How to start an illustrated journal

Desiring to draw and actually beginning has an element of procrastination that lingers far longer than I would like..selecting a sketchbook was equally daunting…so I started drawing small sketches on envelopes from mail that arrived at my home, I used the reverse side of grocery receipts and the unused side of my grocery list…even small ‘sticky’ notes and junk mail with sufficient white space….trying this for a month…my way of launching a drawing habit :)

Hollie talks about the "need to create" and I totally get that. Drawing, sewing, knitting, writing; I'm always creating. My husband on the other hand? Couldn't care less. It's so interesting to me how some of us just need to create while others don't feel the urge whatsoever!

I kept an illustrated journal during the pandemic when we still lived in Phoenix. I sketched every room in our house from multiple angles, exterior views of our house, self-portraits, sketches of my husband, zoom mtgs from work and lock down meet ups, our dogs, the feral cats, and pretty much anything. I typically made notations of whatever was on my mind. It was very therapeutic.

I have not long started my “later in life” art journal. Years ago, I had started one of what I could remember of my childhood. The sketches I did, were fun. I attempted to keep my vignettes upbeat, even though it was written about the years after the second world war. In the end, the local newspapers approached me to put them in the paper every week. which seemed to go down well with their readers. I wrote and sketched for them for seven years. Such fun.

I tried to bullet journal in 2020 for the first time, but not like others. It ended up being more a record of what happened that year. I drew face masks, prisoners being let out of jail, murder hornet's, lightning, forest fires, etc. Crazy year.

This is an awesome interview, I love more people talking about the variety of ways that there are to keep a journal. There are no rules, but sometimes we forget that. If you are more word strong, go that route. If you are more of a visual person, try a "glue book" route. If you can't help but draw, grab the tools you are most feeling and go to town! I happen to have one book that I do all three in! One day I'm more of a writer, other days I just want to brain dump my images. You do you, it's for your eyes anyway.

"Sharing is a boomerang, & you get stuff back when you put it out there." 🧡

I liked this video. It was nice to see a regular person talk about their art journey and share. I would like more of these type of interview videos 😁.

I started this recently, so far it mainly consists of different coffee cups, lol. Great way to record your daily life 😊☕️

While I was watching this, I picked up a Pentel gel pen and small notepad from my desk and did my first drawing! A cafetiere next to me on my table. It's recognisable at least, so I'm going to do my damnedest to do a small drawing every day, until I find a nice journal to work with. Thankyou!

I really enjoyed this video. I am still fairly new to "illustrated life" journaling. I've kept a written diary for close to 50 yrs. Often little sketches appeared within, but not often. I've never really seen a purpose to drawing my meals, etc. Drawing nature is the exception. I wish I still had many of the little "zine" style drawings ( trace a credit card and draw within) little wonders I find on hikes. My dragabout has a mixture of writing and art, even atrocious art. LOL! I am a constant motion type person, my hands are rarely still, too. Thank you, Hollie, really enjoyed your share of sketches!

My daughter wants to be an artist but I didn't know how to support her as classes aren't readily available in our area. This is a great idea to start where you are and easy to gain inspiration from as no same day is the same for a little girl . Thanks !

Thank you! I have started drawing because of your videos , its not good but I do pick up the pen everyday

Everyone of your videos is like a fireside chat. Thank you for these 🎨

I love watching this channel while I eat. Your voice is so comfortable and the conversation is so entertaining, the type you just sit back and listen to.

I have a separate sketchbook for my art and a scrapbook journal, but this is a really interesting approach to documenting your life! I also love your insight about sharing and creating connection!

I started doing this a month ago, on a vacation. I'm trying to keep going (although back at home life is a bit less dramatic than a vacation). It's really fun and interesting.

Here we go again…another wonderful reminder. I love to write and to draw and I’ve done it when nite taking at conventions but why didn’t I do this years ago as a journal? I think this is my ticket too, it will feel good on so many levels. Infinite thanks 🙏🏻 ❤

It's funny, Hollie mentioned picking up a journal and never being able to finish it and I've always been the same way with both journals and sketchbooks. I've always kept to independent drawings and keeping them in a binder. Over Covid though, I began keeping a sketch journal after discovering junk journaling while diving into sketchbook tours. Now I keep a sketchjournal that is exploding at the seams with ephemera. I keep mine personal unless I'm showing off specific pages. I journal about relationships, and very deep emotions while I'm working through things, but I also sometimes draw what I've been eating. It's a tossup whether the next page is going to be a drawing of a chocolate bar or maybe a sex pun. Maybe the chocolate bar is involved IN the pun? You never know LOL. But I'm two books in and I've never felt more comfortable than I do in the illustrated journal experience.

I still remember when I stumbled upon your book so many years ago. It truly inspired me. And I’m about to take it up again. ❤