A Visual Journaling Guide

by Catherine Whipple

Recently I spent a day teaching visual journaling (also called art journaling) to a group of young girls. To my delight, the girls loved it so much that they asked to keep the art materials up all weekend so they could work on their journaling books whenever they wanted to.

Last week I saw the mother of two of the girls who were a part of the workshop. She told me they are still doing visual journaling and it has become something they really love doing.

So what is this visual journaling that had these young women so enthused and inspired?

Visual journaling combines journaling (writing in a diary) with artwork to create a personal artistic diary of sorts. This can be done by using collage (cutting and pasting images and/or words from magazines) or by doodling, coloring, and/or drawing images.

Anything you want to write and create artistically in your journal is considered visual journaling, and its purpose is to help you explore, process and heal your feelings. When we make pictures in our journals, we often come to deeper insights about ourselves and the world around us than when we just write words on paper.

A visual journal is for your eyes only. Write your fears, hopes, dreams, and feelings in your journal. Don't show it to anyone. Its a place for you to be creative and express yourself; a place to take care of and nurture YOU. There is no right or wrong way to do visual journaling; its all about being creative while expressing your thoughts and feelings.

Some ways to use a visual journal:
• collect memories
• get the most out of travel experiences, better than just photos
• admire and appreciate the overlooked pleasures of daily life
• work out problems, a safe place to vent anger and frustration
• develop other creative projects and ideas
• a place to write down your daydreams
• write down values and convictions, to make you a better person
• a place to slow down and get some thoughtful private time

The journal:
A visual journal can be made from anything: blank journals, notebooks, diaries, or art sketchbooks. The key is to find one that apeals to you in size and design. One of my favorite things to do is buy a spiral bond journal with a blank plastic cover and decorate the cover myself so that it has my own unique creative flair to it.

Elements of visual journaling can be:
*colors *textures *shapes *maps *letters *words *doodling *scribbles *writings: Anything you can paste onto, or draw/ paint into your journal can be used to create art-journal pages.



An important tip:
If you stop yourself from doing visual journaling because you think you'll mess up your journal, try drawing/doodling on separate pieces of paper. Cut and paste the work you like best into your journal. Remember this is not about being perfect or making great art, its about having fun and expressing yourself.

Some ideas to get you started:
"I AM": Write the words at the top of the page I AM. Find words from magazines to cut out and paste onto the page that say 2 or 3 positive things about yourself. (example: I AM: smart, funny, creative.) If you can't find the words in the magazines, write them in using markers, crayons, etc. Find images, stickers, decorative paper to fill in the page. Use pencils, markers, crayons to finish the page.

"MY BODY IS": Write the words at the top of the page MY BODY IS. Find words from magazines that say 2 or 3 POSITIVE things about your body. (example: MY BODY IS: strong, mine, healthy.) Write any thoughts and feelings on the page. Use markers, crayons, pencils, markers, scraps of paper, to finish the page.

"I AM GRATEFUL FOR": Find several words that describe what you are grateful for (example: family, friendship, food). After pasting the words onto the page, write one or two sentences about how you feel about these blessings. Finish the page using any form of art and collage or doodling.

Visual journaling is a very creative and freeing way to pat yourself on the back, deal with difficult issues, and write down the important parts of your life. I hope you will give visual journaling a try.