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Peek Inside a Journal | Kathrin Jebsen-Marwedel

Last updated on August 14th, 2021 • Peek inside a Journal

Isn’t it fun to look inside other people’s journals?

Kathrin Jebsen-Marwedel is a graphic designer in marketing and PR in Kiel, Germany. She is also the creative spark behind @IllustratedJournal on Instagram where she has over 24,000 followers–with good reason. Her journal is fascinating.

Kathrin is one of the first people I started following on Instagram when I realized other people were posting their journals there. She really stretched my imagination as to what was possible in a journal.

In this interview, Kathrin gives us a behind the scenes glimpse at how she approaches her personal journaling practice.

When did you start journaling? 

I’ve been writing a diary for a long time, but it wasn’t until 2001 that I started to illustrate my diaries. I had bought a Moleskine Pocket Diary as an appointment calendar and started making little sketches of the day’s events. I liked that because it made it much easier for me to find certain entries. Better than flipping through pages of text.

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

How has journaling impacted you? What has it meant to you? 

I loved doing these little drawings. For a long time I hadn’t painted or drawn, I had lost the desire to do so during my studies. In my diary, I had the option of just drawing for myself, and it didn’t matter what the result was. The memory was important to me. Over the years the drawings got better, and I discovered on flickr that other people are also using their Moleskine books as an illustrated diary. I signed up there and started showing my diary pages on flickr. This created an inspiring exchange that motivated me a lot.

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

Tell us about your personal set up? What type of journal and tools do you use? 

I still use the Moleskine Pocket Diary in the size 9×14 cm. The paper is actually very unsuitable for watercolors, but I use them most often. The paper does curl a bit, but that doesn’t bother me. I use pencils and fineliners for the preliminary drawings.

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

When do you find time to journal? 

Actually, I think it’s best to draw before work. But since I started working around 6 a.m., I couldn’t do it anymore. So I usually paint in the afternoons and evenings. I always leave the painting supplies on my kitchen table so that I can continue at any time. Unfortunately, I rarely manage to paint a picture in one go.

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

Do you go back through old journals? How often do you review? 

Every now and then I leaf through old journals, but there are now so many that I don’t get to them too often.

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

The more you draw, the better you get over time. Learn to love your own style.

Kathrin Jebsen-Marwedel

What advice do you have for people just getting started? 

The simplest trick is: just do it. Many think they cannot draw. But it doesn’t matter, you can start with stick figures. You shouldn’t measure yourself against others and think: “I can never do it that well!”, but try first and foremost to have fun drawing. The more you draw, the better you get over time. It’s hard to break free from comparisons with others, but I think it’s an important realization that you paint the way you paint and you won’t paint the way someone else paints. That doesn’t mean you can’t get tips from others to develop further. But you shouldn’t try to paint the way someone else paints, but learn to love your own style.

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

Where can people connect with you to learn more?

I am most active on Instagram, where I am always happy to receive comments, criticism and questions. 

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

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,
boost creativity 🎨
and reconnect with their ♥️
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I realized that now that I'm a grown up I could just buy it. 

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I love learning about the authentic fascinations o I love learning about the authentic fascinations of the people in my world. The obscure hobbies they love. The ideas they just can't stop thinking about. The things they pour time (and money) into for no reason except that it gives them joy .

As you jump into 2023, I highly recommend purchasing a #notebook that you can take with you everywhere to feed this part of your life . Write down your inspirations. Capture ideas. Develop thoughts by reviewing them periodically. (And definitely scribble doodles in the margins--that's an important part.)

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I just did my 2022 annual review—a practice I le I just did my 2022 annual review—a practice I learned from @michalroots . 

As one part of this, I wrote the sentences that jumped out at me from my 2022 journals as I went page by page. It left me with a sense of what the year was about and gave me an appreciation for the incredible beauty of friends, creativity, inspiration, and big ideas. 

I also looked at my vision board to see what happened, and what didn’t. For the things that didn’t happen, I gave some heart time to figure out the level that I actually want them (and learned it was low.) The things that happened had a lot of desire behind them. (It was an interesting thing to observe.) 

If you want to take Michal’s course, DM him for the link. I found it a valuable process that I will continue going forward.
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Do you create a #visionboard each year? The latest Do you create a #visionboard each year? The latest post at YourVisualJournal.com dives into how to create one in your journal. #journaling #artjournaling
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Brush markers are easy to use, and putting a few d Brush markers are easy to use, and putting a few doodles at the bottom of your todo list makes it more engaging for your brain. This whole thing was quick to draw. (Mostly circles, a rectangle, and a few lines.) Coloring in with #brushmarkers was fast and easy. 

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Artistry is a practice. 🎨 Creating some magic i Artistry is a practice. 🎨 Creating some magic in my journal with my #tombow brush markers #artjournal #yourvisualjournal #bulletjournal
While I love color, the power of a simple black an While I love color, the power of a simple black and white spread is delightful to me. #brushmarker #tombow
I was never the kid who drew all the time, but aft I was never the kid who drew all the time, but after 15 years of visual journaling I've fallen in love with cartoons. #yourvisualjournal #artjournaling #cartoons
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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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