The New Year often gets us in the mood for new beginnings, gives a renewed sense of self-determination and a desire to set new goals.
If you’re looking for something new to challenge you this year, consider an art journal.
Not only will it give you a convenient place to record all your artistic mental meanderings, but capturing these sometimes fleeting thoughts makes it possible to cultivate your imaginings into full-fledged compositions and designs.
Here are some books and products to help get you started with your new project!
No Excuses Art Journaling
No Excuses Art Journaling: Making Time For Creativity by Gina Rossi Armfield ASIN: B00JX12JU6
Ms. Armfield has covered all the bases with this book. Not only does she give advice and information on all the tools you may want to use, she also includes step-by-step mixed-media journaling techniques, encouraging example pages by many guest artists and dozens of journaling prompts and tips that will take you through all 12 months of the year.
Available in both paperback and Kindle versions, this handy 128 page book should be on your short list of journal instruction books.
Creating Art At The Speed Of Life
This fun book give tips, techniques and a 30 day syllabus to get you started and well on your way to making journaling a part of your daily life. Whether you’re a beginning art student and need help with basics like color, shapes, space and texture, or you’re an experienced artist who wants to include something new in your repertoire, this book will get you going.
It starts off with instructions to create your own, hand-made journal and continues with worksheets to help you evaluate your creations. The book concludes with a mixed-media glossary that offer loads of helpful information and resources.
Creative Journal by Ranger
Dylusions Dyan Reaveley’s Creative Journal by Ranger ASIN: B009MRLEJI
This 11.375” by 8.25” blank journal by Ranger is made with cardstock pages, a hard cover with inside pocket and an elastic band to hold it closed.
The thick blank pages are fairly durable and hold up to water mediums. The 64 pages can be used on both sides, so you have well over 120 pages to fill with your creative inspirations. The inner pocket is handy for clippings, photos and other flat ephemera.
Strathmore Visual Journal Spiral Bound
Strathmore Visual Journal Spiral Bound ASIN: B003YIZ0HI
This 9” x 12” journal is spiral bound for easy use. It’s filled with 84 sheets of 90 weight mixed media paper that’s perfect for almost all types of mediums.
It’s sturdy enough for inks and markers and will hold up well with a light application of watercolor. However, since it’s 90 weight, it can buckle with a heavy application of water.
The front cover can be removed to reveal a plain, brown cover you can decorate yourself, and the covers make a sturdy support, if you’re working on your lap on an easel.
Sakura 30062 6-Piece Pigma Micron Ink Pen Set
Sakura 30062 6-Piece Pigma Micron Ink Pen Set ASIN: B0008G8G8Y
This package of six Pigma ink pens includes 0.20mm, 0.25mm, 0.30mm, 0.35mm, 0.45mm and 0.50mm sizes, so you’ll have a great variety of ink widths for any type of writing or drawing.
The black archival ink is feather-proof and smear-proof, so it’s perfect for the finest pen and ink projects or technical drawings. You’ll enjoy the smooth, skip-free consistency of this product, and appreciate its waterproof and fade resistant qualities.
Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color Sketchers
Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Color Sketchers’ Pocket Box ASIN: B00004THXI
Pair this watercolor pocket sketch box with your favorite sketch book, a waterproof ink pen and you’re ready for on-the-go pen and ink watercolor sketching.
Cotman’s Winsor & Newton’s line of watercolors is respected world-wide for quality and consistency, and this compact set of 12 half-pans gives you all the colors you’ll need for quick, on-site sketching and painting.
The palette includes Chinese White, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Viridian Hue, Sap Green, Cobalt Blue Hue, Ultramarine, Alizarin Crimson Hue, Cadmium Red Pale Hue, Cadmium Yellow Hue and Cadmium Yellow Pale Hue.
The compact box measures a mere 5.1 x 2.6 x 0.8 inches, and the lid acts as a three-compartment mixing palette.
Fiskars Gel Pen 48-Piece Value Set
Fiskars Gel Pen 48-Piece Value Set ASIN: B000S161FO
This set of 48 pens is a great bargain. It comes with 12 glitter pens, 9 metallic pens, 9 neon pens, 9 pastel pens, 6 multicolored pens and 3 standard black pens.
The nibs are 0.1mm, so they’re ideal for scrapbooking, detail work in a journal or even writing colorful text. The ink is acid free and after drying properly, it becomes smear-proof. A great, economical package that has tons of colors and effects.
