How to start a personal and cohesive art journal

Starting a themed sketchbook is a fantastic way to explore your artistic expression. It gives you a focused space to bring your ideas to life in a cohesive way. By picking a theme that resonates with you and weaving it into your artwork, you'll end up with a personal and visually striking journal that really showcases your artistic voice.

Pick a theme that feels right

The first step is picking a theme that truly excites you. Think about your interests, passions, or even current projects you're working on. You could dive into things like nature, travel, abstract art, or personal stories. Whatever you choose, a theme that clicks with you will act as a guiding thread for your creative journey and function as the lighthouse to keep things topical – if you want it to be.

Gather your materials

Once you've settled on a theme, it's time to gather your materials. Think about the size, paper quality, and binding style that feel right for your creative process and don’t shy away from trying out more than just one. If you want to treat yourself, go for a sketchbook with fine art paper—it’s got a smoother surface and absorbs ink beautifully.

As with all art materials, don’t skimp on the quality. They’re a direct extension of your inspiration and creativity, so find the sketchbook that is best suited to the medium you are using.

Create a mood board, inspiration page and layout

To kick things off visually, try creating a mood board or inspiration page. If you’ve not used a sketchbook as an artist before, starting one can sometimes be intimidating. To tackle this, gather images, quotes, or art samples that really connect with your theme. This can help you build a cohesive vibe and keep the overall feel of your sketchbook consistent and make the beginning less scary.

Think about how you want to lay out your sketchbook, too—how you’ll arrange pages, use white space, and maybe even include elements like journaling, collages, or mixed media. Don’t be afraid to play around with different layouts until you find one that fits your theme and style.

Reinstate your theme

Keep coming back to your theme as you work through your sketchbook, so it all stays cohesive and focused. Add in elements, motifs, or symbols that tie back to your theme in your sketches, drawings, or mixed media pieces. This helps build a strong story throughout your sketchbook, giving it a unified feel.

If you feel like you want to break out of your theme – there is nothing stopping you! You can let it flow and turn into whatever it naturally develops to, or you could even start a second sketchbook, exploring the new direction your creativity heads into. 

A journal is a way for you to try new techniques and materials, too. Don’t hesitate to step outside your comfort zone. It’s a work you create for yourself and your creative mind, which means it’s also entirely up to you to decide if you want to share it with others to get feedback and to connect with fellow artists or if you want to leave it only for your own eyes. 

Enjoy the creative process and let your imagination run wild and take you wherever you want.