overwhelming. 

When you are in that tough space, your journal can be an incredible ally. 

There are questions we can ask ourselves before we take action that can clarify what we really want and make the path for our choices clear. 

Here are some journaling prompts to try when you need clarity of action: 

• Will this matter in two days? Two months? Two years? 
• Does this need to be said? Does this need to be said by you? Does this need to be said by you now?
• Which path most closely aligns with your highest values? 
• Will this allow you to use your strengths or will you primarily be performing in areas you don’t enjoy?
• How much do you want this? What am you willing to give up to get it? 
• What would you do if money wasn’t a factor? 
• If you had no say and someone else made this choice for you, which choice would make you feel disappointed? Why? 
• What would you wish for someone you love, if they were in this situation? 
• What outcome are you working toward? 
• What if you did nothing? 

Mindfulness journal prompts

The heart of mindfulness is about directing your attention—typically in the present moment. While journaling can be a great mindfulness practice, there are specific prompts that can help bring awareness to your current experience. 

Here are some journaling prompts for mindfulness:

• How do you feel in your body right now? 
• What is your predominant emotion? How are you experiencing it physically? 
• When were you fully in the moment today? 
• What are you enjoying right now? 
• Draw a mandala or zentangle .
• If you let your thoughts wander, what memory comes to mind first? 
• Where did you notice beauty today?
• What insights came to you in meditation today? 
• What mundane daily ritual could you bring your full attention to, staying completely in the moment?
•  Write a stream-of-consciousness with no clear goal. Just write, letting your thoughts go by as you release them to the paper. 

Writing your personal history 

Journaling your personal history allows you to capture personal and family stories in a way that makes your journal become a legacy. Your family can read the stories to learn about themselves and where they come from. 

Personal history journals can be digital, but they can also be handwritten, with pictures pasted in to give them an heirloom feel.

Whether you decide to go with pen and paper or create a digital journal, these journal prompts can give shape and inspiration to yourpersonal history journal: 

• Write about your name. What does it mean? Who chose it?
• What’s the ethnicity of your surname? Do you know what it means or where it comes from? 
• Where were you born? Where were your parents born? 
• How did your mother and father meet? 
• Write about the first home you remember. 
• Where was your favorite place to spend time? What did you spend hours doing as a child?
• What was your favorite toy?
• What kinds of wildlife did you encounter as a kid? 
• When you were younger, what did you like to do when it rained?
• Did you have a favorite book as a child? (Or a favorite book you read to your children?)
• What did your grandparents tell you about how they grew up? 
• What is a family story that gets told over and over when people are together? 
• Describe the kitchen in the home you spent the most time in.
• What did a typical mealtime look like when you were growing up? What was your favorite food? 
• Write some of your favorite things about your mother, father, siblings, cousins, and/or grandparents. Help the reader get to know them.
• Where did you go to school? What subjects did you enjoy?
• Who was your childhood best friend? Tell us about them.  
• Where did your parents work? What was their trade? Do you know how your grandparents made their living?
• What did your family do really well? How did they show love? 
• What movie did your family watch over and over?
• Remember when you were a kid and someone told you not to do something? What did you do that you were not supposed to? When did your curiosity get the better of you? 
• Did your family survive a tragedy? What happened? 
• What was high school like for you? Did you go to events like football games, prom, or spend weekends gaming in a friend’s basement?  
• What world events impacted you when you were younger? How did they affect you?
• What was the hardest part about growing up?
• What pets do you have? 
• Are there any family stories your aunts or uncles told you that you want to be sure to write down? 
• Write about your first week of college, or the first week at your first job.
• Write about the first place you lived on your own.
• Write about when and how you learned to manage money and pay bills. What did things cost then?
• Capture what different decades were like for you. Write about your 20’s, your 30’s, etc.
• If you’re married, how did you meet your spouse? Are there any stories you want to record from when you were dating?
• Did you have a marriage that didn’t work out? What do you want to say about that? 
• Describe a mundane day. What is life like for you? Write down what you wish you knew about your grandparents’ or great-grandparents’ daily lives.
• What captures your imagination?
• What do you enjoy doing most with friends and family? 
• What are holidays like for you? What traditions do you hope carry on?
• If you have kids, write about them. What do you want them to know about their younger selves?
• What advice would you give future generations who read this journal?
• What were you worried about as a kid that turned out to be not a big deal for you as a grown up?

Bullet Journal collection ideas

People who use the Bullet Journal Method will be familiar with the term “collections.” A collection is a topical page in your journal that covers a specific category. This is usually a log, tracker, or list of some kind. 

Since a Bullet Journal is supposed to be simple, you don’t want to track everything—only the things that matter to you—but sometimes looking through a list of things that others are logging can help you decide what collection pages to include in your own journal. 

Here are some journal prompts for Bullet Journal collections:

• Books you read this year
• Roller coasters you’ve ridden (or ballparks you’ve visited, or states you’ve been to)
• Your bucket list (make it official; write it down!)
• Packing or camping list
• Home repairs to make
• Daily affirmations
• A category of things you own for which having a list is helpful (textbooks, collectables, essential oils, etc.)
• Meal ideas or a master grocery list
• Event planner
• List of family/friends’ birthdays
• Savings tracker (this is particularly helpful if you are saving to buy a particular item)
• Family gift list (what you gave, or good gift ideas)
• Movies you want to stream
• Healthy snacks list
• Pen or watercolor swatches
• Homework assignments or work deadlines
• Recurring annual charges
• Apps you love or apps to try
• Research for articles, papers, or just topics you are interested in
• Business plan lists
• Project ideas
• 90 day goals
• Social media stats
• Accounts and passwords
• Things to do in your own city
• Date night ideas
• Funny quotes from your friends or kids (or your friend’s kids)
• Basic medical information (list of meds, services, doctors’ numbers, insurance, etc.)
• The last time I called… (make sure you are keeping up with the people you love)
• Activity tracker (this can be anything: exercise, painting, water consumption, or even journaling)

Prompts just for kids

Thirty-something Chase was home for the weekend and going through a box of memorabilia when he came across a journal given to him by his third-grade teacher. Each Monday, she’d given the class a journal prompt, and asked them to write their thoughts. 

As Chase sat in the living room reading each entry (written in decidedly third-grade handwriting) out loud, his whole family was filled with both laughter and nostalgia as they listened to his elementary school perspective on his life. 

You can create this same kind of record for a kid you love as well—and you don’t have to wait until they are thirty to find the answers endearing and hilarious. Either give them a prompt and have them write the answer, or ask the question and record the answers yourself

Here are 30 prompts to discover a child’s perspective: 

• How does money work? 
• What have your friends been up to?
• What’s the silliest thing you could write on this page?  
• What makes you feel brave? 
• What makes you feel curious? 
• What do you like best for breakfast? 
• What do you love about your favorite movie (or book)? 
• If you started a business, what would it be? 
• If you had all the money in the world, what would you buy? 
• If you were going to invent a recipe, what would you invent? 
• If you could be invisible, where would you go? 
• If you could make up a new color, what would you call it? 
• What question do you want to ask your pet? (And what do you think they would say?)
• What will your room look like when you grow up? 
• What do you think is super gross? 
• What did you do this weekend? 
• What is your favorite thing about yourself? 
• If you could be an animal, what kind of animal would you like to be? 
• What is your superhero name? What powers do you have? 
• What was the best gift you ever received? 
• Write (or tell me) about a dream you had.
• What do you remember from when you were really little? 
• What kinds of games do you like to play?
• What is your favorite joke? 
• If there was something you never ever had to do again, what would that be? Why? 
• If you had to eat the same food every day for the rest of your life, what would you pick? Why? 
• What are you really, really good at? What do you love about it? 
• What is your favorite thing to talk about with your friends? 
• What are you looking forward to? 
• What does mommy (or daddy) do at work? 

How to use a journal jar

We’ve explored a lot of different types of journal prompts, but what if you’re not sure what topic you want to write about?

Or maybe you saw a question in one of these lists that scared you a little, or made you uneasy. You know it would do you some good to sit with that question, but you’re not quite sure you have the courage, and need a way to trick yourself into it.

A journal jar is the perfect solution in both of these scenarios. (It’s also a great way to cultivate a spirit of adventure!)

No, it’s not a jar that you write on (although you could). A journal jar is simply a container filled with little scraps of paper that have journal prompts written (or printed) on them. It can be as simple as a plain mason jar full of handwritten ideas, or—if you know that buying or making a pretty jar and using beautifully pre-printed or hand-crafted slips of paper for your prompts will propel you to use it—you can make it as fancy as you like. (Check out some of the journal jars on Etsy for inspiration.)

** Free Bonus: Click here to download all 301+ journal prompts in one handy PDF. ** P.S. The prompts in the PDF are intentionally spaced to make them easy to cut out and put them in your journal jar.

Simply place your journal prompts in the jar, and make it a practice to pull one out every day. The only rule is that you have to use the prompt—whatever’s on that piece of paper is what you’ll write about that day.

If you’re going for a scrapbook feel, you can paste the prompt into your journal and add some simple illustrations to pretty up each entry. You can also save the prompts to use again when your jar is empty, or discard them in favor of choosing new ones later.

We’ve given you 301+ journal prompts to get you started, but there are so many more out there.

Go ahead and tell me. What did I miss?

Yes, this is an enormous list—but everyone journals for different reasons. It’s important to find and use prompts that are aligned with the kind of journaling you most want to do. 

Do you have a prompt not already listed here that you love? Please share it in the comments. I’d love to hear what inspires you to write in your journal!

Reader Interactions

06/06/2021 at 4:04 PM

My goodness Cathy, you’ve been working really hard to find all those prompts. What a great collection. And really useful too.

06/06/2021 at 8:26 PM

Amazing ideas. Thank you for your hard work and staying obedient to your Higher power

07/22/2021 at 7:17 AM

Amazing Thank you very much for your hard work

12/12/2022 at 7:16 AM

Thank you so much! From a new journalist.

02/21/2023 at 12:22 AM

I love journal prompts that encourage freedom and insight. This one is no exception! I’m looking forward to trying out some of the ideas.

07/23/2023 at 1:54 PM

Oh man, I REALLY love these prompts! I was on the hunt for some journal topics and feel like I hit the jackpot here. Thank you!!

02/28/2024 at 8:37 PM

I love the prompts for kids – such a fantastic way to get a peek inside their brains and understand them better! ❤️

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Cathy helps people simplify complex info boost creativity and solve problems by journaling with sketchnotes. 🖌 Get the free Quickstart guide here

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30 Art Journal Prompts For Inspiration When You Feel Uncreative

Art journal prompts are an amazing way to kick that creative block in the butt! Whatever we do, we face these moments of total and irritating periods of a blank mind.

I know that when you have the need to create something, you can’t accept the fact that you are stuck. It makes you angry and you want to change the situation.

Well, I believe that this creative block is healthy and that our brain needs some time off, once in a while. So, I let it go. But not for too long. Just for a while.

I know it’s not as easy as a push of a button. But, having some art journal prompts to inspire you is a great way to start doing something.

Disclaimer: Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you purchase something through that link, I get a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Art journal prompts for inspiration

I’ve prepared these art journal prompts to help you get started in your art journal. They’ve helped me many times and they can kick-start your creative process.

Some of the prompts are just about a technique, but some of them can help you on a deeper mindful level.

These mindful prompts include thinking about yourself, what you’re grateful for, about things that make you happy.

Above all, mindful art journal prompts are here to help you become more self-aware while you create art.

Self-awareness is something you need to nurture in order to love and respect yourself more.

Art journaling can help you with that, and you’d be surprised at how powerful the art journaling process can be.

So, here goes the list. Enjoy creating!

The list of art journal prompts

1. what’s your favorite word.

Is there a word that has a special meaning for you? Or maybe you just like how it sounds? Write it down and make art around it.

Experiment with fonts, and the size of the letters, or draw some doodles around.

2. What’s your favorite song/lyrics?

I’m sure there are lyrics that move you or have deep meaning that you relate to. Color your page with acrylic and write down the lyrics with a black pen .

Next, doodle around it, or jot down how you feel about these lyrics or why they trigger your emotions.

Why not make a lyrics art journal to record all the inspirational songs you like?

3. Think about your bucket list.

Is there anything in this world you’d like to do that would feel like you were on cloud nine? Sure there is!

Maybe it’s something you want to do, but perhaps it’s a place you have always wanted to visit.

Now, make an art journal page just for that one big craving of yours. You can use your words to describe what you want.

Also, you could use photos of a place you want to go to. Collect them and make a collage with them. Imagine you’re already there. How do you feel? Write that down, too.

4. Use geometry.

You can’t go wrong with geometrical shapes. Try triangles or circles.

Also, you can use your rulers to really nail it.

5. Draw a mandala.

A mandala is basically a symmetrical circle-shaped doodling.

When you draw a mandala, you concentrate on small details and symmetry so you get completely engaged in the process.

It’s great for relaxing and calming your mind from all the noise we get from the world.

6. Do you have a favorite flower?

Sure you do. Find out how to draw it . And then practice until you like it.

Again, don’t seek perfection. But if you do some drawing exercises , your hand muscles will remember the process and you’ll be able to draw it anytime you want.

7. Doodle faces.

Faces are my favorite thing in art journaling. You can make this any way you want.

Drawing faces can be as simple as drawing a few lines, or more complex if you use shading and the right proportions .

So, there are no rules, just experiment and see where it takes you.

8. Do you have a favorite quote?

Quotes can be inspiring and they can move us deeply.

Choose one that’s special for you and make art with it. Play with fonts, and doodle around it.

Also, you can make a watercolor background and write your quote on it.

9. Use positive affirmations.

They’re a great way to make an art journal page and practice self-awareness.

Positive affirmations are sentences that utilize a positive statement focusing on one area in your life, or a specific situation.

10. Use a photo that you love.

Make a nice watercolor or acrylic background , glue your dearest photo, and write something about it.

11. What are you thankful for?

Write down your greatest blessings in life. Or even better, make a whole art journal dedicated to gratitude .

12. Make swatches.

Oh, this is a great prompt. Use your watercolors, acrylics, pens, colored pencils, or markers.

Try them out on different kinds of paper. Write down the type and color you use, so you have it for future reference.

13. Make swatches by mixing colors.

Mix different watercolor or acrylic colors to see what you’ll get. And write down all the info so you have it later.

14. Use magazine photos.

Pick some photos from a magazine and make a collage .

You can draw on the photos, especially of human faces and bodies. Also, use a magazine photo of a body and just draw a head for it. Mix and match and have fun.

And I must tell you about a collage artist I really admire. Her name is Amanda and her art is mesmerizing, and the amount of effort and patience she invests in her collages is inspirational. Check her work on Instagram , I promise you’ll be inspired.

15. Use paper scraps to make a collage.

We all have paper scraps around. It doesn’t have to be scrapbook paper.

Collect anything like tickets, receipts, tags, and similar.

Next, make a collage with them. Also, you can paint over them so you can have a textured background. The possibilities are endless!

16. Practice calligraphy.

There are a lot of YouTube videos on faux calligraphy that you can practice with just an ordinary pen.

The more you practice, the more your hand muscles remember how to do this, and you won’t get enough of it.

17. Doodle on black paper with a white pen or marker.

This is a whole new story! It changes the whole perspective of drawing and doodling . You must try it.

For me, this combo is magical. I usually use Posca Paint Pens for this purpose.

18. How do you feel today?

Write about how you feel and then paint or doodle around it. Glue a picture, or draw shapes.

As long as you are mindful of how you feel, it’s a time well spent.

19. Finger painting.

Is this childish? Oh, yes! Let it be, that’s the whole point. Dip your fingers in acrylic paint and make marks on the paper.

Also, experiment with the amount of paint and pressure. I’m sure you’re gonna love this.

20. What would you do if money was no concern?

Wow! This is a great question because it makes you think about your deepest desires.

Without money in the way, what’s that thing that makes your heart sing? Let your imagination flow and make art.

21. Constellations.

Find out what your constellation looks like. Then use it on your art journal page.

You can paint the page black and add the constellation with a white pen or marker .

Also, try painting a watercolo r circle and then add the constellation. This looks magical.

You can also make a great gift out of this, for a friend who’s crazy about stars.

22. The advice you’d give to your younger self.

It makes you think, right? It doesn’t have to be deep, anything will do.

If you’re feeling really inspired, write a whole letter to your younger self.

23. A Greek goddess.

People love stories, we connect with them and understand them. The Greeks were aware of that. They created wonderful gods and goddesses and stories around them.

So, choose a goddess you find interesting or fascinating.

Find a picture of her if you like, glue it down, and write anything you find inspiring about the goddess.

24. What’s the weather like today?

Is it rainy or sunny? Maybe it’s freezing cold or the temperatures are scorching?

Are you in any way affected by the weather? I know I get more grateful during the beautiful spring days and tend to be more nostalgic if it’s raining.

Use the weather to reflect on how you feel and create art in your art journal.

25. What’s the season?

Is it spring or winter? Make some art related to the season at the moment.

What can you see outside? What colors are there around you?

Draw and paint what inspires you in this season.

26. The Universe.

The universe is an endless inspiration for ideas. Why not use it? Try drawing the Moon and the stars, or paint a galaxy with acrylic paint .

27. Watercolor circles.

Paint circles with watercolor. Also, try mixing the colors to get a nice color overflow or shading.

Next, you can write your favorite words in the circles.

28. Your favorite poem.

What’s that one poem that you think is the most inspiring or beyond this world because it’s so beautiful and moving?

Make a nice background with watercolor , and write down the poem.

29. Your favorite prayer or mantra.

These are the words that you use to talk to the universe, pray, or say gratitude.

They are personal and strong. So, write them down and make special art with them.

Words are powerful and by being aware of what words you choose and using them mindfully, you achieve wonders.

30. A song from your childhood.

I remember listening to a local band when I was about 7 years old. Their lyrics and music were pretty gloomy and perhaps sad.

By listening to these songs now, I realize how I felt when I was 7. Above all, I understand myself better today by becoming aware of what I felt like a 7-year-old.

Try making an art journal page with this kind of song and you’ll see how much it will reveal.

NEVER WORRY ABOUT HOW TO START AGAIN WITH THESE MONTHLY ART JOURNAL PROMPTS

You’ll get a pdf with a list of prompts for the whole year so that you can create anytime, without figuring out where to start.

RELATED ART JOURNAL ARTICLES

Break Creative Blocks With One Word Art Journal Prompts and Generate Amazing Ideas for Your Pages

Spring Art Journal Prompts to Inspire Meaningful Art

Gratitude Journal Prompts: Art Journaling with Mindfulness

If you find these prompts inspirational, save them to your favorite Pinterest board!

Top Ten Art Therapy Visual Journaling Prompts

There is a palette of possibilities when it comes to journaling for health..

Posted November 19, 2013 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

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Visual journaling (aka art journaling) has a long history in the field of art therapy , particularly as an approach to assist recovery from trauma or loss and as a form of stress reduction. Carl Jung is often considered to be the art therapy “poster person” for visual journaling because he maintained a regular practice of visual journaling. He generally created small circular drawings that he believed corresponded to his inner feelings and the archetypal realm of the collective unconscious [for more information on Jung’s visual journaling, see this link ].

The previous two posts on this topic address how visual journaling assists emotional reparation and supports self-regulation and stress reduction . Since then many readers have asked about specific art therapy approaches to visual journaling in response. There are numerous books on visual or art journaling on the market with many good recommendations on how to get started or expand your visual journaling practice. In the tradition of the Top Ten Coolest Art Therapy Interventions , here is a list of the more popular visual journaling prompts [in no particular order] used in art therapy, followed by some general guidelines for applying these strategies to your own self-expression and exploration:

1. How Do You Feel Today? This is possibly the most common prompt also called a “feelings journal.” I often recommend to clients that they keep a feelings journal between sessions and to spend a little time each day drawing “how I feel today” using colors, shapes, lines, or images.

2. Spontaneous Imagery. Spontaneous imagery can mean many things; most often it refers to creating a scribble or free-form lines and looking for images within those lines.

3. Non-Dominant Hand Drawing. Lucia Capacchione [see previous post] , art therapy/ journaling maven, encourages people to “draw with your non-dominant hand” over time and see what emerges; she also recommends writing with your non-dominant hand as part of a journaling practice.

4. Working Within a Circle . This is sometimes called a “mandala journal.” You can simply trace or draw a circle on each page of your journal and make a regular practice of creating images within and/or outside the circle template.

5. Dream Journal. If you have time first thing in the morning after you wake up, try keeping a journal of visual images recalled from your dreams . Try writing down some key words or phrases first, followed by drawing of the main elements of your dream.

6. Photocollage Journal . If you are not keen on drawing, try collecting your favorite images, words or quotes from magazines or books, and/ or print memorabilia and make a regular practice of creating an image journal. It can be any theme [travel, soothing images, etc] or purchase a Smashbook® [available at craft and book stores] and a glue stick and start gluing.

7. Doodle Diary . Doodling with felt markers or the ubiquitous Sharpie® pens is not only fun, but also has been shown to actually improve memory in some cases. You can also replicate Zentangle® designs or make up your own “tangle doodles ” by creating patterns with repetitive lines and shapes. By all means, be sure you are having a good time and getting into the “doodle zone” [a state of creative flow where time is non-existent].

8. Intention Journal. If you have a particular intention in mind [for example, a gratitude practice or a goal to become healthier in the next year], try keeping a visual/writing journal dedicated to a particular intention or vision.

9. Altered Book. Any book [old novel, cookbook, or children’s storybook] can be used as a visual journal; you can use the words and images in the book as part of your journaling or draw/paint/collage over text. The next post in this series will explain this form of visual journaling in more detail.

10. Create Your Own Approach . Draw/paint/collage as you like and die happy. It’s your visual journal, do what seems right for you and in any media that appeals to you.

Here are a few basic guidelines for visual journaling:

• Just Relax. Many professionals who use visual journaling recommend some sort of relaxation practice before beginning each entry. That can be helpful, but don’t make it into a laborious ritual if it does not feel right to you. Visual journaling itself ought to serve the purpose of stress reduction and emotional regulation . Some times it is best to just pick up your art materials and get started.
• Record the Date. Write down the date [on the front or back of the page] you completed the image in your journal. If a title or other words come to mind, be sure to write those down, too.
• Don’t Go it Alone. A visual journal can be a private experience, but if you really want to get the most out of it, an empathetic and reflective witness is important. Of course, I recommend an art therapist skilled at helping you deepen narrative work about your images; a visual journaling group that meets regularly to share creative work and spend time together working in journals is another good option. There are online art communities [like the Art Therapy + Happiness Project ] that offer opportunities to connect with other visual journalers, too.
• Safety First. There is an automatic mantra that a visual journal is a "safe place to express your feelings and experiences.” This is not necessarily true in all cases. We often are inclined to place our deepest, most tender experiences in journals of any kind. I always advise my clients who take up the practice to consider keeping their journals in a safe place if writing about traumatic events, losses, or interpersonal problems. And with my youngest clients, I encourage children I see in therapy to leave their journals with me for safekeeping between sessions especially if they are in danger of domestic violence or abuse.

This is a short list of guidelines, with one more post to come—the altered book as a visual journaling practice. According to art therapist and former National Institutes of Health researcher Harriet Wadeson, an altered book is a form of journaling practice for exploring an altered life. Like all visual journaling, it is a powerful way to tell your story as well as re-story the dominant narratives of your life.

Keep calm and art therapy on,

Cathy Malchiodi, Ph.D., LPCC, LPAT, ATR-BC

© 2013 Cathy Malchiodi .

For information on international art therapy, see Art Therapy Without Borders on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/arttherapywithoutborders

For information on Trauma-Informed Art Therapy®, visit Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute at www.trauma-informedpractice.com

Follow Planet Art Therapy Twitter at https://twitter.com/arttherapynews

Art Therapy on Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/cathymalchiodi/boards/

Cathy Malchiodi, Ph.D. , is a psychologist, expressive arts therapist, trauma specialist, and author of 20 books, including Trauma and Expressive Arts Therapy: Brain, Body, and Imagination in the Healing Process.

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Visual journaling is for everybody! Express yourself freely in both text and image, and tell your story without restrictions or imposed tidiness.

These fragments I have shored against my ruins… -T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land

Sometimes the stories we have to tell do not meet the criteria of journalism or story-telling. Sometimes our stories are broken. We are usually taught to sweep up the pieces and fit them nicely together again. But in this class, we value the fragments and what is fragile. In these, we find insight to give us courage, light, or value-added for every day. We let our stories be “told” in unlikely ways, dropping previous associations with the word “journaling.” In this class, our “stories” bleed into a hurried sketch, random phrase, wrinkled snapshot, found object, and/or color as we document the story of an instant, a moment, a day, a journey. We use words and images together to say what neither can say alone.

Creating the Visual Journal will allow you to amplify what may seem insignificant, fragile, or even absurd. A blank page is an infinitely useful space to explore, so get ready to think beyond the day-to-day diary format. We will indulge in frivolity and fragmented techniques to highlight even the dark or broken moments of life. Visual journaling is for everybody, even if you’ve never left home or dipped a brush into a palette. The only prerequisite to this class is a willingness to embrace your eccentricity.

Creating the Visual Journal was terrific. Lissa Jensen is so creative, encouraging, and enthusiastic about the idea of expanding written journals with expression in art. I think any writer who has not yet used art to enrich journaling would learn a lot from this class. —Marge Osborn

Visual Journaling Course Outline

Week one: outsider art: journal and supplies.

Week Two: From the Beginning: Continual Awareness

Through creative intention we begin to “move out of our own way;” allowing life to tell its stories one day at a time. Using the “Third Eye,” we take inventory of what passes through the head or the heart, external experience with internal process. Get out of ruts. See with invigorating perspective. Create a journal enhancing process and insight.

Week Three: Explore Place

Visual journal artists like Dan Eldon, (“The Journey is the Destination,” published posthumously by his mother, Kathy) and Sabrina Ward Harrison (“Spilling Open”) allow physical geography and inner geography to merge in mesmerizing ways. This week we discuss how to recognize and express our own insight about life as well as our relationship to our own truth. What do you want to remember and perhaps pass on to others? How might your message be carried visually?

Week Four: The Art of Experiment: Put it to Work

We indulge in putting daily inventory of life, activity, thoughts, feelings, and intuition to work on the page. We experiment with fresh visual techniques using supplies and found objects. We place text in the context of space, color and form. We practice daily or weekly habits to notice the present, remember the past, imagine the future. We layer these with color, snippets of quotation, poetry, and conversation.

Week Five: Active Imagination

Active Imagination is a Jungian method of bringing the unconscious to the surface. We concentrate on taking a step further so that rather than merely being propagators of content, our content teaches us . We continue to practice the art of inventively recording the truth of our everyday life.

Week Six: Go Dada

Hone in on fragmentation of experience as we layer writing with visuals. Experiment with non-traditional ways of expression like cartoon, collage, doodle, exposition, texture, and sensory relief. How many ways are possible to express yourself in the layers of your journal? How and when will you use these ways?

Week Seven: Excavate

We study ways to weave memory of past experience into our practice, including supposedly insignificant happenings or trivial interactions with life. How does memory permeate even our present lives and how might we embrace memory as spiritual content? How might memories deepen the practice of simple observation, and how, when encountered, might we weave them into our journals?

Week Eight: Taking the Reins

In an open inspirational forum, we discuss what worked, what didn’t, what we loved, did not appreciate, and/or what we wish might have been. We will post the last page or pages of our journals, or pages that we did not have time to post previously, celebrating the creative impact of being here together.

Why Take a Visual Journaling Course with Writers.com?

• We welcome writers of all backgrounds and experience levels, and we are here for one reason: to support you on your writing journey.
• Small groups keep our online writing classes lively and intimate.
• Work through your weekly written lectures, course materials, and writing assignments at your own pace.
• Share and discuss your work with classmates in a supportive class environment.
• Award-winning instructor Lissa Jensen will offer you direct, personal feedback and suggestions on every assignment you submit.

Express yourself beautifully! Reserve your spot in Creating the Visual Journal today.

Student feedback for lissa jensen:.

This was by far the best online class I have taken. Lissa is an amazing instructor: positive, professional and perceptive. I loved everything about the class and wish it were offered more regularly — even a part 2. Linda Roehl

Lissa is a generous and warm teacher. Her assignments were interesting and created a space for a student to delve into their own insights and interests. I really loved this class. I looked forward to each week's assignment. Barbara Santucci

I honestly don't know how Lissa finds the time to respond as copiously as she does, with incredible detail, helpful suggestions, references to other resources. She is beyond generous. One of the joys of this class was that I didn't feel pressure to conform to a given standard, but was rather free to explore and experiment. That's liberating. Before taking this course, it had been nearly 40 years since I'd done any sort of visual art to speak of. I was apprehensive about my abilities, and horrified by my first efforts in the class. Lissa unfailingly gave me the encouragement I needed with each and every assignment. Now that the class is ending, I feel as if drawing in particular, and visual art in general, are back in my life in big and meaningful ways. Leslie Stainton

Lissa was superb. She took the time to give detailed feedback and her ideas were inspiring. The way she presented the assignments, using her own ideas and imagination showed she really walks the talk and she obviously loves teaching and giving feedback to the students.  Pip Fowler

I fell in love with this course! The material was beautifully organized and presented, offering just enough background and lots of prompts, sparks, and ideas. Lissa is a kind, knowledgable, and inspiring teacher. Our group quickly felt like a community, which I especially appreciated given the times. I felt encouraged to experiment -- and I'll keep going.  Sylvia Foley

Lissa Jensen gave excellent critiques. She guided and inspired and encouraged. She also submitted her assignment right along with students as further examples. She give in-depth critiques to each student. This has been the best class I have taken with Writers so far. I really liked the freedom of the assignments. It was just enough to get the creative brain thinking.  Marylou Brashler

The content was wonderful. Each assignment seemed to build on the one before as well as create a space for the unexpected to arrive... I really value, Lissa. She takes the time to respond and guide each student according to their needs, who they are and encourage them to grow in the directions they are showing wether they are aware of it are not. Very Insightful... I have taken this class twice and have grown exponentially-- the assignments, although the same, touch me in different ways since each time I am never in the same space. So meaning and inspiration are different... I really love the classes and space writers has created. When i cone across people with an interest in writing, I spread the word. Tanya Reiss

What an incredible course! Lissa Jensen’s “Creating the Visual Journal” gave me well-organized weekly content and technique tips that helped me go from someone who didn’t draw at all to someone who can’t wait to wake up in the morning and create with my visual journal. Lissa is a gifted artist but also a talented teacher. She provided a wealth of resources, including videos that walked us through Lissa using a particular technique, inspirational visual art pages and thoughtful, interesting themes. Lissa’s particular gift is that she made me everyone in the class feel like part of a community of artists. She created such a sense of community that we didn’t want the class to end! Mona Voelkel

Creating the Visual Journal was terrific. Lissa Jensen is so creative, encouraging, and enthusiastic about the idea of expanding written journals with expression in art--art of many types and in many different mediums. The lessons and assignments were thoughtful and stimulating, and with her tremendous artistic background and talent, Lissa helped enrich each lesson with examples of her own work, work of other artists, and ideas about how to work with different materials... I think any writer who has not yet used art to enrich journaling would learn a lot from this class--as would anyone interested in exploring new ways to meld visuals with words in a friendly, collegial setting. Thanks so much for this wonderful opportunity. Marge Osborn

Lissa was great. She created a very positive and caring environment for people to share their work and spent a great deal of time and energy reviewing and giving great feedback to each and every student. This is a great class - and lots of fun. I have gotten soooo much from your classes. Cherie M Sands

Lissa was amazing, extremely dedicated, talented, thoughtful and knowledgeable. Paula Lowenstein-Boano

Lissa was very encouraging and appeared genuinely interested in what the class created. I felt a connection to her. The feedback was the most detailed I’ve ever received considering that I’ve taken many online courses over the years. She sparked new ideas for me to explore and I continue to do so. I regularly look back on the pages I created and feel proud of what I achieved. Helen Whitaker

Lissa Jensen was excellent.She is a great artist and teacher. I appreciated the progression of assignments.  I learned a lot of art techniques that I actually applied.  Lissa was clear with her direction and showed great creativity. I now have a journal that I am proud of...and, some day will add to!  I have certainly benefited from all classes I have participated in. I always recommend writers.com to everyone interested in writing. - Linda Kirsch

Lissa was a very encouraging and inspiring teacher, taking a great deal of time and trouble with our work and questions. Joanna Paterson

I thoroughly enjoyed the class with Marlee LeDai and Lissa Jensen.  They were outstanding teachers on every level, from giving extensive and encouraging feedback to providing an enormous wealth of ideas and materials for guidance and inspiration. I would very much like to take future courses with Marlee and Lissa. I am impressed by the range and quality of the Writers on the Net courses and have recommended them to others. Winnie Hayek

This is the second time I have taken this course and I will enroll again if offered by Lissa Jensen. Her method of presenting information, inspiration and freedom of exploration is perfect for me. The exceptional detailed critiques have provided the encouragement and understanding needed to continue. Lissa demonstrates on a how-to video to further explain the assignment. She is caring and takes extra time if needed. Great class!  Marylou Brashler

I really loved the class.  The teachers and the content materials and their suggestions were awesome.  I thought it was brilliant to have an art class that blended writing or not depending on where we were as students.  That was a great assistance. I discovered things and connections that the art allowed me to discover that words would have never ever allowed me to touch and explore. I think its a great part of Writers.com. I hope you have more classes like this. Tanya Reiss

Creating the Visual Journal with Lissa and Marlee was the most amazing class I’ve ever been a part of, in my whole life!  I could have never imagined what new ideas, art and writing the class brought out in me. Lissa and Marlee are the nicest, most talented and inspiring people.  They created a magical, loving, encouraging and thought provoking environment. Only in this space could such a wonderful community have developed. The way I see writing and art will never be the same! I learned so many new things that I would have never come across. I highly recommend this class for ANYONE, who would like to create new things in any medium at all / discover new things about yourself / experience life with new perspectives. Maytal

“Lissa is a generous and warm teacher. Her assignments were interesting and created a space for a student to delve into their own insights and interests. I really loved the class. I looked forward to each week’s assignment.” —Barbara Santucci

About Lissa Jensen

Lissa Jensen is a visual journalist who has filled a lifetime’s worth of journals, letters, and odd scraps of paper with imaginative art and text. Previous to earning an MA in Myth, Literature, and the Unconscious (U. of Essex), Lissa traveled widely, working at the Taize Community in Burgandy, France, homeless shelters in Edinburgh, Scotland, and as a tea-hostess on the “English Riviera,” St. Ives, Cornwall. Published in 13 languages, her work includes a series of Hans Christian Andersen’s illustrated fairy tales, and three series of Famous People of the Bible.

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Multiple Level Year-long Plan

Visual journal assignments, created on december 26, 2016 by mrsimpey.

New this year to my teaching style, I have decided to incorporate visual journals INSTEAD of sketchbooks. These are some examples of visual journal assignments I have given, how I assign them, what my requirements are, and some results I've received thus far.

16 Keeps, 4 Likes, 1 Comments

Visual arts standard 1: understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes, visual arts standard 2: using knowledge of structures and functions, visual arts standard 3: choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.

Mommom3 12/30/2016 at 08:56am Have been wanting to do this--Thx!!

How to Get Your Students to Enjoy Visual Journaling

Having sketchbooks or visual journals in the art room is a given. The exercise of drawing, journaling, and creating on a regular basis helps our students’ creative muscles flex and gain strength. Ideas become reality as they put pencil to paper.

But how do you get your students excited to sketch or journal? Is it possible to motivate them to work on their own? Assigning projects is a good start, but to create real buy-in, students need to feel like their journals are something they can’t live without!

Here are some ideas for building the love and desire of using sketchbooks and journals every day!

Personalize!

Every student likes to feel they are an individual with their own unique style and personae to put out into the world. Support this growth by making space for students to define what makes their best visual journal.

There are lots of ideas for formats, but not everything works for everyone. Give students choices about the form their journal takes. Allow for time to personalize and make the book their own. It’s a bit more work on the front-end for you but can pay off in a journal that gets used rather than one that sits on a shelf.

Options might include:

• Hardcover journals
• Spiral bound notebooks
• Handmade books
• Smaller softcover journals

Or, how about a digital visual journal?

If students at your school can work with technology, or even have their own iPads or devices, digital options are a great way to keep them engaged and working. One of my favorites is Autodesk Sketchbook on the iPad. It’s fairly easy to use and creates some beautiful images. And it’s free!

I find my students are playing with sketchbook and drawing apps all the time. Meeting them where their interests lie makes sense. It also makes sharing their work easy!

For more ideas about how to get students interested in journaling, don’t miss the Sketchbook Ideas that Really Work and Implementing Sketchnotes PRO Learning Packs! Explore how to use sketchbooks or journals in a variety of ways, discover the benefits of artist challenges, learn how to hook your students through sketchnoting, and much more!

Give prompts not just for art exercises, but for writing and inspiration as well. Devote some time in class to looking through magazines or the Internet for sparks that will help them work. Have students print out these inspiration pieces and put them in their journals. Sometimes students feel like everything in their journal needs to be something they’ve made, but of course, this isn’t true. In fact, having the books serve as idea repositories is part of what being an artist is actually about.

This is also another time using a digital resource might make things a bit easier and get students to stay invested. Just about every art teacher knows how useful Pinterest is in thinking about projects and sharing and tagging ideas. Why not have students “pinning” ideas and work that gets them excited and inspired?

If you want your students to stay off social media, they can also easily create Google Docs where they can save links and drop images. The idea is to make sure they’re saving their ideas somewhere.

The main goal is to get them to think about how they are going to use this resource for everything. Make it essential. Make it something they want to be using all the time. Having them complete occasional assignments in the journal is great, but building the habit of using their journal to process and record is even better!

Share…or Don’t Share.

As a student works in their journal, it might become a more private and personal space for reflection. Therefore, it’s possible they might not want to share every single piece of work or writing they create. And that’s ok! Build trust with your students, so they become empowered to share what they are comfortable with as they create. Don’t require them to submit or share something for every assignment.

On the flip side, you’ll also want to provide opportunities for those students who do want to put things out there! Again, everyone is a bit different, and it’s important to understand and gauge levels of comfort around being vulnerable in sharing something they have made. It might be that a student is more comfortable sharing individually with just you, so build in time and space for individualized sketchbook and journal review as well. Give the students every opportunity to decide when they want to share their work.

The habit of journaling regularly is something we have to build for our students. Try using some of these ideas to build a stronger rapport with students, and who knows? You may add excitement for visual journaling and gain insight into who they are as they work in their journals!

How often do your students use their visual journals?

What assignments and prompts do you use with your visual journals?

Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

Raymond Yang

Ray Yang is the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion of NAEA and a former AOEU Writer. They believe the arts can change the world.

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OCA Learning Log

Ba (hons) illustration learning log, exercise 5.3: constructing a visual journal.

For my final exercise, I will now assemble all that I have gathered into a homemade visual journal. I will use this journal to store all the exercises and activities that I make most enjoyed and the experiences that have been most important to me in this unit.

Planning out my journal:

• Exercises and Assignments I enjoyed
• My student quotes from the OCA questionnaires that I most empathise with now
• Materials and processes I feel connected with
• Words I empathise with
• Goals from Tutor
• My Action Plan
• My experimental collages from the last exercise (5.2)

My Visual Journal (video):

My dividers to show different parts of the journal:

My Visual Journal (images):

I really enjoyed this exercise, it was nice to look at what I had done and what exercises I enjoyed over the time on Illustration Sketchbooks. I decided to use an A5 sketchbooks from the ‘Pink Pig’ sketchbook company as I like the quality of the paper, it’s also created using recycled paper which makes it eco-friendly. I felt as though I did a good job making this sketchbook/visual journal as interesting as I could. I decided to make some pages interesting but cropping/cutting them down so that I could frame specific photos of my work. I was able to fill the whole sketchbook with my previous works but also future goals and other writing that I wrote in Exercise 5.1: Making an Action Plan – Visually.

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Visual Jounaling...

An illustrated diary or journal, usually (but not always) related to the creative process.

Extra Credit! 

• Course Expectations
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• Visual Journaling
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Art Room 104

Welcome to Art Room 104! Well, I no longer teach in room 104...it's now room 309, but the heart is still there! I have now transitioned into teaching 7th-12th grades, and my focus is now moving towards Choice Based Learning in the art room. Join me on my journey as I enter new territory, experiment, and share how I fit it all into the realm of Common Core!

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Visual journals and daily bell ringers.

9 comments:

Mrs. Impey, I really, really enjoy your blog, especially your art journal you have your students doing. A classroom teacher for 27 years, I am far from an art teacher, but I teach art for a Saturday school program (I am really a dancer and musician, and teach those as well), your blog is one of the resources has not only helped me to teach art effectively, but to also begin to enjoy creating art myself. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise.

Wow, thank you so much! I really love hearing that my posts help! ;)

What books/binders do you use for the Visual Journals? And where do you find them?

We are using two different kinds of sketchbooks for our visual journals this year. I get them through my Boces bids at a bit cheaper of a price, but these are the two different kinds I had this year: This one isn't the exact brand I have at school, but I can't remember which brand they sent me this year, I just know these are almost identical looking: http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-hardbound-sketchbook/. This is the link for the exact spiral kind we use. I LOVE these sketchbooks. I used them last year as well: https://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?minisite=10206&item=508641.

Nice calender. I love the creative idea. celtic woman tickets online buy celtic woman tickets

Well, the team work brings out amazing art. compare Manchester parking meet and greet Manchester

Its a pretty smart design. I like that calendar. meet and greet Luton airport Luton meet and greet

I was curious as to what the monthly themes were for your visual journal calendars?

Ms. Impey,Thank you soooo much for this blog. It is still helping teachers out in 2020! I am an electives teacher at an ALE with no art experience! I'm going to alter it a little for middle school students but this is a great starting point! Thanks so much again.

Middle School Art, High School Art Project Visual Journal, Altered Book Lesson

Also included in

Description

Visual journals, or altered books, are a great continuous project for your art class. This art assignment is perfect for middle school or high school age students. The visual journals can serve as a weekly, monthly, or yearlong project. 

I teach this visual journal assignment in every class, every year. Every Friday, students have a visual journal day. They get to work in their altered books or to catch up on a project if they have been absent or have fallen behind. It gives my students space to create what they want to create and a break from our typical routine. 

All in all this listing includes:

✴ The PowerPoint presentation I use every year to introduce visual journals, or art journals, to my students. Which includes: 

➢Visual journal page examples

➢Basic how tos

➢Other tips and techniques for collaging and visual journaling in general. 

✴ Lesson plan, which includes:

➢A supply list

➢Step by step teacher instructions for implementation

➢Vocabulary

➢National standards.

Visual journals are always one of my students' favorite projects of the year. It is a space for them to express themselves, experiment with materials, and take a break from regular projects.

This listing has been bundled with ALL my other visual journal resources (including handouts that show students how to complete a variety of techniques, tips on creating a successful visual journal, and posters for your classroom) for over half off the individual listing price here . 

Check out the handouts that I use all year long that accompay this lesson here .

My $25.00 visual journal bundle is also included as part of my yearlong, Introduction to Art bundle pack here . Get all my visual journal resources plus so much more.

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Visual Journal, Altered Book Project: Art Lesson with PowerPoint, Rubric, Posters

Description.

Check out a preview of this pack here: Visual Journal Preview Pack

Visual journals, or altered books, are a great continuous project for your art class.  This art assignment is perfect for middle school or high school age students. The visual journals can serve as a weekly, monthly, or yearlong project.

I teach this visual journal assignment in every class, every year. Every Friday, students have a visual journal day. They get to work in their altered books or to catch up on a project if they have been absent or have fallen behind. It gives my students space to create what they want to create and a break from our typical routine.

All in all this listing includes:

The PowerPoint presentation I use every year to introduce visual journals, or art journals, to my students. Which includes:

• Visual journal page examples
• Basic how-tos
• Other tips and techniques for collaging and visual journaling in general.

Lesson plan, which includes:

• A supply list
• Step-by-step teacher instructions for implementation
• National standards.

Visual journals are always one of my students’ favorite projects of the year. It is a space for them to express themselves, experiment with materials, and take a break from regular projects.

This listing has been  bundled with ALL my other visual journal resources check it out  here .

Check out the handouts that I use all year long that accompany this lesson here .

My $25.00 visual journal bundle is also included as part of my yearlong, Introduction to Art bundle pack  here .  Get all my visual journal resources plus so much more.

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Ideas and Instructions Handout for Visual Journals, Sketchbooks, or Altered Books

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