I gotta tell ya, I love art journaling.
I never thought that would happen. I feel like some people begin their art journey with journaling, but it took me over 20 years to get around to it! And once I did, I had to share the process.
My journey teaching art journaling began with one of my Artist's Way courses just about a year ago. After keeping my own art journal, I realized that art journaling was the perfect companion to my Artist's Way Creativity Course. Not surprisingly, the students loved it! And I saw such benefits that I decided to add a stand-alone art journaling class to my schedule.
The classes start the classes in April, and because of covid, they have all been on Zoom so far. It turns out it was perfect timing; keeping an art journal is a great way to process the complex feelings so many of us have right now. And, there is a strong sense of much-needed community in these classes.
We meet each and every Thursday evening and create art around a topic that I've chosen. 
The image above is one of my favorite art journal pieces, created for the word faith. In the art journaling classes I demo a technique, then it's up to each student to interpret that word into her or his own art (or they can just follow me if they like.) 
How does this image represent faith? I guess that's up to you, the viewer, to decide.
Want to get started art journaling? It's easy - you don't need any fancy supplies. You don't even need a journal (although it's a good idea if you want to keep going with it.) Just grab what you've got: some combination of paper, pencils, markers, paint, glue, images (from magazines, junk mail, wrapping paper...)

​

Last year on a trip to Atlanta I found a burned piece of wood in a park. I thought it would make a good drawing tool, so I scooped it up (must have wrapped it in a napkin or something) and brought it all the way back to Denver, where I did this little sketch. 
I wasn't planning on sketching a woman and baby, it just sort of happened. But here's the thing; I don't think this particular sketch would have emerged if not for that particular piece of burnt wood that I picked up a thousand miles from home. 
It's interesting how a different drawing tool can influence one's art.