31 Days of Art Journalling

What is the project?

  • Work along with Laura to start an art journal and develop a daily habit of working in your book.
  • 31 practical video workshops
  • Inspirational ideas
  • Technique demonstrations
  • Choose your own theme
  • Use art materials that you already have
  • Work entirely at your own pace – there’s no time limit on accessing the course materials.

Welcome to 31 Days of Art Journalling! I’m so pleased that you would like to join in with this project. Let me tell you more about what we’re going to do:

I don’t know about you, but I find that when it comes to being creative, little and often is what works best. Yes we all dream of spending a whole day working on our art and craft projects, but how often is that actually achievable? In reality, I’m usually snatching 10 or 15 minutes here and there to do something creative. Those short bursts can be so productive though!

In 31 Days of Art Journalling I’m going to guide you through a whole selection of techniques and approaches to help you establish a daily art habit. Each session is short and sweet to ensure it’s doable, but on days where you have the luxury of more time then go ahead and keep working.

We’ll start with a blank book and day by day fill those pages with colour, pattern and ideas. Along the way we’ll talk about how you might use writing, collage, drawing, and collecting. You will choose your own theme and when it comes to equipment I’m keeping it simple, I think you’ll likely already have everything you’ll need.

Sign up here..

What do I need?

If you already work in sketchbooks, draw, paint, or print, then likely you’ll have everything on this list and much more. I am going to keep the requirements as simple as I can. If there’s something you don’t have, then likely you can swap in an alternative. In the workshops I’ll make suggestions for sensible alternatives, or other things you might want to try if you already have the stuff.

The essentials are:

A sketchbook
A few loose papers, these don’t need to be fancy and could easily be found in your recycling bin, for instance, envelopes or packaging paper.
Acrylic matte gel medium ( I like Liquitex or Golden)
Acrylic paints (to include black and white)
Flat tray palette, or you can use an old plastic lid or piece of plastic
A piece of card (from a cereal box or similar), or a kitchen sponge, or some funky foam, or a potato
Ruler, scissors or craft knife and cutting mat
Paint brushes to include a large-ish flat brush and a medium size round
Tracing paper
Pens, a fineliner drawing pen and something with a broader chunkier tip.
Watercolour paints (or you can use Brusho, or leftover Procion dye)
Sewing machine, or hand sewing needle and thread
Oil pastels, or wax crayons
A newspaper or magazine

Optional:
Number/alphabet stamps (commercial ones, or ones you’ve made yourself)
Ink pad
Roller/brayer
Stencils if you already have them

The workshops...

It's Day 1! Let's find a sketchbook and get started. In this first session I'll talk to you about what to look for in the sketchbook that you choose to work in and we'll break the ice by losing those blank white pages. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 1

It’s Day 1! Let’s find a sketchbook and get started. In this first session I’ll talk to you about what to look for in the sketchbook that you choose to work in and we’ll break the ice by losing those blank white pages.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 2. Let's liven up the pages of that book by creating some variety. I'll show you how to swap out some pages and replace them with something more interesting. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 2

It’s Day 2. Let’s liven up the pages of that book by creating some variety. I’ll show you how to swap out some pages and replace them with something more interesting.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Day 3. Let's add some line and texture to the pages with stitch. Do as much or as little of this as you like depending on your available time! To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 3

Day 3. Let’s add some line and texture to the pages with stitch. Do as much or as little of this as you like depending on your available time!

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Day 4. It's time for some colour! We'll make a start with using some oil pastel and was crayons to quickly add some colour to those pages. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 4

Day 4. It’s time for some colour! We’ll make a start with using some oil pastel and was crayons to quickly add some colour to those pages.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Day 5. It's time to get those paints out again. Today we'll add another layer of colour to the pages. It's only day 5, but already you should be seeing some lovely effects building up in your book. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 5

Day 5. It’s time to get those paints out again. Today we’ll add another layer of colour to the pages. It’s only day 5, but already you should be seeing some lovely effects building up in your book.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Day 6. What are you going to fill your art journal with? In today's session we'll talk through ideas for content on a wide range of themes and subjects. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 6

Day 6. What are you going to fill your art journal with? In today’s session we’ll talk through ideas for content on a wide range of themes and subjects.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 7 already! Today we'll talk about whether or not to number and date your pages, and we'll explore two methods to experiment with: one stamping, the other collage. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 7

It’s Day 7 already! Today we’ll talk about whether or not to number and date your pages, and we’ll explore two methods to experiment with: one stamping, the other collage.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 8. Let's make some spaces where things can happen in your art journal. We'll look at making some frames and spaces where you'll be able to draw, write or collage later on. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 8

It’s Day 8. Let’s make some spaces where things can happen in your art journal. We’ll look at making some frames and spaces where you’ll be able to draw, write or collage later on.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 9. You'll inevitably want to add photographic images to your art journal. Today we'll look at some ways to do that creatively. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 9

It’s Day 9. You’ll inevitably want to add photographic images to your art journal. Today we’ll look at some ways to do that creatively.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 10. Today we'll add some bold text to our art journals using collage. This is a great technique for headlines, titles and pages where you want to fill the space with words. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 10

It’s Day 10. Today we’ll add some bold text to our art journals using collage. This is a great technique for headlines, titles and pages where you want to fill the space with words.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 11. Let's crack on with adding more text to our journals. Today the focus is on handwriting and we'll look at different ways we can do that including working larger scale for dramatic effect. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 11

It’s Day 11. Let’s crack on with adding more text to our journals. Today the focus is on handwriting and we’ll look at different ways we can do that including working larger scale for dramatic effect.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 12! Today we're going to be making some simple paper stencils and masks that we'll be able to use during the rest of the course. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 12

It’s Day 12! Today we’re going to be making some simple paper stencils and masks that we’ll be able to use during the rest of the course.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 13. Let's do some drawing today. We'll work from photos and use a pencil to sketch before going in with a pen to strengthen up the lines and add detail. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 13

It’s Day 13. Let’s do some drawing today. We’ll work from photos and use a pencil to sketch before going in with a pen to strengthen up the lines and add detail.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 14. Building on yesterday's drawing activity, today we'll look at an alternative approach that uses tracing. This is a quick and easy method for getting drawings into your book. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 14

It’s Day 14. Building on yesterday’s drawing activity, today we’ll look at an alternative approach that uses tracing. This is a quick and easy method for getting drawings into your book.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 15. Let's look at how we can combine elements we've been making and collecting into a single page. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 15

It’s Day 15. Let’s look at how we can combine elements we’ve been making and collecting into a single page.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 16. We're half way through! In today's session we'll add colour to our pen drawings with watercolour washes. You might also experiment with painting your tracings too. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 16

It’s Day 16. We’re half way through! In today’s session we’ll add colour to our pen drawings with watercolour washes. You might also experiment with painting your tracings too.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 17. Today we're going to spend some time making stamps that will be useful for pattern and mark making in your art journal later on. We'll be using simple stamp making equipment and materials that hopefully you'll already have at home. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 17

It’s Day 17. Today we’re going to spend some time making stamps that will be useful for pattern and mark making in your art journal later on. We’ll be using simple stamp making equipment and materials that hopefully you’ll already have at home.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 18. Today we'll experiment with using the stamps that we made yesterday for filling spaces with pattern and in combination with our stencils to create new spaces. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 18

It’s Day 18. Today we’ll experiment with using the stamps that we made yesterday for filling spaces with pattern and in combination with our stencils to create new spaces.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 19. Have you been collecting things you'd like to include in your art journal? Today we'll make little pockets to stash away these precious things. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 19

It’s Day 19. Have you been collecting things you’d like to include in your art journal? Today we’ll make little pockets to stash away these precious things.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 20. Let's explore extending the pages of our art journals with some fold outs using found papers. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 20

It’s Day 20. Let’s explore extending the pages of our art journals with some fold outs using found papers.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 21. In today's session we're going to play with our paints and mark making using a brush and our stencils. We'll explore how acrylic and watercolour paints can be used in layers on our pages. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 21

It’s Day 21. In today’s session we’re going to play with our paints and mark making using a brush and our stencils. We’ll explore how acrylic and watercolour paints can be used in layers on our pages.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 22. Today my challenge to you is to document a journey in your art journal. This could be a big trip, or a stroll around your own garden or to the local shops. I'll demonstrate what I'm doing to record a recent day out. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 22

It’s Day 22. Today my challenge to you is to document a journey in your art journal. This could be a big trip, or a stroll around your own garden or to the local shops. I’ll demonstrate what I’m doing to record a recent day out.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 23. Hmm, is the cover of your art journal looking a bit plain and neglected compared to the inside? Today we're going to make it stand out from the crowd. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 23

It’s Day 23. Hmm, is the cover of your art journal looking a bit plain and neglected compared to the inside? Today we’re going to make it stand out from the crowd.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 24. Today we'll continue with decorating the cover using paint, stencils and your stamps. You might also choose to use the same techniques on some of your pages if you have time. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 24

It’s Day 24. Today we’ll continue with decorating the cover using paint, stencils and your stamps. You might also choose to use the same techniques on some of your pages if you have time.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 25. Today I challenge you to draw your desk! I'll demonstrate how you can use a gridding up technique to help you build confidence with drawing quickly and accurately. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 25

It’s Day 25. Today I challenge you to draw your desk! I’ll demonstrate how you can use a gridding up technique to help you build confidence with drawing quickly and accurately.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 26. Today we'll work on another drawing, but we'll take a different approach, working much more loosely and with colour.  To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 26

It’s Day 26. Today we’ll work on another drawing, but we’ll take a different approach, working much more loosely and with colour. 

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 27. Today we're going to create some collage with black and white papers. This is an opportunity to make use of found papers and ephemera that we accumulate on a daily basis! To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 27

It’s Day 27. Today we’re going to create some collage with black and white papers. This is an opportunity to make use of found papers and ephemera that we accumulate on a daily basis!

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 28. Working on top of the collages we made yesterday, we're going to use paint and coloured pencils to build layers of marks and colour. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 28

It’s Day 28. Working on top of the collages we made yesterday, we’re going to use paint and coloured pencils to build layers of marks and colour.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 29. A journal page can be a bit one-dimensional so today we're going to create some depth in our books by cutting windows and doorways. To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 29

It’s Day 29. A journal page can be a bit one-dimensional so today we’re going to create some depth in our books by cutting windows and doorways.

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 30. So we made all those windows and doors, now let's focus on what you can see through them. We'll work with photographs or other images. I also have a drawing challenge for you if you are up for it! To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 30

It’s Day 30. So we made all those windows and doors, now let’s focus on what you can see through them. We’ll work with photographs or other images. I also have a drawing challenge for you if you are up for it!

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
It's Day 31. It's the final session! Today it's all about going back through your art journal pages that you've worked on so far and adding some detail - maybe more handwriting, outline, definition and shading.  To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.
Sketchbook

31 Days of Art Journalling – Day 31

It’s Day 31. It’s the final session! Today it’s all about going back through your art journal pages that you’ve worked on so far and adding some detail – maybe more handwriting, outline, definition and shading. 

To access this post, you must purchase 31 Days of Art Journalling.