Step-by-Step

Circles, Dots, & Doodles

I’m not much of a drinker, but I love these photos. Aren’t the colors and textures great?

I trace circles on the photos using drinking glasses and cut them out.

Then I glue the circles into my journal.

Next, I punch out two sizes of dots.

I glue the dots onto the edges of the shapes, using the bigger ones on the smaller circle and vice versa.

I like what I’ve created so far. But the circles are floating by themselves. I add some lines to tie them together.

Then I draw wavy lines that anchor the circles to the page.

Next, I doodle a pattern of lines and circles to the connectors.

I draw some alternating half circles on the wavy lines.

Then I use short lines to fill them in. Doesn’t it look like a twisting ribbon?

I like the design so far, but it needs a bit of sparkle. I add some white dots, which help your eye move around the composition.

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.)

Birds Art Journal Spread

I got some free magazines for filling out an online survey. One of them was Birds and Blooms. All the great photos of birds inspired me to create an art journal spread.

I cut out an assortment of birds, flipped them over, and glued them in my art journal.

Then I used my sepia brush pen to create a curvy top and bottom border.

Next, I use a white pen to add some doodled lines on the border.

I added some lines to the doodles to make them stand out a little more.

Then I drew dotted lines around all the bird shapes.

To finish the spread, I added white dotted lines to the border areas. I also made the sepia dots larger.

Whimsical Collage & Doodles in my Art Journal

I found a magazine photo that was filled with great patterns and colors. I decided to use it in an art journal page.

First, I cut the photo into strips. I punched holes in 4 of the pieces (and used the circles in another art journal spread. I also cut out wavy strips.

I glued the punched strips in a wonky rectangle shape.

Then I added the wavy strips of paper.

Next, I started doodling on the inside of the composition. I’ve started using sanguine and sepia Pitt Artist Pens instead of black, this is sanguine. I like how they coordinate with the colors I tend to use. (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).

I colored in alternating shapes in the doodles.

Then I added little circles on the points of the diamond shapes.

Repeating the doodle pattern on rest of page.

To finish the design, I drew the same doodle pattern on the outside of the composition using a sepia pen. Then I added some tiny circles to the connecting lines.

Doodling on a Magazine Photo

I found a photo of a dancing woman in a magazine. I loved the blurred-out motion and decided to create an art journal spread with the photo.

The magazine photo glued into the art journal.

Here is the photo glued into my journal.

I started by drawing some dotted lines that follow the shapes of the flowing skirt.

Adding concentric shapes to the white area of photo.

Then I drew some concentric shapes into the white areas of the dress.

I then added dots and lines to the shapes.

The doodles could use more contrast, so I color in the alternating shapes with my black pen.

I add some more dotted lines to the skirt to give those areas a little more emphasis.

To finish off the spread, I added a pattern to the background.

Forest Path Art Journal Spread

I’ve been craving time in nature quite a lot lately. So this magazine photo really jumped out at me.

I tore it out and glued it into my journal.

I used a dark sepia pen to extend the outlines of the trees onto the blank areas of the spread.

Then I outlined the tree trunks in the photo with white.

Here, I drew circles on the trunks.

I added connecting lines to create a cohesive design.

Then I added some more lines. I really like this stage, but decide that the doodles could use a little more contrast.

To create that contrast, I fill in the circles. But that might be bit too much contrast.

I added center dots to the filled in circles. Ahh, just right!