Art Journal to Explore Feelings

The exploration of feelings is a deep exercise where more than one feeling is associated. Because more than one feeling will be explored, it is important to spread this art journal prompt beyond just one sitting. Unless, of course, a large block of time is available to the mixed media artist or it is scheduled ahead of time. It is also important to dedicate more than one page spread in your art journal to this prompt.

For this mixed media art journal prompt, you will need the following materials:

• Art journal
• Waxed paper
• Acrylic or watercolor paint
• Paint or sponge brushes
• Small containers of water
• Collage materials
• Heavy-duty glue stick
• Pieces of loose-leaf paper
• Ballpoint pen
• Ultra-fine black sharpie
• Different colored construction or craft paper
• Scissors (straight edge, decorative edge, or both)
• Straight edge ruler

Follow these simple instructions to complete this mixed media art journal prompt:

1. Open your art journal to the first blank page spread. Place a piece of waxed paper behind each page in the spread to protect the rest of the pages in the art journal.
2. Create a color wash either with watercolor or acrylic paint. Choose colors that are conducive to the feelings associated with the page spread you are working with. For example, feelings of anger would have darker colors while feelings of harmony would have earth tones. Allow the page spread to dry completely. Speed up the drying time through use of a heat gun or hair dryer.
3. Cut the pieces of colored paper into 2.5 x 3.5 inch rectangles. Again, choose colors that match the theme of the feeling associated with the page spread. Affix these to random areas of the page spread using the heavy-duty. Keep them straight; attach them at an angle, or however you would like them to be. There are no rules here.
4. Add collage elements to each rectangle using the heavy-duty glue stick. Try to keep a small boarder of color showing around each collage. These collages can be planned, or they can be random. The choice is yours.
5. Tear the loose-leaf paper into 2.5 x 3.5 rectangles. (Option: add walnut distress ink to the edges to create dimension when they are added to the page spread.) Using the ballpoint pen, write out all your thoughts associated with the feeling you are exploring. Fill as much of the rectangles as possible with text.
6. Layer the loose-leaf rectangles slightly over the collages created on the colored paper using the heavy-duty glue stick. Be sure all the edges are secured firmly so nothing peels up or falls off.
7. Using the black ultra-fine sharpie, write out additional thoughts associated with this feeling on the painted areas of the page spread. Fill as little or as much as you need to completely explore this feeling. Do not worry about how neat or messy your handwriting is. Neatness does not count.

Repeat this art journal prompt until you have completely explored all of your feelings. If you choose not to add text, replace it with additional collages and assemblage associated with the feeling that is on your mind. If you would rather focus on text more than art, use milk-gel pens to write out thoughts on the colored paper. The idea is to get these feelings out and understand them using mixed media art, so do this in a way that is most comfortable for you.

Print Article

Email Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds