My Favorite Art Journal Supplies
1. A Journal That Speaks to You: The first step in your art journaling supply kit adventure is finding the perfect journal, whether store-bought or handmade. Look for a notebook or sketchbook with thick, sturdy pages that can handle a variety of mediums. The journal you choose should resonate with you and make you excited to fill its pages with your creativity. TIP: I work in more than one at a time.
- Dylusions Journal Also find it on Blick
- Spiral Sketchbook or another good option that I use: Talens Sketchbooks on Blick
- Watercolor Journal or this Hand Book Paper Co. on Blick
- Composition Notebook – Be sure it is made in Vietnam. I pick mine up at my local Walgreens.
- Handmade Books and Journals – I have a unique handmade journal tutorial on my YouTube: Soft Spine Journal Tutorial. There are many other ways to make handmade journals from simple to more complex, or purchase one from your favorite artist. (I do sell some from time to time if you are interested in getting on my ‘first-to-know’ list)
Join the List for my Handmade Journals
2. Best Pens and Markers for Art Journaling and Mark Making: Keep it simple and grab a trusty black pen for outlines and some colorful markers for that pop. No need to break the bank. Build your art journal supply kit collection over time. I like a mix of waterproof and water-soluble mark-making tools.
- Uniball Air Also find it on Blick
- Faber Castell Pitt Pens Also find it on Blick
- Sakura Micron Fine Liners Also find it on Blick
- Uniball Signo White, Gold, and Silver
- Sharpie. You probably have one somewhere!
- Posca Paint Pens Buy them individually on Blick
- Elegant Writer Also find them on Blick – These are water soluable and are so fun to experiment with in an art journal or for sketching.
3. Pencils and Water Soluble Media – Your Sketchy Friends: Pencils and crayons- graphite and colored – are a must in an art journal supply kit for sketching and mark-making in creative journals. Some of my go-to’s are water-soluble crayons in my art journals. They can add some beautiful color and texture to your pages.
- Stabilo All Also find on Blick
- Derwent Inktense I recommend purchasing individually on Blick
- Caran D’Ache Neocolor II I recommend purchasing individually on Blick
- Stabilo Woodys I recommend purchasing individually on Blick
- Gelatos I recommend purchasing individually on Blick
- Dina Wakely Scribble Sticks
- Tim Holtz Distress Crayons Purchase individual sets on Blick
4. Paints – Acrylic and Watercolor: Acrylic paints are bold and versatile, while watercolors bring a dreamy vibe. A small inexpensive set of each in your art journal supply kit can make your pages pop with vibrancy. I am including a variety below and selecting them can be overwhelming. Start small and inexpensive and find what you like, then invest more as you grow your art journaling practice. White Gesso is essential in my opinion and can be used as your white paint.
- Gesso Also find on Blick
- Acrylic Craft Paint I like these matte paints from Blick (good starter paint)
- Acrylic Paint (So many options here!)
- Basic Set. Also purchase individual colors and sets on Blick
- Golden Fluid Fluorescent set Also purchase lots of colors on Blick
- Watercolor:
- Basic Starter
- Daniel Smith (this was my Daniel Smith starter set); Also find them individually on Blick
- Finetec Metallic Also find them on Blick
5. Other Medium: There are many other mark-making and painting supplies that don’t fit into a category, but I find them to be as essential in my art journal kit.
- China Marker Also find it on Blick
- Black Waterproof India Ink Also find it on Blick
- Acrylic Ink:
- Daler-Rowney Also find it on Blick
- Amsterdam Also find it on Blick
- Oil Pastels Also find it on Blick
- Chalk Pastels Also find on Blick
- Tempera Paint Sticks Also find on Blick
- Tim Holtz Distress Oxide and Spray Stain (Warning: this can be a rabbit hole you can’t come back from
) Also find these on Blick
6. Adhesive Magic: Finding the right adhesive for your art journal can be overwhelming. I find I like certain adhesives for certain jobs in my mixed media projects. These are the must-haves for my art journals, but I continue to experiment and will update as I find new ones that you should try.
- UHU Glue Stick Also find it on Blick
- Matte Medium
- Liquitex Gel Medium Also find on Blick
- Reptile Glue + Needle Nose Bottles
- Yes! Paste. Also find on Blick
- Fabritac Also find on Blick
- Tapes
- Book Binding Tape
- Gummed Kraft Paper Tape
- Washi Tape: (There are many designs and styles to try and can be found many places)
7. Brushes – The Stroke of Genius: Get the right brushes for your painting adventures. Whether it’s small detail brushes or broader strokes, having a variety can make all the difference. Some of these can also be an investment, so experiment with the more inexpensive brushes in your art journaling supply kit before diving in. If you are serious about watercolor, I highly recommend better brushes. It makes a huge difference to those mixed media projects.
- Black Velvet Round Watercolor Brushes Also find these on Blick
- Inexpensive Assorted Brushes or These; Also find some on Blick
- Cheap Chip Brushes Pick these up at any discount or hardware store
- Mop Brush: Mop Brush on Blick
- Round Brushes on Blick
- Flat Brushes on Blick
- Spotter Brushes on Blick
- Other Various Brushes on Blick
- Sumi Calligraphy Brushes
- Catalyst Wedge Also find on Blick
8. Paper – The Foundation of Creativity: Explore different papers and collage materials to use in your art journaling projects. Smooth, textured, or even handmade—find what complements your style and mediums. For collage, anything goes! From magazine pages, book pages, fabric scraps, and junk mail, collect what you love to see visually and resonates with your mixed media style to add a personal touch to your art journals.
- Watercolor Paper (9×12) Also find it on Blick
- Sketch Paper (18×24) Also find it on Blick
- Mixed Media Paper (11×14) Also find it on Blick Amazon
- Wet Strength Tissue Paper
- Tea Bag Paper
- Rice Paper
- Tracing Paper Also find it on Blick
9. Miscellaneous Tools and Supplies – The Extras: For those odds and ends that elevate your art journaling kit game. Think rulers, cutting tools, or any other fun ways to elevate your art journaling and mixed media practice.
- Gelli Plate Also find on Blick
- Speedball Brayer Also find on Blick
- Stencils Many to choose from!
- Stamps again, many to choose from here.
- Ink pads
- Metal Ruler
- Scissors – Use what you have but these smaller scissors are great for fussy cutting
- Heat Gun (or use a hair dryer)
10. Bookbinding Supplies – Bind It Beautifully: If you’re into creating your own journals, stock up on bookbinding essentials. From needles and bookbinding thread, it’s all about making your DIY handmade art journal uniquely and creatively yours.
- This is a great inexpensive Starter Kit
- Bookbinding Thread
- Beeswax if you want to use embroidery or other thread
Other Optional Supplies:
- Sewing Machine
- Small Spray Bottle for Water
- Stapler
- Masking Tape
- Security Envelopes and other found paper
- Book pages and old book covers
- Map pages
- Wooden chop stick, plastic fork, bubble wrap, and other mark-making items found in a junk drawer or headed to the trash bin.