Common Art Supplies for Mixed Media Visual Journals

Mixed media visual journaling includes the use of a number of different supplies. The supplies will vary each time, depending on the techniques used for that session. You'll also gravitate toward your preferred supplies. For example, you may prefer acrylics over watercolor and will want to adjust your work in your journal accordingly.


The main point is that our use of the visual journal is a type of insight practice, and as such, you can adapt the practice to meet you where you are, with the materials you have available. It is remarkable what can unfold when you allow yourself to be relaxed, innovative and resourceful.


Below is a general list of art supplies and materials that may be used over the course of time. You do not need all these supplies when you begin. The list is offered here to give you a sense of what might be used and give you a heads up if you are able to gather these or see any of these supplies on sale.

Watercolors

Most people start with a basic set of watercolors but there are several types of watercolor media. When you're ready to expand your art supplies, you can pick up a few new types to play with.

  • Watercolor paints. It is helpful if you are able to get a finer grade of watercolor (better than Crayola) as the colors will be more vibrant and satisfying, but you don't need expensive watercolors. Winsor & Newton Cotman and Arteza are both good student grade watercolor brands. In general, watercolors are more transparent (but can still be vibrantly colored). Gouache is also a water-based paint but it has more opacity (less transparency) than traditional watercolors. Watercolor and gouache come in both pans and tubes. If you're unsure which to choose, start with the pan sets to keep it simple. Tubes will need a little more care.
  • Watercolor pencils. Derwent Inktense are popular and richly pigmented, but there are many good watercolor pencil brands. Even IKEA's colored pencils are water-soluble and will work in a pinch.
  • Watercolor (water-soluble) markers. Tombow, Caran d'Ache, and Kuretake water-soluble markers are quite popular. Crayola Super Tips are also water-soluble, but will fade quickly.
  • Watercolor inks. Watercolor inks are intensely pigmented so a little drop can go a long way. I've used these to make rich backgrounds on my journal spreads that fill me with joy. I use Ecoline and Daler-Rowney, but there are a lot of good brands out there. Watercolor inks come in bottles with droppers and also spray bottles.
  • Watercolor crayons/sticks/pastels. Ah, so many great watercolor options! These materials can be used like crayons or pastels, but when you apply water to them they will melt into liquid wonder. There are a number of ways to use these media, so don't be afraid to play with them! Caran d'Ache, Faber-Castell, and so many other brands!


Acrylics

An advantage to using acrylics is that when they dry, they are permanent. For this reason, I often choose acrylics for making backgrounds. If you're new to acrylics and are looking to buy some, you'll notice there are three main categories of acrylics: heavy body, soft body, and fluid acrylics. Heavy body are thick like butter, giving excellent color. Soft (or medium) body acrylics are a good middle ground, with smooth blending and layering capabilities. Fluid acrylics have a consistency like heavy cream, allowing for a smooth, even application. High flow acrylics are even thinner than fluid acrylics, with an ink-like consistency, and are my favorite for art journaling.


Acrylics come in different levels of opacity: transparent, semi-transparent, and opaque. The tube or bottle should have an indicator letting you know which type of opacity it has.


  • Acrylic paints. As with most art supplies, there is a range in quality. Craft paints work just fine for art journaling, though I've found they don't mix well and may not have good coverage, but they can reduce the tendency for your pages to stick together after they've dried. I also use a variety of artist's brand acrylics ranging from student grade to professional. There can be quite difference in ease of use, richness of pigment, coverage, etc.
  • Acrylic inks. High flow acrylics also fit in this category. For art journaling, these are a great choice of medium. The colors are richly pigmented and are easy to paint or write with. Golden High Flow, Liquitex, Amsterdam, and Dr. Ph. Martin's are popular brands.
  • Matte medium. You can use matte medium in a wide variety of ways. If you have thicker acrylics, you can use matte medium to thin them down. You can use it over a thoroughly dried journal page to help reduce stickiness. Probably my most common use for it is as glue, especially for collage work. I think nearly all my spreads end up with a bit of matte medium on it somewhere.
  • Acrylic markers. Coming in a range of tips from fine to wide, round, and chiseled, acrylic markers can play an important role in art journaling. They can be used to paint lines, fill in areas, and write words. Start with 3 or 4 in both light and dark colors, and build from there. Posca is probably the most popular brand of acrylic markers, but I've had good success with Michael's house brand.


Misc. Items


  • Waterproof pen. With all the painting going on, you'll want a good permanent marker that can hold its own. There are a number of brands of waterproof pens, so a couple of things to look for is whether it is acid-free (that's good!) and lightfast. You'll probably use this pen to write with frequently. Note: common Sharpie markers are permanent however they are not lightfast and will fade over time.
  • Gel pens. You'll want a good quality white gel pen and most likely will eventually want a set of colored gel pens. You'll also want to look for acid-free and lightfast qualities.
  • Glue. I used white glue (like Elmers) for the longest time before graduating to matte medium. I also use glue sticks, YES paste, Nori paste, and acrylic matte medium. Different glues have different uses, and like all art materials, you'll develop a preference over time.
  • Scissors.
  • Color pencils. I would suggest avoiding the color pencils made for school children as they are often low-pigmented and hard to use, creating unnecessary frustration. There are a number of artist-grade color pencils in a wide range of prices.
  • Crayons.
  • Brushes. You'll want a variety of brushes, and can usually find a good beginner's set for around $10. For art journaling, you don't need to distinguish between watercolor or acrylic brushes. I mix/match them all the time and can't tell a difference when working on small scale like a journal.
  • Rags
  • A couple of jars to hold water
  • Palettes. If you use acrylics, tube paints of any kind, or want to mix colors, you'll want a few palettes. I most often use packaging materials for my palettes. For example, a friend of mine had a dog whose food came in small plastic containers. She saved them for me and I use them for palettes or for holding gesso or liquid glue. I also use packaging from herbs or anything with flat, clear plastic as palettes. While I try to avoid buying products with plastic packaging, at least I can use the packaging and avoid it going straight to landfill.
  • Gesso. I had never used gesso prior to art journaling and now I use it very often. Gesso comes in white, black, and clear, with a textural range of liquid to thick paste. Gesso is great for blocking out unwanted elements on your spread, or creating smooth transitions from collage items to backgrounds. It can also be used to create texture, or make slick collage items (like magazine cut-outs) receptive to other art mediums.
  • Collage images. You can find collage items everywhere: old books, magazines, internet images, family photos, maps, tickets, brochures, school papers, etc. You can even cut out words, headlines, quotes, or poems to use in your journal. Most art journalers end up keeping a few file folders or scrapbook boxes to help organize their images.


New insights and deeper growth through the visual journal.