What else do I need?

Now that you have a journal, how do you get started?

Let’s take first about what you are using your journal for. Are you writing in it, sketching, painting? Obviously this influences what supplies you need. Let’s break it out…

• Writing and Journaling - look for a great pen. It does not have to be expensive, but find one that writes smooth. Also considers how easy it is to refill the ink. Does it dry fast enough to prevent smearing? If you are thinking of combining watercolor with your writing, look for a waterproof ink.

• Sketching - here you may want pencils. You can easily sketch with a #2 pencil. Make sure you buy a good pencil sharpener to keep handy. Above and beyond that, you start to get into the world of drawing pencils and colored pencils. Start with some basic supplies and you can always add on later.

• Painting - obviously you will need paint, but do you want to work in acrylic or watercolor? Both mediums have their own primer (gesso vs. watercolor ground), type of brushes and techniques. If you don’t have a preference, I usually lead new art journalers toward acrylic paints. Why? I find acrylic painting to be a little more forgiving when you are just starting. In acrylic painting, it is easier to layer your paints, even covering something you don’t like. As for paints, you can easily start with the $1 paints at a big box craft store.

• Collage - well, you need some paper and glue. What kind of papers? Take a trip around your house and look for magazines, scrapbook paper, paper bags…get creative. Magazines offer lots of collage material. Many of us don’t have magazine subscriptions anymore, but lots of libraries sell magazines for pennies. Plenty of us have scrapbook paper we meant to use one day. Maybe you received some junk mail with a cool photo on it. Anything that can be glued down is now your supply.

Time to gather up some supplies.