Art Journaling for Mental Health

Art is known to have a great impact on one’s mental health. So why should Art Journaling be any different?

Art journaling is an effective way to combine mindfulness with creativity. It’s not about creating perfect art rather, its about expressing your thoughts, emotions and experiences through colours, shapes and words.

This post is all about Art Journaling for Mental Health.

How do you start Art Journaling?

I personally, like to have fresh flowers when I journal or make art. There is something about fresh flowers that reminds you to be gentle and slow. The weather in November is usually rainy. This coupled with the fresh flowers and art journaling makes me feel cosy. If music is what you prefer, then listening to your favourite songs can help set the mood.

What does Art Journaling do for us?

Art journaling is a way to slow down, be present and connect to your inner self.

• It provides a creative outlet to express emotions and thoughts, which can be incredibly therapeutic.

• It helps in reducing stress and anxiety by allowing you to focus on the present moment.

• Through art journaling, you can explore your inner thoughts and feelings.

• This process of self reflection can lead to greater self awareness and personal growth.

Art journaling is a form of practicing mindfullness. It requires you to be present and fully engaged in the activity.

Usually, I do not plan the pages. Rather, I allow myself to simply go with the flow and have fun. This can help in cultivating a sense of calm and focus. It also serves as a visual diary, preserving memories in a unique and personal way.

For me, its a way to document my journey and look back on my progress.

Art Journaling Techniques

There are different journaling techniques such as watercolours, doodling, collage etc

• Combining highlights with water colours and gold detailing pens is what I usually choose. Every piece of art is a reflection of your inner journey.

• Doodling is an amazing way to express creativity and relax the mind. It involves drawing simple and spontaneous patterns, often without a specific goal in mind.

• Begin with basic shapes and lines. Practice drawing circles, squares and rectangles. And then combine them to create more complex designs.

• Another trick is to ‘wash’ your blank page and add diluted water colours, they will spread more fluidly.

• You could create textures by using salt. Sprinkle some salt on the still damp colours and wait for them to dry.

• You can use simple household items to create shapes. By using differnt artistic methods, one can produce unique and dynamic pages, that reflect their individual style and artistic journey.

In an ever changing world, it provides a space to process emotions, reduce stress and practice mindfullness.

It’s important to carve out some time when one is not in a hurry. I often find Friday or Saturday nights to be perfect for a little me-time, once the kids are in bed.

The most important thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong way to art journal. Just let your creativity flow and enjoy the process.

If this post resonated with you I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop me a line in the comments and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.