The Best Journals for Art Journaling
Art journaling is a great way to express yourself and document your creative process. When it comes to mixed media art journaling, there are a lot of different journals you can use. But what are the best journals for art journaling? It really depends on your personal preferences and what you’re looking for in a journal.
In this blog post, we’re going to explore the different types of journals that are best for mixed media art journaling, as well as the benefits of each type and what the benefits of art journaling are.
“IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT CREATIVITY, IT IS ABOUT THE PERSON YOU’RE BECOMING WHILE YOU’RE CREATING.”
– Charlie Peacock
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Benefits of Art Journaling
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a complete novice, there are many benefits to keeping an art journal. This type of creative expression can help you to reduce stress, boost your mood, and increase your overall well-being.
Anyone who has ever picked up a pen and started drawing or doodling knows that there is something special about the process of creation.
It’s a way to express yourself, explore your imagination, and discover new things about yourself. And you don’t need any formal training or artistic talent to do it.
Much like writing in a journal, there are no rules, so you can’t get it wrong, and you can keep it private if you choose to!
Some benefits of keeping an art journal are:
- Express yourself creatively: Art journaling can be a great creative outlet. It’s a way to express yourself and document your creative process.
- Documenting your creative process: Art journaling is also a great way to document your creative process. You can keep track of your ideas and the progress you’re making on your projects.
- Therapeutic: Art journaling can also be therapeutic. It can be a great way to work through your emotions and explore your inner thoughts and feelings. If this interests you, check out this book and this book!
- Helps you develop your artistic skills: Finally, art journaling can also help you develop your artistic skills. If you’re looking to improve your skills, art journaling is a great way to do it. You can try out new techniques, experiment with different mediums, and more. Plus, when you document your process, you can see how you’ve progressed over time. So if you’re looking for a way to become a better artist, art journaling is a great option.
- It doesn’t cost much to get started!
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”
–William Wordsworth
Art Journal Ideas
Are you wondering what kind of art journal to keep? Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Visual Diary: One of the most common ways to use an art journal is as a visual diary. This is where you document your thoughts and feelings, as well as your creative process.
- Sketchbook: An art journal can also be used as a sketchbook. This is a great way to use an art journal if you’re just starting out and don’t have a lot of experience with mixed media.
- Bullet Journal: You can also use an art journal in a Bullet Journal-style. This is where you use the journal to plan, track your to-do lists, goals, and more. I kept a bullet journal for years, and it’s a great creative outlet! You can find a lot of inspiration on Pinterest for Bullet Journals.
- Travel Journal: If you’re a traveler, an art journal can be a great way to document your travels. You can include photos, drawings, and written reflections about your trips.
- Memory Book: An art journal can also be used as a memory book. You can include photos, drawings, and written memories of friends and family members.
- Experiment: The best thing about art journals is that they’re a great way to experiment with different mediums and techniques. You may want to try out markers, acrylic paints, or fountain pens. Experiment and try out new things in your journal and see what happens.
Things to Consider When Choosing an Art Journal
There are a few things you should consider when choosing an art journal for mixed media art journaling:
- Size: The size of the journal is important because you want to make sure it’s big enough for all of your planned projects. If you’re planning on doing a lot of collages or adding a lot of different elements to your pages, you’ll want to make sure you choose a large size.
- Paper Types: The type of paper is also important because you want to make sure it can handle the mediums you’re planning on using. If you’re planning on using a lot of water or other wet mediums, you’ll want to make sure the journal you choose has thick enough pages to handle the wet mediums without warping.
- Binding: The journal’s binding is also important because you want to ensure it’s sturdy enough to withstand a lot of use. Some people prefer spiral-bound journals, while others like a smith-sewn binding.
- Price Range: The price is also something to consider because you want to make sure you choose a journal that’s affordable for you. There are a lot of different journals out there, so you should be able to find one that fits your budget.
- Extras: Some journals come with extras, such as built-in pockets for storage, perforated pages for easy removal, or ribbon markers. These features can be handy, but they’re not essential. Again, it’s a matter of preference.
List of the Best Journals for Art Journaling
Art journaling is a journey of expression and creativity. So, finding that perfect journal is more than just a choice, it’s about finding a companion for your artistic adventures.
Let’s talk about the best journals out there, ones that truly understand an artist’s heart.
Picture this: pages that are just the right kind of thick, welcoming all sorts of media from watercolors to inks without a single bleed-through. It’s like these pages are cheering on your creativity.
And the feel of the paper? Some are as smooth as a serene lake, perfect for those fine details, while others have a bit of texture that adds character to every stroke.
The binding matters too — a journal that lays flat open, now that’s a game changer, making it so much easier to spread your ideas across two pages.
Size and portability are also key; a journal that fits in your bag is like a trusty friend you can take anywhere.
And let’s not forget the look of the journal. A beautiful cover can spark inspiration the moment you see it. I’ve handpicked journals that tick all these boxes, each with its own charm, ready to be part of your creative journey.
Let’s find that perfect journal that feels just right, a space where your art can truly call home.
1. Hahnemuhle Watercolor Book A5
This is a hardbound book with 200gsm, acid-free paper. It’s suitable for wet media, watercolors, gouache, pastel, charcoal, pencil, and more. This is one of my favorites for watercolor painting.
2. Moleskine Art Watercolor Album, Hard Cover, Large
This is also a hardbound book and Moleskine journals are always a popular choice. The cotton-blend 200 g/m2 acid-free paper is cold-pressed. It can handle large amounts of water on both sides of the page. It has a bookmark, an elastic closure, and an expandable inner pocket.
- MOLESKINE ART COLLECTION: From sketchbooks and sketchpads to watercolor notebooks with heavy paper, to music notebooks with plain and pentagram pages, to storyboard layout notebooks, Moleskine’s art collection of notebooks offer the quality you need.
- DURABLE COVER & ELASTIC CLOSURE: Hold writing projects & notes in your Moleskine notebook with an elastic closure band & inner storage folders. Leather-like classic Moleskine cover & thick, ivory paper pages are perfect for writing with fountain pens.
- GIFT QUALITY NOTEBOOKS: Moleskine planners, journals and notebooks come in hardcover or softcover and colors like black, red, blue, green and brown. The binding and cover have a durable finish, designed for daily journaling, writing and sketching.
- DELUXE QUALITY PAGES: Moleskine’s thick, ivory paper pages in a hardcover Moleskine notebook, softcover Moleskine notebook, cahier or volant journal, or Moleskine planner are perfectly textured for writing with a ballpoint pen, fountain pen, or pencil.
3. Mix Media Pad, Ohuhu Mixed Media Art Sketchbook
Each sheet of this mixed media art journal features a double-sided texture allowing you to create on the front and back of the page. It’s a great option for mixed media artists. Extremely strong toughness and durability features allow the creation of wet painting without worrying about the warping or wrinkling of the paper. Great multimedia paper that can handle almost everything you throw at it. You can use acrylic paint, paint markers, spray paint, alcohol ink, you name it!
- SPIRAL BOUND MARKER PAD: Works equally well for left or right-handed people! Just flip the pages over to start a clean sheet for writing or taking notes as you please. What’s more, it’s a breeze to detach the paper as it’s perforated for easy ripping.
- 200GSM HEAVYWEIGHT PAPER: This 120 lb. (200GSM) heavyweight paper boasts a surface with medium texture that it won’t smudge or feather! Extremely strong toughness and durability features allow the creation of wet painting without worrying about warping or wrinkling of the paper.
- ACID-FREE & NON-FADED: Thanks to its 100% acid-free feature, the color will stay as bright and vibrant as it can be over time and will ensure a fresh surface every time you paint. Gorgeous choice for example art media, colored pencils, graphite pencils, pastels, charcoal, pens, ink, and more.
- DRAW ANYWHERE: Why limit yourself when you could be using a better-sized surface to draw on! Mea ured 10 x 7.6 inch and 10 x 7 inch after being torn, the Ohuhu Marker Pad can be used at home, in the offices, classrooms and more, just use it as a sketchbook, notebook or everything in between. Plus, the pad is super portable and fits in nearly every bag, so you can draw wherever inspiration hits you!
4. Handbook Journal Co. Artist Canvas Cover Travel Notebook for Drawing and Sketching
I love this one too! It comes in different sizes. It contains 128 acid-free pages of heavyweight buff drawing paper. The paper has a good tooth, which makes it an excellent choice for drawing and sketching work. It does great with pen, ink, pencil, charcoal, and markers. Light watercolor washes are acceptable without buckling. It also has a back pocket and durable elastic closure. It’s a great journal for artists on the go!
- PREMIUM HEAVYWEIGHT 130GSM PAPER – This sketchbook is made with a high quality buff colored drawing paper that allows for easy erasure. The subtle tooth makes it ideal for a variety of dry media!
- 64 SHEETS/128 PAGES – Perfect for drawing and sketching with pen and ink, pencil, charcoal and markers
- DURABLE COVER W/ ELASTIC CLOSURE – Cover is made with finely woven European book cloth with rounded corners for extra durability
- AVAILABLE IN 6 ARTIST FRIENDLY FORMATS – Pocket Portrait, Pocket Landscape, Square, Large Portrait, Large Landscape and Grand Portrait
5. Strathmore Journal Mixed Media Art 566-8 500 Series Hardbound
The Strathmore Mixed Media Art Journal is a popular art journal and can handle just about anything you throw at it. You can use it with wet media such as watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and pen & ink. It also works great with dry media such as graphite, colored pencils, charcoal, gel pens, and more! It comes in various sizes and has a durable Smyth-sewn binding that helps pages lay flatter.
- Strathmore 500 series mixed media features Professional quality paper that is internally sized for wet media with a durable vellum finish for drawing techniques
- Excellent for watercolor, gouache, Acrylic, Graphite, pen & ink, colored pencil, marker, Pastel and collage
- This item is manufactured in United States
6. Visual Mixed Media Journal
This visual art journal made by Strathmore has a spiral binding, so your pages lay flat and offers a sturdy cover. It’s made with 100% cotton medium weight (90lb.) paper. It’s acid-free blank pages are great for wet and dry media. The Strathmore visual journal comes in various paper sizes and choices to suit your needs.
- 100% cotton
- Medium weight paper
- Great for wet and dry media including watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, pencil, crayon, charcoal, marker and collage
- Wire-bound vellum journal; 34 sheets
7. Stillman & Birn Alpha Series Softcover Sketchbook
Stillman & Birn has a beautiful sketchbook. It has heavyweight paper (150 gsm) that is strong enough to use wet media on both sides of the page. There is a premium U.S. sewn binding and softcover. It’s been a long-time favorite and cherished by artists of all levels.
- HEAVYWEIGHT PAPER: Strong enough to use wet media on both sides of page. Great for artists combining dry media mixed with watercolor.
- CRAFTED FOR MIXED MEDIA: Double-sized (from non-animal materials) for enhanced wet strength and glowing color.
- ERASABLE & TOUGH: Withstands multiple erasures and holds up well to layered light washes of wet media.
- DURABLE: Premium U.S. sewn binding, deluxe covers and heavy-duty art paper equals a sketchbook that is built for serious use.
8. Daler Rowney – Ebony Artist’s Hardback Sketch Book
This hardcover sketchbook has 100gsm, acid-free paper and works great for a variety of mediums. This is really an excellent product for the price.
- Hardcover Sketchbook – The durable, water-resistant cover will protect your sketch book from small spills and accidents while keeping your pages neatly bound and your drawings intact
- 100GSM Paper – Perfect for dry media such as pencils, charcoal and pastels, this acid-free paper is smooth, durable and reliably bound. Available in soft white or extra white, choose the sketchbook paper most suited for you
- Options for Hardbound and Wirebound – Designed to lay flat while open, the hardbound cover protects your work and keeps your pages flat and crisp, as an alternative, the wire bound spiral sketchbook is great for artists who want to switch it up and work at any angle
- Range of Sizes – With 4 wonderful sizes to choose from, you’ll always have a sketchbook to meet your needs. Each black sketchbook is available in 4″x6″, 5.5″x8.5″, 8.5″x11” & 11″x14″ and red and blue hardcover sketch books are available in size A4
9. Pentalic Aqua Journal
The Aqua journal has European milled 140 lb. (300 gsm) acid-free watercolor paper. It has a ribbon marker, elastic band, and a pocket in the back of the book. It also features an elastic brush holder at the top of the book and holds a pen or a brush.
- DURABLE COVER – the Aqua Journal provides maximum portability and protection during travel with a European-made vinyl hard cover
- ABSORBENT – the European-milled high tooth paper refuses warping and does not bleed even under the heaviest washes
- ACID FREE – the neutral pH watercolor paper is Acid-Free and addresses the problem of being able to preserve artwork!
- ALL-IN-ONE SKETCHBOOK – Offering everything someone would want in a journal: elastic brush holder, elastic band closure with storage pocket, a ribbon marker, and six signatures so that the book lays flat when open
10. Bee Paper Company Paper Bee Creative Mixed Media Book
If you love spiral-bound journals, then you will love this art journal. This mixed media journal comes in several sizes and offers acid-free, natural white, 93-pound (150 gsm) paper and the pages are perforated.
- HIGH QUALITY – 50 acid free, natural white sheets are an excellent surface structure for a wide use of mixed medias
- DUAL SIDED – distinctly two sided with a cold pressed prounounced texture on top and a smoother hot pressed surface on the bottom
- VERSATILE – the Mixed Media Art Journal works with a wide variety of medias like: pencil, pen, chalk, pastel & much more!
- FULL USE – double wire binding creates a flat surface, allowing the artists ti work across the page
11. Dylusions Journal
This journal is part of Dyan Reaveley’s Dylusions Collection and is a good choice for use with inks, paint mediums water techniques. It features a large folder on the inside for storage and an elastic band to keep your journal pages safe.
- This journal is part of Dyan Reaveley’s Dylusions Collection and is great for us with inks paints mediums water techniques and more (not included)
- Journal is 9×11-13/16×1 inch and features sixty-four 8-1/4×11-3/8 inch cardstock pages
- Also includes a folder on the inside cover to use for storage and an elastic band closure to keep all your work safe
12. Handmade Journals
If you’re feeling really creative, you can make your own journal. You can find all sorts of tutorials online. I found this great tutorial on YouTube Handmade Art Journal Tutorial. This is a great way to get just the right journal for your needs and wants.
13. Old Book
I love the idea of using an old book as an art journal and plan on doing it one day. You can find all sorts of old books at garage sales, yard sales, thrift stores, and even library book sales. This is a great way to recycle and upcycle. Here is a great tutorial on How to Prepare an Old Book into an Art Journal
There are a lot of great mixed-media art journals. It really just depends on what you are looking for and what mediums you plan on using. No matter what journal you choose, it is important to find one that makes you happy and allows you to express yourself creatively.
Do you have a favorite art journal that’s not listed? Please share what your favorite journal is and how you use it.
Happy Journaling!
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