Art Journal Page Layouts and Ideas With Steps

Collage idea 1: Pick a black and white image and paint a colorful background. Because the image is black and white, you can go crazy with background colors. Then glue the image down and you’ll create a stunning effect without too much effort or a lot of mess.

Collage idea 2: Take a magazine image of a woman and collect other clippings like flowers, letters, animals. Then stick the clippings on the image so it looks like she’s wearing them. You can create the background before gluing anything down. In the end, add some doodles.

Collage idea 3: You can make your own paper bits for collaging. Maybe sketch a face or a plant, cut them out and glue them together on a page. You can create dresses like I did I the image below. Go nuts and add hats, earrings, arms, all from paper scraps.

Mixed media art journal pages

For mixed media, you’ll usually need more supplies and things can get messy. But it’s so much fun making these pages. Mixed media lets you experiment a lot without expecting everything to be perfect.

Mixed media layout 1: On this spread below, I used a magazine image, but also a lot of paint, stencils, stamps, markers, paper scraps. This page has a lot of layers and I love that! Try creating at least 3 different layers and see where that takes you. Try blending the image into the background.

Tip: start the first layer by covering the page with paper scraps.

Mixed media layout 2: Use relief paste on your pages and create a texture. This is true mixed media work here :D. If you have this paste and a stencil, use them together to create a lifted/textured effect. Then paint over it with watercolor. You’ll love it.

Mixed media layout 3: Here’s another one with relief paste. I had one in gold and made this butterfly. I glued an image, some paper cut-outs, added text and stenciling. See how mixed media allows you to use so many things together?

Minimalist art journal pages

If mixed media or crazy collage isn’t your jam, you can try minimalistic approach. Use fewer supplies, leave a lot of blank/white space. On these pages, you can use a lot of doodling, sketching, you can glue small things down. And, don’t use layers if they frighten you.

Minimalist page idea 2: You can use your own photos and dedicate a page to that moment or memory. Make a simple watercolor blob, glue the photo down, add some doodles, a short text or a quote. You can also pin the image down using washi tape, as I did in the image below.

Minimalist page idea 3: One of my favorite ways to make a page is to use old book papers. Then, I add some white paint and later write a quote on it. I may add a small image or a sticker. Below, you’ll see I even used washi tape.

Pages with interactive elements

You can get really creative by thinking outside the box and adding some interaction to your pages.

Play with mood board layouts

When I have no ideas but I still want to be creative, I make mood boards in my art journal. For this, you’ll need a lot of materials, clippings, paint, etc. And, the most important thing is that you don’t expect a certain result, you just collect your inspiration and ideas in one place.

Mood board layout 1: In the image below, I use the colors I liked, some images, glued them down randomly and added some doodles, words, etc. This page can later inspire me for anything: from color choices to images.

Mood board layout 2: This is also one of my mood boards. I painted the background in the colors I liked, then added all the images and words that inspire me. I love the freedom this kind of process gives me.

Mood board layout 3: You can also create a vision board in your art journal. Use one page, a spread or the whole journal for this. Choose up to 5 photos that represent your dreams. Add words, really express yourself here.

I love the mindfulness and the self-focus this gives me. And the daydreaming…awww…it always brightens my mood.

Play with geometry & shapes

You can have so much fun with geometry and shapes in your art journals. Geometry creates balance, focus, it’s neat (for all my nerds out there), and can be super magical with watercolors.

Geometry layout idea 1: In the image below, you can see I used different rulers to make a geometrical design. I used a waterproof pen for this, because I added watercolor later. You can paint with watercolor first, and then draw shapes. Let your imagination flow with this technique.

Geometry layout idea 2: On the spread below, I played with circles and used only acrylic paint and pens. The texts are actually lyrics from my favorite band. Plus, some doodles, and voila!

Geometry layout idea 3: Or, add shapes with watercolor and then doodle over that. I always have so much fun with these simple pages and they turn out to be the cutest.

Create with nature

Nature is an endless source of inspiration and you can include it on your pages. For example, you can draw and paint flower, landscapes, use actual flowers on your pages, copy the colors from nature, etc.

Nature inpired layout 2: Draw flowers on your pages, add loose watercolor and you’ll have an amazing piece of art there. You can sketch or draw real flowers or from your imagination.

Nature inspired layout 3: I created this spread thinking about how I can be more mindful and focus on myself rather than on art-making or a result. So, nature inspired again. The tree leaves represent letting go of things I don’t want anymore in my life. So, it’s a nice mix of nature, self-discovery, and art.

Cut some papers in the shape of leaves, branches and a tree. I use scrapbook paper for this. Make an acrylic background and glue the pieces down. Write on the leaves what you’re letting go of.

Create interesting backgrounds as pages

Creating backgrounds can help you learn techniques, color choices, color mixing, and even composition. Why not give it a try?

Background layout 1: Here’s one of my favorite backgrounds created with acrylic paint and finger smudging. And that’s all. I added the circles with a creme container, but this can be done with toilet paper rolls, too. Finally, I used a brush filled with paint to add some whitee sprinkles.

But the best part was using my fingers for smudging and having fun like a child. That’s priceless.

Background layout 2: In the similar way, you can create a galaxy. It’s very easy, you just need a dish sponge and acrylic paint, and a toothbrush for creating mist. Blend colors (black, blue, pink, yellow, purple) with the sponge until you’re satisfied. Then, create mist with a toothbrush and white acrylic paint.

Background layout 3: On the spread below, I used a dish sponge and a stencil with letters. Plus, red and yellow acrylic paint. And that’s it! It takes some blending and drying, but it’s very easy and this background can stand by itself. And later, when inspiration strucks, and you find a great image that works so good on this background, build on it.

Use quotes, poems, and lyrics

When you want somthing simple and son’t have much time, just using words can lead you to beautiful pages without too much effort.

Layout with words 1: Here, I used watercolor and a poem by William Blake. Easy-peasy. If you don’t like your handwriting, you can type the text on your computer, print it out, and glue it down.

Layout with words 2: Again, some watercolors, stamps, and a quote. You can combine making simple backgrounds and adding a quote that inspires you. I have a whole art journal dedicated to quotes.

Make abstract pages

You can make abstract art journal pages by experimenting with colors, shapes, and composition. Drawing patterns can help with this (think: mandalas).

Abstract idea 1: Here, I played with watercolor rectangles. Paint one by one letting the previous rectangle dry. Later, you can add doodles or even words. But, the page itself is abstract and is cute. You can use any kind of paint for this.

Draw and paint faces

When you include faces on your pages, magic happens. Those don’t have to be realistic faces. You’ll learn faster and more easily if you try drawing whimsical faces. If that’s too difficult for you, there are many face stamps available and you can use those.

Face layout idea 1: For example, in the image below, I used Jane Davenport face stamps, some stencils, watercolor and ink pads. I love this idea while it lets me play without worrying how to draw faces.

Face layout idea 2: You can practice only drawing faces on your pages, without backgrounds, and paint them with watercolor or markers. In the image below, I painted this girl with Ohuhu alcohol markers. It’s a learning process, but once you figure things out, it’s totally worth it.

Face layout idea 3: Aaaand, Jane Davenport has wonderful stencils for face drawings. I used one to make a page below. Pink background, pink cheeks, some journaling, and you’ll have a wonderful page.

Storytelling with your pages

You don’t have to use words to be good at storytelling. That’s why we love art journaling, right? So, you can use your imagination and create messages or stories with your art.

Storytelling layout 1: In the image below, I combined the girl and the celestial elements. For me, this says: I’m reaching to the sky, to the moon, I’m developing, I’m growing, I’m looking for inspiration. Every person will experience a story differently. But it’s important to you what you have to say.

Choose an image that represents you, and add other elements, while combining them, you tell a story, a hope, an idea, a dream.

Storytelling layout 2: In this example, the story is communication, finding the lost self, helping, rescuing, on a spiritual level. You can create a story easily with collage. Gather some images and put them in connection to each other. Create communication between elements. You can’t make a mistake here.

So, which layout will you try first?

I hope you now have plenty of ideas to work in your art journal. You can try and make similar pages to the ones I’ve shown you above. But I hope you’ll be inspired to create something completely unique to you.