What is a visual journal?
A visual journal is a personal journal that uses images as well as, or instead of, words to record thoughts, places and everyday experiences. Pages can include drawings, paint, collage, stamps, found paper and handwriting in any mix you like.
It differs from a sketchbook in purpose. A sketchbook is often for practicing drawing. A visual journal is more about recording and reflecting, so a page can be a messy collage and still do its job. If you prefer writing-led journaling, a visual journal can sit beside it as a different way to capture the same days.
Visual journal examples to try
These are common formats. Each works on a single page or a two-page spread, and none requires strong drawing skills.
On-location sketches
Take a pocket sketchbook and a black pen to a cafe, park or street and draw what is in front of you. Add a few colored pencils or markers if you like. Write the place and date in a corner. The aim is a quick record of a moment, not an accurate drawing.
A map of a walk
Draw a rough map of a neighborhood walk on one side of the spread. On the opposite page, tape a found item such as a ticket stub or a pressed leaf and add a line or two of text about what you noticed.
Daily or travel log
Collect small flat items from your day, such as receipts, tickets, packaging or a sticker, and glue them in. Label each with a few words. Over a trip or a week, the page becomes a visual diary that is quick to make.
Grid or checkerboard doodles
Divide a page into small squares and fill each one with a different shape, pattern, color swatch or small face. This is a low-pressure way to test pens and paints, and it pairs well with the ideas in our doodle journal ideas for beginners.
Collage spreads
Cut images, words and textures from magazines or scrap paper. Arrange them around a theme such as a mood, a season or a goal before gluing them down. Add a sentence or title when you are finished. A collage built around a goal is the idea behind a vision board journal.
Altered-book pages
Use a secondhand hardback as the base. Prepare pages with a coat of gesso or by gluing a few pages together, then layer paint, clippings and handwritten notes on top. Because the book already exists, there is no blank page to be afraid of.
Color-and-mood pages
Choose three or four colors that match how you feel and make shapes, washes or patterns with them. Add a single word if you want. This works well when you cannot find words for a feeling. If you also want somewhere to get feelings out in words, see vent notebook ideas.
Lists, collections and inventories
Draw or paste a collection of things: what is in your bag, the mugs in your kitchen, the birds you saw this month. Simple labels turn it into a record you will enjoy rereading.
Supplies you actually need
You can begin with very little.
- A journal or sketchbook. Mixed-media paper is a sturdier choice if you plan to use wet media such as paint or glue. Thin paper may wrinkle or show through.
- A pen. A black fineliner or ballpoint is enough for outlines and notes.
- Color. Colored pencils, markers or a small watercolor set. Choose one or two, not all.
- Glue stick and scissors. For collage and found items.
- Scrap paper. Old maps, magazines, packaging and envelopes all work.
Test any wet supply on the back of a page or a spare sheet first. If you are choosing a notebook, think about paper weight and whether ink bleeds through; our journal supplies list covers the basics.
How to start your first page
- Pick one small subject. A cup of tea, the view from your window or today’s weather.
- Set a short timer. Ten to fifteen minutes keeps the pressure low.
- Layer in steps. Draw or paste first, add color second, and write last.
- Add context. Put the date and place somewhere on the page so you can place it later.
- Stop when the timer ends. An unfinished page still counts.
Visual journal prompts
- Draw something within arm’s reach without looking at the paper much.
- Record three things you saw today as small pictures.
- Make a page about a color you noticed.
- Illustrate a song lyric, a line from a book or a phrase you overheard.
- Draw your morning routine as a row of small icons.
- Create a self-portrait using only shapes.
Many people like to keep a hand-lettered title on each page. Our guide to journal lettering styles for headings has simple options.
Tips for keeping the habit going
- Keep the kit small and visible. A pen and a pocket notebook are easier to reach for than a full art box.
- Do not edit or tear out pages. Pages you dislike often become the ones you learn the most from.
- Mix media gradually. Add one new material at a time so you learn how it behaves.
- Combine with other journals. A visual page can sit next to a book log from our reading journal ideas or hold sketches alongside notes from a writer’s notebook.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be good at drawing?
No. A visual journal is a personal record, so a simple, wobbly drawing that captures a moment does its job. Skill tends to grow with regular use, but it is not a requirement for starting.
What is the difference between a visual journal and an art journal?
The terms overlap and people use them differently. In general, a visual journal leans toward recording daily life through images, while an art journal often focuses more on expressive or experimental art. Either can include text.
How often should I make a page?
There is no standard. Some people make a page daily, others weekly. A short, regular session is usually easier to maintain than occasional long ones.
Can I use a regular notebook?
Yes, as long as the paper handles your materials. Dry media such as pens and pencils work on most paper. For paint or heavy glue, look for thicker pages or prepare them first.