As artists, we always looking for inspiration for our art journaling. Starting a black canvas can be daunting and this is why we have 26 beautiful mixed media art journal ideas to help you with your art journaling.
There is just something so therapeutic and relaxing about art journaling and the freedom it holds. There is so no rhyme or rhythm to it, but whatever you feel like putting down on the page, because it’s a piece of art within itself! Mixing different techniques and textures together, you will always come up with something wonderful and unique on your journal.
In this list of 26 art journal ideas, you will find a variation of different styles and each one can serve as a prompt for your journaling. From collage, to stencilling, to painting, there is always something you can add. Sometimes our pages can never feel finished because there is always something more we can add to it!
Art journaling can be good to record your day to day life or to put a special memory onto paper, or just to let out some emotion. Collecting different scraps of paper we have in our daily lives can be used as a decoration piece within itself and also as a memory to that day, something as simple as a coffee tag.
When it comes to art journaling, we always need some good art supplies on hand! Check out some of the art supplies below to help you with your art journaling.
art supplies
Let’s take a look at the 26 amazing art journal ideas!
number one
Source: mysticchrislin
Starting off with this colorful and wonderful art journal page. This page has a lot going on but all the layers make it look beautiful. A page constructed on kraft paper, with lots of collaging on top to give it an abstract look. The ripped paper effect on the page gives an edge and more artsy.
Something like this can be achieved by gathering lots of colorful ripped pieces of paper and layering it on top. This page has a 70’s vibe to it even though it’s so abstract.
number two
Source: supermamadesvosges
An art journal page with some stencilling and lots of oil pastels. This page has some collaging but it’s very subtle on the page because all the colors and layout have been well thought out. The artist has had fun with this page by doing different marks and using oil pastels but it can also really look like a fine art piece!
I’m not even sure is the portrait of the lady in the middle is a collage piece or actually drawn onto the page, that’s how amazing this page is.
number three
Source: nabi_journaling
A collage style art journal page but with a very vintage feel. The vintage look is really in when it comes to ‘junk journals’ and this artist has taken that look and applied it onto this art journal spread.
Old books could be used for this style, or get some newspaper and used the ‘coffee stained’ technique to give the news paper and old look.
number four
Source: little_ammy_arts
This artist is using her art journal spread as more of a sketchbook and exploring different abstract ideas on the page. The difference between a sketchbook and art journal is, that a sketchbook is more about exploring ideas for your final outcome, where as an art journal is a journal used as a form of expression.
A few different mediums have been used here, like watercolor ink, markers and even gel pens. Sometimes whatever you have at hand, works just as well.
number five
Source: art.and.junk.by.hd
A mixed media art journal spread, which is very playful and freeing. This artist has used an old picture to add, something which can add more character to your page and also be a release for a specific memory.
As well as collage, this artist has allowed herself to be free with the painting and drawing aspect of this journal spread, but the colors have been well picked. Making it all come together nicely.
number six
Source: yaya.snailmail
If you want a more illustrated look on your art journal spread, then gather looks of different stickers and printed illustrations to stick into your art journal spread like this artist has done.
A bright and cheerful spread with lots going on. Not only has this artist used a lot of images, but quotes have been written throughout the page. Writing can be good to get your thoughts onto the page for that day. Not only can an art journal be visual, but writing is also a good form od decoration.
number seven
Source: megjournals
This whole spread is a vibe. It gives elegance and a well thought-out spread. It might not be full of color, but the colors used really compliment each other. I would never have thought that brown and green would work together on a page!
A very cozy look but also summery.. let’s call it Autumnal!
number eight
Source: lululaberlue.e
A spread inspired by the color ‘teal’. This style of spread is made by gluing down old newspaper or book pages, and painting on flowers. Either on a separate piece of paper or straight onto the page.
I love this style because it looks so complicated yet it can be made so easily. You just need a bit of an artistic eye! The washi tape elements also really add to the page.
number nine
Source: expressyourartsysoul
From old style to new styles! This spread is giving me a very fresh feel. I love the colors used and then the splash of black on top as contrast. Many layers are used on this page, and so much texture too. The 3D element of the flower on the page just adds another layer of texture.
number ten
Source: stemcooky
A very philosophical journal spread! This artist says she has painted onto a napkin?? She must have very good artistic skills because it looks very much intertwined into the journal.
Using different shapes on the page to make patterns, this artist has made it look very pretty. The color palette is limited but still full on color.
number eleven
Source: supermamadesvosges
A very subtle and elegant art journal spread. The colors and technique used to paint onto the page seem very gentle, almost like the paint has been dabbed on with tissue paper. It looks like a sunset and the trees have been painted in black with black birds flying.
The flower is sprouting out from the bottom. A very clever and intuitive way to paint a scene onto paper!
number twelve
Source: amandaswork
This is a simple spread, using simple crayons and doodles! Sometimes we don’t have to make such somplex spreads, but just doodling can be a fun way to put our thoughts onto paper too.
number thirteen
Source: lululaberlue.e
A very ‘fine art’ style page by painting detailed illustrations straight onto the page. If you are an artist that loves to paint on canvas, sometimes painting into a journal can be good for those small motif pieces like this artist has done.
The details on the paintings are so beautiful and I love the flowers on top of the cat’s head!
number fourteen
Source: supermamadesvosges
This is another art journal spread from the same artist we shared earlier, however this time it’s a full spread view! So I had to share this art journal spread as well. It is a similar style to the one earlier, it is an abstract landscape picture.
I love how this artist interprets nature. The leaves and the trees and the bird, but all of it looks like art!
number fifteen
Source: autumn_moon_art
A mini journal which has some stitching in! Sometimes a mini journal is less daunting to do. It can fill up much quicker. This artist has interpreted her butterfly through stitching, adding another element of drawing to the journal.
Drawing with stitch is a fun way to add some mixed media to your journal. It can bring more depth and texture, also it can bring out certain elements on the page.
number sixteen
Source: prisjournals
This art journal page is inspire by music and it shows! The theme ‘music’ is interpreted though music symbols. However many artists use certain music and songs as prompts for art journaling. It can be a source of inspiration and help to evoke emotions through art.
The envelop on the page is almost like the music has ‘traveled’. Adding another way to interpret the art!
number seventeen
Source: anonymous.palette
This artist has interpreted a memory for herself through this journal spread. It has meaning to her but also looks lovely, She has chosen lots of 3D elements on this page. I love the fabric pieces attached to the sides of the page, making it look even more unique.
number eighteen
Source: craftysheri
A very abstract yet moody looking journal page. The top part almost reminds me of a butterfly! Sometimes all we need is just a burst of art on the page. Letting go can create the most beautiful outcomes.
number nineteen
Source: michelle_logan
A very funky and art pop style journal spread. The portrait on the right side is ‘inverted’. This type of art allows you to create the silhouette of the object you want to create, but inverted. It creates a different look altogether.
It looks like this has been painted onto a book because the script is almost visible through the painting.
number twenty
Source: expressyourartsysoul
A journal spread which is half art and half written text. This is a unique ideas because even though there is text on the other side, it still looks like art! Using different styles of calligraphy and fonts can really add to an art journal page.
number twenty-one
Source: soul_positive
Another small but vibrant art journal spread, but this one really is tiny! This artist uses small quotes on her mini journal to record a memory from the day. Just one quote can be enough to remind us of the day and what better way to remember it then to put it in our art journal.
number twenty-two
Source: alexiawinterhalter
This is a dynamic way to use an art journal. Not only does this look very aesthetic but it helps with color referencing and seeing what looks best. This looks like it has been drawn with pencils and what a great piece of art it is!
number twenty-three
Source: jenniferwilkinpenick
At first glace, I thought this was a collage piece! But looking closer, I see that it is small painted pieces put together with different shapes and patterns. This is a another form of doodling but with paints instead, and it can be very therapeutic.
number twenty-four
Source: artismagic.online
Another wonderful art journal spread with lots of collage. This also has some stitching onto the paper. One way I love to use a sewing machine, is to sew directly onto paper instead of fabric.
Technically you will be ‘drawing’ with the sewing machine and you can come up with so many different drawings all with your sewing machine. It’s very satisfying.
number twenty-five
Source: susanne_rose_art
A simple yet not so simple art journal page. This page has lots of stencilling and bits of collage. My favourite part is adding the small quote onto the page but it blends in so well with the rest of the page.
number twenty-six
Source: janethecrazy
Ending with this crazy and busy but so pretty journal page. Who knew words could fill up an entire page?! This is a completely new style of art journaling which I haven’t seen before. The words are a combination of being drawn on and stencils. The pictures really add to all the words, making the piece complete.
This comes up to the end of our 26 beautiful art journal pages. I hope you got some inspiration for your own journaling.
If you liked this post, be sure to check out our other art journaling posts below:
Artistic Pages: 19 Creative Art Journal Ideas to Spark Your Imagination.
From Dreams to Reality: Exploring 25 Unique and Inspiring Art Journal Pages.
20 Art Journal Ideas That Will Leave You Feeling Inspired.
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