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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Reader Interactions