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Art Journaling | 11 inspiring art journalers to follow on Instagram

Last updated on April 24th, 2022 • Art Journaling

Know you need to get back to your art journaling, but feel uninspired? Oh, you have a journal—but there it sits, collecting dust, mocking you with its unused pages. 

Maybe you are in a slump, and just don’t feel creative. The energy it would take to drag out your pens or paints and sit down to put something on a page feels overwhelming. It’s just too much. 

These experiences are common, but possible to overcome. What if all you need is a little inspiration? 

Something to spark your imagination and reignite your desire to play in your art journal. 

This list of 11 remarkable follows on Instagram will inspire you to pick up your journal and light up its pages with your own creativity. 

1. Follow @IllustratedJournal and create scenes from your daily life

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A post shared by Kathrin Jebsen-Marwedel (@illustratedjournal)

About @IllustratedJournal

Kathrin Jebsen-Marwedel works as a graphic designer in the marketing and PR department of a company in Kiel, Germany. She bought her first Moleskine pocket diary in 2001 and began to draw the most important happenings of every day, describing them with just a few words. She found that this was a nice way to start drawing again, since at first, she was drawing only for herself. She decided an illustrated journal worked better than a written journal, because when she browses through her Moleskines, she can see at a glance what she did that day.

Most used media? Watercolors, pencils, fineliners

Where to learn more from @IllustratedJournal You can find more of Kathrin’s work on Flicker or read more about her visual journaling practice in this interview.

2. Want to capture interesting characters on the fly? Follow @FelixScheinberger

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A post shared by Felix Scheinberger (@felixscheinberger)

About @FelixScheinberger

Felix Scheinberger lives in Berlin and is a professor at the Münster School of Design. Scheinberger has had an eclectic career; he was a drummer for many years, and has worked for multiple theatres. He has also illustrated over 50 books, and is the author and illustrator of Urban Watercolor Sketching. 

Most used media? Ink and watercolor

Where to learn more from @FelixScheinberger: He has a brilliant class on quick sketching and capturing your ideas with inks and watercolor on Domestika. Felix will have you try new processes that are quick to create a win in your art journaling pages.

3. Free your inner cartoonist and super hero by following @samaxamen

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A post shared by Samax Amen (@samaxamen)

About @SamaxAmen

Cartoonist, Samax Amen specializes in comics. While Amen provides illustration for all types of commercial work, he specializes in album artwork for musicians and has a thriving t-shirt business. One of the fun things about Samax’s journal is that when he’s not drawing digitally, he draws all the time on anything. Many of his amazing creations are on plain old notebook paper. 

Most used media? Markers and digital art

Where to learn more from @samaxamen: Samax coaches freelance artists through comic strips at Starving Artists Anonymous.

4. Capture the beauty of new places with @a.aradilla

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A post shared by Alicia Aradilla (@a.aradilla)

About @a.aradilla

Alicia Aradilla lives a nomadic lifestyle and travels the world. The diary she keeps of her journeys includes architecture, nature, food, cityscapes, and scenery. Her miniature watercolor paintings are expressive captures of the world she is discovering. 

Most used media? Watercolor

Where to learn more from @a.aradilla: Alicia teaches a wonderful (and affordable) course on travel journaling on Domestika. 

5. Coach yourself by drawing your emotions with @themaritzaparra

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A post shared by Maritza Parra (@themaritzaparra)

About @themaritzaparra

Maritza Parra is the creator of Heartwork Journaling. Maritza shares that after trying therapy and all kinds of self help, she turned inward with creative journaling and found her power. Her signature  process helps people feel better, gain clarity on their thoughts, and remove mental and emotional blocks. 

Most used media? Markers, ink, and watercolor

Where to learn more from @theMaritzaParra: You can find livestreams and coaching on Maritza’s website,  Heartwork Journaling.

6. Find internal beauty with @sevgispoetry

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A post shared by 𝓈𝑒𝓋𝑔𝒾 𝓀𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒽𝒶𝓈𝒶𝓃 ☾ (@sevgispoetry)

About @sevgispoetry

Sevgi Karahasan lives surrounded by the sea in Cyprus. She likes to view life as a journey of beautiful existence within any pain, exposing her feelings through her poetry and journaling. In addition to being a writer, she studies at the University of Hertfordshire to pursue her love for education.

Most used media? Watercolor and collage

Where to learn from @sevgispoetry: Sevgi has a “How to poem journal” tutorial on YouTube.  

7. Draw fun fab faces in your art journaling with @karencampbellartist

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A post shared by Karen Campbell, Artist (@karencampbellartist)

About @karencampbellartist

Karen Campbell is a full time multi-media artist, instructor, business owner, and author of 18 art-related books. She is the founder of Awesome Art School, where she teaches online creative courses to adults of all backgrounds and ages. Her courses can uplevel your art journaling in a very short amount of time.

Most used media? Alcohol markers, watercolor, graphite

Where to learn more from @KarenCampbellArtist: Take Karen’s Fun Fab Faces course and learn how to draw amazing female faces in about an hour. 

8. Add visuals to any type of journaling with @Cathy.Hutchison

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A post shared by CathyHutchison | VisualJournal (@cathy.hutchison)

About @cathy.hutchison

Cathy Hutchison was a stressed-out marketing executive who learned that carrying a journal everywhere helped her navigate overwhelm, manage tasks, and capture a steady stream of learning and ideas. Adding simple doodles to her journals engages the right side of her brain in what are normally left-brained tasks, which pays big dividends in processing concepts. 

Most used media? Ink, markers, and watercolor

Where to learn more from @Cathy.Hutchison: Take her How to Start and Keep a Visual Journal course to learn how to sketchnote along with tons of practical applications for making your art journal part of your daily life. Use coupon code IG20 for 20% off the course. 

9. Find inspiration in the present moment with @jesamine_creates

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A post shared by Jvtotañes sketching (@jesamine_creates)

About @ jesamine_creates

The work of Jesamine Totañes is characterized by cheerful colors, and reflects her character. Whenever the weather is pleasant, she pulls out her markers to draw. Colorful sketches, made on location, easily capture the atmosphere of a moment, preserving memories. ⁣ Jesamine loves to share the story behind her sketches, and the paintings she then creates.

Most Used Media? Watercolor and acrylic markers

Where to learn more from @jesamine_creates: Jesamine teaches viewers how to Urban Sketch with great tips on what to make, the subject, color combination, and the use of different materials. Find even more from Jesamine on her YouTube channel.

10. Capture urban life with @mysquiggles

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A post shared by Alena Kudriashova (@mysquiggles)

About @mysquiggles

Alena Kudriashova is an architect and an urban sketcher from Russia, currently based in Singapore. She uses her sketchbook to keep a record of places, events, people, and even weather and smells. She believes it is the most secure place for keeping memories and even has prints available through her Etsy store. 

Most used media? Ink and watercolor

Where to learn more from @mysquiggles: Alena shares “draw with me” videos on her YouTube channel so you don’t have to do your art journaling alone!

11. Mix beautiful lettering and sketches with @nienkevletter

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A post shared by Nienke Vletter | Illustrator (@nienkevletter)

About @Nienkevletter

Nienke Vletter is an illustrator who teaches workshops in illustration, sketching, and hand lettering.

Most used media? Markers and colored pencils

Where to learn more from @nienkevletter: Her current online courses are in Dutch, but you can sign up for her newsletter to find out when they will be released in English.  

Is your Instagram feed more inspiring now? 

Are your art journal pages feeling the love? Are other people’s ideas sparking your own and making you feel more creative? 

Say goodbye to that rut. Let your fingers dabble with inks and pages, and feel the joy of creating again. 

And if you ever feel a little low? Just click that Instagram icon on your phone for fresh inspiration. 

About Cathy Hutchison

Cathy Hutchison helps people get more joy, meaning, and freedom in a world of demands through the practice of visual journaling.

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Cathy helps people banish overwhelm,
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CathyHutchison | VisualJournal
I love my Mother's Day present! Thanks @bethutch ❤️#neocolor2 
There's something about a new set of crayons that is magical! (Plus if you see my most recent post, you can tell that I'm working with pieces parts big time!)
I'm re-reading @gregorymckeown 's Essentialism. I I'm re-reading @gregorymckeown 's Essentialism. I totally forgot about the chapter on our inner childq. So good. ​​​​​​​​
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Today I misread my calendar and got to my meeting Today I misread my calendar and got to my meeting spot an hour early. The angels must have known how much I needed to just sit and journal. ♥️ What a gift of unstructured time ​​​​​​​​
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When I'm given good advice, I have to write it dow When I'm given good advice, I have to write it down. #yourvisualjournal #journaling #artjournal #bujo
I have two sets of @Tombow brush markers. The firs I have two sets of @Tombow brush markers. The first is the Dual. It has a thin marker at one end and a juicy brush marker at the other. It is so fun to play with and probably my favorite when it comes to serious sketchnoting. ​​​​​​​​
The other set is the Tombow Fudenosuke. It's also brush, but smaller, thinner, and more portable. •​​​​​​​​
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When you add color and simple drawings to your jou When you add color and simple drawings to your journal it engages more parts of your brain. That makes the ideas easier to process and the information more engaging. ​​​​​​​​
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It feels great to be back with the @smpsdallas and It feels great to be back with the @smpsdallas and @smpsftworth people today​​​​​​​​
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1. Open your journal.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 2 1. Open your journal.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2. Pick up your pen and journal a response to: "The story I most believe to be true is..." Don't overthink it. Go with your gut and write stream of consciousness. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3. Leave space to draw a little doodle to go beside your words.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
4. Feel happy in your heart that you journaled today.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Post your journal entry and tag me! I want to see!! •⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There is something about getting a gift that makes There is something about getting a gift that makes you feel seen and deeply understood. Like my friend who gave me a gift card to @starbucks this week so I could escape and create. ​​​​​​​​
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But if I pack up my journal and a few art supplies and escape to my local library or coffee shop, all I do is create. It’s the only thing there to do. ​​​​​​​​
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My tools are laid out on the table. ​​​​​​​​
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My life—just like your life—is full of demands. ​​​​​​​​
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Capturing a couple of hours of freedom restores my soul. ​​​​​​​​
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Having someone notice and help me prioritize that? Well, that’s the most special kind of friend. <3​​​​​​​​
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My new practice is trying to capture people I see My new practice is trying to capture people I see in public places. True story, while I was drawing these two teens, I hadn't gotten very far when they came over to tell me how cool it was that I was drawing in a coffee shop. ​​​​​​​​
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Being part of @samaxamen s fan club includes cool Being part of @samaxamen s fan club includes cool real random printed delivered-in-the-mail perks!!! #arteveryday #cartoon
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Disclosures

Some links on this site are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The author receives a  small (really small) commission if you happen to buy something.  Funds are used to support journaling supplies & four crazy sweet Aussies who bark for treats every time I come in the door. (To be fair, I have a pattern of giving in to them.) I write about all kinds of journaling, and if Bullet Journaling is your thing, I’m here to support you. But if you want to go deep, go to the original source–Ryder Carroll, who created the system, and started it all at bulletjournal.com. I use the method daily which is why I started writing about it here.
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