Art Journal

I was feeling like I didn’t have any good ideas for a new journal spread. Was there really anything I hadn’t already tried? Instead of giving up, I got out my supplies and started working.

I halfheartedly pulled out two of my favorite washi tapes and created this pattern on a spread. But had no idea where to go from here.

Looking for inspiration, I paged through a magazine. I cut out these photos that made me feel more excited about creating this spread.

I glued the car, the pink house, and the yellow door onto the washi tape background. Then I decided to use the other two photos over a washi tape stripe on a second spread. From here I worked back and forth between the two spreads.

Next, I added alternating rectangles to both spreads.

I embellished the rectangles to make them stand out more.

Then, I added some connecting lines to the first spread and some wavy lines to the second spread. I considered continuing these lines across to the other page, but decided I wanted the photos to be surrounded by white space.

Circles were the theme for the next steps in each spread.

To finish this spread, I added the circles and line pattern from the second spread to the blank area at the top.

And then I changed my mind on this spread. I decided that the lines should continue to the opposite page to better tie the spread together.

And so by persevering, I was able to create not just one, but two, spreads that I could be proud of.

Supplies used in this journal spread (These are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and buy certain items, I will receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) to help keep the lights on in the studio.)

• Moleskine Sketchbook, Large
• Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen – Black, Super Fine Nib
• Elmer’s Extra Strength Glue Stick
• Scissors
• Washi Tape

I was ready to start a new art journal spread, but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. So I paged through a home decorating magazine looking for inspiration.

The colors and patterns of this photo caught my eye, so I tore it out out of the magazine.

I love the look of torn paper edges, so I tore the page into strips.

Then I glued several of the strips in a zig-zag pattern onto a spread in my art journal.

Next, I drew some wavy lines in a vertical pattern on the left, and a horizontal pattern on the right.

Then I used a brush marker to color in the alternating stripes made by the wavy lines.

I used a black marker to add doodles on the left side of the spread.

Next, I used a white pen to add doodles to the black areas. I really like how this side of the spread looks. I contemplated repeating the doodles on the right side, but decide to doodle a different pattern.

Here is the completed spread with a very different pattern doodled on the right side. While I like that pattern, I think I would have liked the whole spread better if I had repeated the dooldles on the left side onto the right. That’s the beauty of art journals; you can experiment, practice, and learn what is successful and what is not.

Supplies used in this journal spread: (These are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and buy certain items, I will receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) to help keep the lights on in the studio)

• Moleskine Sketchbook, Large
• Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen – Black, Super Fine Nib
• Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen – Black, Brush Nib
• Sakura Gelly Roll Pen – White, Medium
• Elmer’s Extra Strength Glue Stick
• Scissors
• Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner Pens
• Tombow Dual Brush Pens
• Paper Punches

I decide to use paper weaving in my next art journal spread.

I browse through my stack of magazines and choose 4 photos, 2 of interiors and 2 of nature, two of my favorite things.

I cut 2 of the photos into wavy strips.

I start weaving the strips together in the bottom right corner of the spread.

I glue the end of each strip down to hold them in place.

Now I cut the other 2 photos into strips.

I create the other weaving in the top left side of the spread.

Now it’s time to add some doodles. I extend the strips of paper with black outlines.

I fill in the overlapping shapes with black.

And then add white and black dots to the spaces. I like the composition at this stage, but think it will look even better if I tie the woven and doodles areas together more.

I fill in the spaces in the paper weaving with black and add white dots to create the finished spread.