59 Art Journal Prompts to Help You Express Yourself Creatively (2024)

By: Author Valerie Forgeard

Posted on September 15, 2022

Categories Creativity, Art, Inspiration, Writing

Art journaling is a great way to explore your feelings and express yourself. But sometimes, you need a little help to get started. That’s where these art journal prompts come in!

Each creative journal prompt is designed to help you stimulate your creative juices and get you started in Art Journaling, giving you new ideas for your next Art Journal page. You can use one prompt or several Art Journaling ideas.

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The Purpose of an Art Journal

An art journal is a tool you can use to sketch new art ideas and express your feelings and emotions. You can also use it to write about your creative journey. Journals are usually made of paper but can also be made of fabric or other materials. Some people use art journals to record their creative process, while others use them to explore their feelings.

Art Journals Can Serve Many Different Purposes

A place to record your creative process.
A place to explore your emotions and feelings
A way to express yourself through drawing, painting, collage, photography, writing, or any other medium that interests you
A place to record what you do each day (if you choose)

Art Journal Prompts to Help You Reflect on Your Creative Development

Use these art journaling prompts to take a moment to reflect on your beginnings and reflect on how far you’ve come. This is a time for reflection, so take advantage of it.

When did you start creating?
What made you want to become an artist?
How do you feel about your art now compared to then?
What’s been the biggest challenge on your artistic journey so far?
How has your style changed over time?
What’re your favorite pieces you’ve done in the past, and why?
Do you tend to create more abstract or representational pieces? Why do you think that’s?
What would you like to learn next?
What’s your favorite color? And why?
What’s your favorite part of the creative process?
What do you like most about making art?
How long have you been making art?
What types of things inspire you to create?
What challenges and obstacles do you face when it comes to creativity?
What advice would you give someone just starting in the art world?
If money were no object, what kind of studio would you want to work in?
Do you’ve any tips for artists looking for inspiration?
How do you choose the mediums or techniques you use in your work?
What was the first thing you ever made?
What’s your favorite creative outlet and why?
When did you realize crafting was more than just a hobby for you?
What do you wish someone had told you when you first started crafting?
Is there a special skill or talent that’s surprised you lately?
Who’s an artist that inspires you in your work and why?
What’re three things that make up your creative space/workspace?
What’s your favorite way to start a new project?
Do you’ve any creative rituals? What’re they?
How can you tell when a work is finished? What makes it complete for you?
When was the last time you did something brave in your art practice? Why did it feel so brave, and how did it go?
What would it be and why if you could change one thing about yourself as an artist (or even just in life)?
What was the most creative thing you did today? How did it make you feel?
What’ve you been dreaming of doing for a long time but haven’t yet? Why haven’t you gotten around to it yet? What’s holding you back from doing it?
What would you do next if there were no limits to your creativity?
Do you think creativity is a gift or something we all have inside of us just waiting to be tapped?
What do you think about originality and imitation in art?
Write down what you draw and why

Art Journal Ideas for Visual Journaling

Create a piece of art inspired by a creative journal prompt above, using mixed media.
Draw or paint a picture of what it feels like when the sun rises on a new day.
Create a collage with pictures from magazines, newspapers, or clippings from books. What do these pictures tell you about yourself?
Look at an object in your home and try to draw it from memory without looking at it again. Then look at what you drew! How does your drawing compare to the real object?
Draw a map of your day
Draw a map of how you feel right now, and then draw a map of how you want to feel.
Draw the things that make you happy
Draw a self-portrait
Draw something that scares you
Draw your favorite animal
Draw a memory from your childhood
Draw a dream you’d recently
Draw what you want for your life
Draw your favorite place where you stay
Draw a symbol of hope 3. Draw the places where you feel at home
Draw your favorite animal
Draw what you’re facing right now
Make a collage about your life so far
Draw an object that’s neither a circle nor a square, and then draw the same object in a circle and a square.
Choose three colors and make sure each color appears at least once in your drawing – but don’t use them all at once!
Draw what success means to you and what failure is like in your life.
Draw a picture of your perfect day – what would happen on that day if everything went exactly as planned? What would happen if everything went wrong? What’s one thing that would make this day even better than either scenario?
Draw what you’d like to see happen in the future

What Should Be Included in an Art Journal?

When it comes to art journals, there are a lot of options. Some use blank notebooks and add their drawings and paintings, while others prefer to buy a traditional journal. No matter which option you choose, there are a few things that should be included in any art journal.

A sturdy cover: You need a cover that can withstand being taken out and used on the go – and that won’t tear easily if you drop it or get too excited while working on it and accidentally rip the page out.
A place for all kinds of media: pencils, inks, paint, etc., so that no matter what project or inspiration comes over you next (or at any given time), you can get started immediately without having to worry about everything else later!
Pages that hold mixed media well. If you’re using blank pages, make sure they’re thick enough to withstand markers or paints applied directly to them; if you’re using a traditional journal, avoid mixed media or inks and just use pencils to keep your art journal clean.

Keep It Simple

Don’t think you’ve to follow a specific structure or format every time – just let it flow! You can always go back later and fill in the gaps if you want.

Be Honest With Yourself

If you don’t feel inspired at the moment, don’t force it! Stop working on your art journal until you feel ready to jump back in. It’s better to take a break than to produce a mediocre piece of work that makes you feel bad (and that you might destroy).

Don’t Worry Too Much About Organization at First

You can always organize it later if it makes sense or if you run out of room in your book! Sometimes just putting all those feelings down on paper helps make sense of them and organize them into something that makes sense to us as creators or viewers of art.”

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