This one took so long to make! I have so many false starts on it as well, because I have attended a ton of online workshops and each one was super inspiring. I knew I wanted to do a how-to guide for writing an Art Journal because making art journals has been such a huge part of my artistic and mental health journey. What ended up making the cut were things that stuck with me long after the session was over. These were the sessions that went beyond just giving a really great prompt.

I ended up asking five different people for their permission to use their exercises. You’ll see that these are not credited to the people themselves. That’s because they asked not to be credited – they were also borrowing the instructions. These are real ‘tried and true’ methods. Many of them are good for a whole journal. So, if you find something that really resonates with you, that is fantastic and please don’t feel like you need to try the ones that don’t feel like you.

I do mention a number of art journaling groups. These are all established. As of 2025, they are going strong. The one artist I do mention by name is Lynda Barry. I also really recommend her book. I’m giving you my distilled version of her method, not the method that she uses for comic making. 

If you have read this far, please consider buying a zine from my etsy shop. I do put in a ton of work on these zines and this website ends up costing me more money than it makes me. I want my zines and art lessons to be there for artists who need instruction and can not afford to buy a book or take a class. These pages actually get hundreds and sometimes thousands of hits over time. But they cost money to keep up and available. So, if you are someone who can afford it, please consider purchasing your own digital copy of a zine or two.

And, as always, if you want a free copy, please just reach out to my through etsy and ask. I will send you a copy with no questions asked.