Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques

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Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

So, you may know, that I am a diehard art journaler fanatic. I have more than I know what to do with, and I art journal every single day! It’s such a great way to create without the pressure of turning out a finished product. I thought it would be fun to share some art journal techniques today, hopefully, to help inspire you to create an art journal page! Whether you’re new to art journaling, or it’s also your lifeblood, hopefully this post will get your creative juices flowing!

Here are all the supplies I’ve used:

  • handmade art journal

Deco Art Products:

Other Products:

Let’s get started!

Step One:

The easiest and most satisfying way to instantly create texture on your art journal page is this: modeling paste + stencil. It’s one of the easiest art journal techniques to use, and it always gives awesome results! You’ll pick the stencil of your choice,  and then use a palette knife (or old gift card) to spread the modeling paste over the stencil. You want to push it into the design, but not too much or it’ll leak under the edges. Smooth it as best you can, then pull off the stencil. And ta-da! So much great texture!! Let the modeling paste dry completely before moving on. Either air dry, or hit it with a trusty heat gun to speed up the drying.

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

 

Step Two:

Repeat the stencil + modeling past combo again, but with some black modeling paste. This will help add more texture and some contrast to your art journal page!

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step Three:

Next, it’s time to add some paint to highlight that modeling paste. I’m using a Mister in magenta, and instead of spraying it, I’m using it more like a watercolor. Art journal techniques often repurpose one art supply in multiple ways like this. Once I poured out a bit of acrylic spray, I used a soft watercolor brush to loosely paint around the page. The paint will go into all the nooks and crannies around the modeling paste and pool there, creating contrast on your page. This will help create texture and now you can really see that stencil design! I repeated this again with the Phthalo Blue fluid acrylic watered down. Choose complementary colours that will blend nicely when they mix or you’ll end up with a murky art journal page!

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step Four:

Add some details! I’ve used a white acrylic Shimmer mister, cobalt teal and titanium white fluid acrylic to add splatters and marks to the page. These add more visual interest and create more contrast across the page. Let the paint dry completely.

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel
Step Five:

Next, I’m using some Deco Art Metallic Lustre Wax on a piece of paper towel and rubbing it on the high spots on my page. This wax is very shiny and adds some lovely texture to this art journal page! I’ve never used it before, but it’s quickly becoming one of my favourite art journal techniques!

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step Six:

To help tone the colors down a bit, so they aren’t so garish, I’ve used some watered down Sumi ink as a sort of glaze. This helps tie in the black modeling paste more, and creates a grungy texture on the page. I’m a big fan of grungy! You could also do this with watercolors or a Stabilo All-Pencil.

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step Seven:

This page is quite textured, which makes it hard to write on legibly. I grabbed these phrase stickers and picked one I liked. Using the paper towel, I rubbed some of the metallic wax around the edges of the sticker to help it blend in more with the art journal page.

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step Eight:

Lastly, I used the sumi ink mixed with the magenta spray to add some more color and depth around the phrase sticker. It helps anchor it to the page, and also integrates the sticker so it doesn’t look like I just stuck something down randomly!

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

And it’s complete! Your textured art journal page is complete! Creating texture with modeling paste and a stencil is one of the easiest and most satisfying art journal techniques, because the results are almost instant. I hope this art journal page inspires you to get messy and create something new!

If you’d like more art journal tutorials, be sure to check out this spring art journal page, this buttery fly inspired page and these 12 affordable art journal supplies to get started!

Love art supplies? You can check out all my favourite art supplies HERE.

Step-by-Step Art Journal Techniques with DecoArt - Fox + Hazel

 

9 Comments

  • How To Create an Easy Watercolor Art Journal Page | Page Flutter

    February 17, 2022 at 11:56 am

    […] You’re done! This page is really easy at the end of it (even though I shared about a million photos. Ha!). If you want more art journaling tutorials, be sure to check out How To Make An Art Journal Stencil with Silhouette and How To Create Textured Backgrounds In Your Art Journal. […]

  • Art Journaling with Vintage Book Pages | Page Flutter

    February 17, 2022 at 11:52 am

    […] Hey, friend! Torrie here from Fox + Hazel. One of my very favourite collage materials to use in art journaling is vintage book pages! They add a wonderful vintage and nostalgic feel to any spread. I also like the extra texture they provide instead of plain paper.  If you’re new to art journaling with vintage book pages, then this tutorial is a perfect first step. If you want more art journaling tutorials, be sure to check out this spring art journal page, and this art journaling technique to create textured backgrounds. […]

  • Jennifer Nelson

    October 2, 2019 at 6:34 am

    Wow, this is gorgeous! I’m amazed at all the new art supplies you used! Guess I’ve been out of the loop on some of the new products that have come out, those misters and shimmery things! So yummy! Also love those stick-on phrases, great for adding a final touch to a beautiful background. Nice tutorial, easy to understand, thanks for sharing!!

  • Laura

    February 15, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    cool page!

    1. torrielynn

      February 15, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      Thanks Laura! 😀

  • Kim

    February 15, 2018 at 9:22 am

    I LOVE your website, just started following a few weeks ago and have used your art as my screensaver, made stickers for my art journal and tried a couple of your tutorials which were fun and inspirational. Just wanted to say thank you and look very forward to more!

    1. torrielynn

      February 15, 2018 at 3:38 pm

      Hi Kim!

      I’m so happy to hear that several of my pages have been helpful to you – that puts a big smile on my face! Thanks for kind words 😀

  • Vanessa

    February 12, 2018 at 5:24 pm

    Great art journal page. I love the colors combination.

    1. torrielynn

      February 15, 2018 at 3:37 pm

      Thanks so much Vanessa! Phthalo blue & quinacridone magenta were meant to be together <3

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