Whether you’ve been writing in a journal every day for a decade or you’re completely new to the practice, daily journaling can be a reallyI powerful tool for your creativity toolkit! I know I’m not alone when I say that there are some days when I just wake up in a funk. On those days, when I feel like everything is going wrong or that I’m falling apart, taking a few minutes out of my day just to write out my thoughts can make the difference between a good day and a bad one. If you’re not sure where to start, keep reading for some journal ideas for artists that will jumpstart your creative growth!

Journal Ideas For Artists

Get started on your journaling journey with a few of my favorite journal prompts! Most of the time I just let my thoughts flow stream-of-conscious style but there are days when I’m feeling stuck, stressed, or overwhelmed and I find it easier to focus with a prompt or two.

Journal Ideas & Prompts

The good news about journaling is that there’s no wrong way to do it and you certainly don’t have to be a writer to get started! Journaling can be as simple as answering a few insightful questions here and there!

Daily Questions

Like many artists, I learned about morning pages from artist and author Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way. The concept is simple: start each day by writing three pages by hand. It doesn’t matter what you write, just that you do. That said, it can sometimes be difficult to get started writing, so I thought I’d put together a list of questions for journal writing to help you get into the habit of writing every day. I’m sure you’ll be surprised by how much this simple habit can change your life!

• What are your intentions for the day?
• What is something that makes you feel empowered?
• What are three things you love about yourself?
• What makes you feel confident? How can you include more of that in your life?
• What is your goal right now and what is one thing you can do today to help you reach it?
• How do you feel right this very moment?
• What is an attitude or mindset that you should let go of?
• What are you most proud of?
• What would make today better than yesterday?
• What is one nice thing you can do for yourself today?
• What is one nice thing you can tell yourself today?

Gratitude Journal 

One of the best ways to change your mindset and bring more joy into your life is to start by taking a good look at what you’ve already got! Here are some gratitude journal prompts to get you started!

Write about…

• Three people in your life that you are grateful for and how they’ve helped you
• A time when you got everything you wanted. How did it feel? What did you do to get there?
• A time you overcame difficulty
• A time you overcame disappointment
• Your favorite memories
• Something that made you happy today
• The ways your loved ones have supported you
• Ways you can support your loved ones
• The ways you show yourself love
• The ways you show others love
• Your biggest inspiration
• What motivates you

If the past few years have got you struggling with your mindset, here are some of my favorite mindset tips for artists.

Lists for Journaling

If you find it difficult to express yourself in words, don’t worry! Sometimes the easiest place to start is to simply make a list; something short and sweet. The goal isn’t to write a novel, it’s just to get to know ourselves a little better! Here are some lists that you can make.

• Compliments people have given you
• Compliments you’d like to give others
• Your favorite…
  • Books
  • Movies
  • Songs 
  • Podcasts
  • People
  • Animals
  • Vacations
  • (you get the gist!)
• Things you feel passionate about
• Books you want to read
• Places you want to visit
• Letters you want to write
• Ways you can treat yourself this month
• Activities that relax you
• Things that make you feel creative
• Self care ideas
• Habits you’d like to start
• Habits you’d like to change
• Things you’re excited about

Art Journal Ideas

Reaaaaallllllly hate the idea of writing? You’re not alone! A lot of creatives become artists simply because they find it easier to communicate through their art. Skip the spelling and go straight for the introspection with an art journal!

Take time every day to create something in your journal that expresses how you feel; whether that’s a painting, a drawing, a collage, or something else entirely! The best thing about art journals is that they can change from day to day depending on how you feel. One day might be a mood board or collage while the next might be a pet portrait. Use your art journal as an opportunity to explore the things that interest, inspire, and excite you! Looking to make art a part of your daily routine? Check out my tips for starting a daily art practice!