Beginner’s Guide to Digital Art Journaling

A comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to Digital Art Journaling.

Beginner’s Guide to Digital Art Journaling

What is Digital Art Journaling?

THE CREATIVE COMBINATION OF IMAGES AND WORDS WITH DIGITAL GRAPHICS YIELDS CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN HIGHLY PERSONALIZED JOURNAL PAGES USING PHOTO-EDITING SOFTWARE PROGRAMS.

• Images may include Photos, Drawings/Illustrations and Doodles, Scanned Images, Art Pieces and Documents, and Vintage Ephemera.
• Words are provided via WordART, Quotes, Poems, song Lyrics, Proverbs, Thoughts, and your personal Stories.
• Digital Graphics also known as Digital Designs, Digital Elements/Supplies, or DigitalART supplies.
• Creative Expression is the visual representation of Thoughts, Feelings, Experiences, or Creative Ideas.
• Photo-editing software is the computer program or platform you use to combine these components creatively.

Digital Art Journal Layouts: (1) Change by Eszter Baranyi, (2) Gentle Art by ViVre, (3) Dialing In My Goals by Miki Krueger

Why Start Art Journaling?

Art journaling offers a creative and therapeutic outlet for exploring and expressing the complexities of the human experience, whether used as a tool for self-care, personal growth, or healing from challenging life experiences.

1. THERAPEUTIC PRACTICE

• Mindfulness and relaxation: Art journaling allows you to focus on the present and the process of creating art can reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and cultivate a sense of calm.
• Emotional exploration and processing: Art journaling may help you visually represent emotions and experiences to gain insight and process experiences.
• Catharsis and release: Art journaling can help you release difficult emotions and stress constructively and therapeutically.

2. SELF EXPRESSION/REFLECTION

• Self-discovery and growth: Art Journaling may be used as a personal growth tool that enables you to learn about your beliefs and values.
• Freedom of expression: Art journaling encourages experimentation and creativity that allows for authentic artistic expression.
• Visual storytelling: Art journaling allows for visual narratives and may facilitate communication and the exploration of feelings in a non-verbal format.

3. CREATIVE OUTLOOK

• Playfulness and experimentation: Art journaling encourages the exploration of new materials, techniques, and ideas in the creative adventure.
• Embracing imperfection: Art journaling celebrates mistakes and ‘happy accidents’ as an inherent part of the creative process as opportunities for growth and discovery.
• Inspiration  Art journaling can become a source of inspiration leading to a wealth of ideas, insights, and discoveries.

Digital Art Journaling Layouts: (1) Ablaze by Viv Halliwell, (2) Life Art by Adryane, (3) American Dream by Laura Tringali Holmes

Why You Should Start Digital Art Journaling?

Digital art journaling offers a modern and versatile approach to the tactile practice of keeping a journal, allowing you to explore your creativity and express yourself in new ways.

1. SPACE EFFICIENT

• Digital art journaling offers ‘tidy’ Organization and Storage of your art journal pages as they can be stored in Cloud-based platforms or digital folders on your Hard Drive.
• Digital storage also makes your digital art journaling Accessible and Searchable across devices anytime and anywhere.
• This offers added Security against loss or damage and avoids finding storage Space in your home for supplies.
• Digital art journaling eradicates the need to Clean up and put your supplies away after creating your pages.
• Your pages when printed will show beautiful Texture and Dimension but lack chunky embellishment enabling you to store MORE pages in an album or binder.
• Printing services enable you to transform your pages into stunning hard-bound photo books in various shapes and sizes.

2. REUSE AND RECYCLE

• Photo-editing software enables you to Change or Modify digital designs to personalize your photos.
• You can adjust the Color or Size of a digital paper or button embellishment to coordinate with a specific photo in a few easy steps.
• This means your Digital Supplies supplies have Unlimited usage possibilities with endless options for Experimentation.
• You can ‘Undo‘ any mistakes at the click of a button without wasting your valuable tangible supplies.

3. SIMPLE REPRODUCTIONS

• Create ONE digital art journaling page design and print Multiple times with as many variations as preferred.
• Save your digital art journaling pages online or to a remote storage device for Safekeeping from fire hazards and natural disasters.
• Easily access and download NEW digital art journaling supplies as needed.
• Digital projects can be modified, printed, and reproduced in many Sizes and Formats.

Digital Art Journaling Layouts: (1) Grand Canyon Selfie by Laura Tringali Holmes, (2) Solitude by Adryane, (3) Wisdom by Eszter Baranyi

What is Hybrid Art Journaling?

OFFERS THE FUSION OF DIGITALLY CREATED ELEMENTS WITH TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO ART JOURNALING.

• Hybrid art journaling is perfect if you enjoy a more ‘hands-on’ approach allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds.
• Your art journal pages will be part tactile paper crafting with the addition of elements created and manipulated with Photo-Editing Software.
• Many digital design elements can be printed and trimmed or cut out for inclusion in your traditionally crafted pages.

How to Begin Digital Art Journaling

1. CHOOSE HARDWARE

• You will need a Computer/Laptop with a keyboard, monitor, and a mouse/trackball.
• You do not need to have the world’s fanciest or most powerful computer, but the more Memory your computer has the faster it will run.
• Use an Apple Mac or a Microsoft PC per your preference and budget.
• Macs tend to be more expensive, are notoriously known for graphics, and are said to be more Intuitive.
• PCs conversely are more Affordable and may have more software options available.

Note. You can also create digital art journaling pages on an iPad Pro with Procreate or using Apps on your iPhone.

Digital Layouts in Procreate via Anna Aspnes and Dale Botha

2. SELECT SOFTWARE

• There are a variety of Photo editing software programs available for use.
• Your choice will depend on your budget, preference, and the type of digital art journaling you want to pursue.
• Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Photoshop Elements are most popular and recommended.

Adobe Photoshop CC (Creative Cloud)

• This professional software platform is intended for graphic designers and photographers using the application daily for work purposes.
• Adobe offers various plans for individual users ranging from USD 9.99 upwards.
• You can sign up for a free trial of the software.

Photoshop Elements (PSE)

• Photoshop Elements is a paired-down offering of the professional version and is perfect for hobbyists and crafters.
• It offers everything the hobbyist digital art ‘journaler’ needs, at a fraction of the price, making it the most widely used and supported art journaling package available.
• New versions are typically released every two years and can be purchased from Adobe, Amazon, and your local Costco store, if you are located in the United States.

Digital Art Journaling Layouts: (1) See No Evil by Nancy Adams, (2) Fresh by Viv Halliwell, (3) Poppy by Eszter Baranyi

Alternative Options:

• FREE Gimp
• Paint Shop Pro
• Forever Artisan
• My Memories Suite
• Craft Artist

NOTE. Your chosen device will need to support the software program at optimum capacity.

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:

• Adobe Photoshop Software Requirements
• Adobe Photoshop Elements Software Requirements

Digital Art Journaling Layouts: (1) Every Flower by Miki Krueger, (2) Fade Away by Eszter Baranyi, (3) Happy Mind by Viv Halliwell

Find Your Style

THERE ARE MANY STYLES OF ART JOURNALING

• Mixed Media Art Journaling: Combines collage, painting, drawing, stamping, stenciling, and more to create visually rich and textured pages.
• Visual Journaling:  Uses images, symbols, and colors to convey thoughts, feelings, and experiences with a focus on visual expression.
• Prompt-based Journaling: Explore different themes or prompts in your digital art journaling such as emotions, memories,  nature, travel, or social issues.
• Artistic Techniques Journaling: Focus on honing specific artistic techniques or skills in your digital art journaling practice to improve your artistry.
• Minimalist Journaling: Practice simplicity and restraint, using a limited color palette, sparse imagery, and minimal text to convey meaning.
• Documentary/Travel Journaling: Document their experiences, observations, and adventures in life, travel, and beyond to preserve memories and house collected materials on your journey.

READ ALSO:

• Develop Your Style

Digital Art Journaling Layouts: (1) Every Flower by Woodlands, (2) Sorrow by Nancy Adams, (3) Hello Time by ViVre

Types of Digital Graphics

DIGITAL DESIGNS ARE DELIVERED IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS.

• A .jpg is an image file and the format of Digital Paper designs.
• A .png file has a transparent background perfect for Transfers and Overlays, Brushes, Embellishments, and AlphaSets elements.
• A .psd file is a propriety format to Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Photoshop Elements.
• It offers a layered file format found in Templates and elements offering more than one customizable layer.

Digital Product Categories

1. PAPERS

• Typically 12 × 12 inch patterned or solid color digital papers.
• Included in Paper Packs or ArtPlay Palette page sets/kits.
• Designed for use as your page foundation or background.
• May be cropped to desired Shape and Size.
• You will find a variety of paper designs in ArtPlay Palettes.

2. ELEMENTS

• Also known as Dimensional Embellishments.
• Includes items such as Ribbons, Strings, Fasteners, Frames, Stitching and Flowers.
• May he offered individually and in clusters/element groups.
• You will find embellishments in ArtPlay Palettes, Elements, Stitching, and MultiMedia.

3. DIGITAL STAMPS

• Digital stamps are also known as Brushes or BrushSets.
• They can used for Stamping, Distressing, or Painting.
• See this FREE Brushes Basic Class for further guidance.
• Find BrushSets in ArtPlay Palettes, BrushSets and ToolSets.

4. TRANSPARENCIES/RUB-ONS

• These are known as Transfers and Overlays in digital art journaling
• Find these in ArtPlay Palettes and ArtsyTransfers.

Note.  Transfers and Overlays are delivered in single layer .png format, while the multi-layered ArtsyTransfers are .psd files.

5. ARTSY CARDS

• Small card foundations for your digital art journaling.
• May be printed for use in crafts or used in their digital format.
• Use as Journaling Cards, frame ‘fillers’, or Blend with your Images.
• ArtsyKardz are delivered in BOTH .psd and .jpg format with a variety of sizes.

6. TEMPLATES

• Blueprints for your digital art journaling pages.
• Templates  are comprised of multiple layers in .psd format.
• Each layer is intended to guide the Placement of your digital supplies.
• Layers may also be Recolored or used with the Clipping Mask function.
• Watch this Blending Your Photos Using Templates video.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

LEARN MORE IN THE RESOURCES SECTION.

• Getting Started with Anna Aspnes Designs
• Useful Techniques in Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
• Outline of some of the popular categories in the aA Digital Art Supplies product range.
• PLUS 8 Ways to Digital Art Journaling and 3-Step Digital Art Journaling.

Summary

Digital art journaling is a great way to exercise your creativity and explore new artistic techniques

• Read through this post One more time.
• Decide what Device you’ll use for your digital scrapbooking.
• Upgrade as needed to support your chosen Photo Editing Software platform.
• Purchase and load software according to the instructions.
• Register here to download a FREE $160 Value DigitalART MegaPack.
• Watch the included 90 minute class providing your beginners guide to getting started with Adobe Photoshop.
• Email me with questions – I am ALWAYS happy to help!