Cartoon Journaling: Three Ideas for Drawing and Writing
Also, how using a bold color can make your pages pop!
Cartoon Journaling For Fun And Focus
I spent years trying to journal in notebooks and on my laptop—starting and stopping constantly but never remaining consistent.
Even though I enjoy the writing process, I thought it might be fun to add drawings. I’m a cartoonist, after all. Why should a journal only have words?
Make it a visual art form as well.
Putting down my thoughts about what happened during the week and voicing frustrations keeps me sane and mindful of the little moments in life. Using a simple cartoon version of yourself with word balloons and bubble letters can help you get excited about filling in a sketchbook or ruled notebook as your “Cartoon” journal.
If you’re looking to add more fun and character to your written journal entries or need a way to journal more often, it’s time you try drawing or doodling along with your writing.
But what will you journal about?
1. Your Job
I love being an art teacher, but like any job, there are times it can be stressful. Work frustration is when you pull out your sketchbook or notebook and Cartoon Journal. When it was school photo day last week, my 8th graders had to miss a lot of my class and were pulled out to get their pictures taken. They were not happy.
All I heard were complaints about missing their Art time, especially since we were working with clay that day, and they only had one class period to make their sculptures. So, I decided to write and draw about it in my bullet notebook.
Hot Tip: Using Only One Color Adds a POP Of Contrast!
It doesn’t matter if you’re using a marker, watercolor, or colored pencil; putting one color you like inside and around your journal entries helps to bring out details and create a very satisfying page.
I love using light blue and red. The cool or warm colors they give your drawings add feeling. Plus, you don’t have to get stressed about coloring the entire page using many colors—one color keeps it easy.
2. Draw And Write About What You’ve Accomplished This Week
Journaling about little things you've done makes them feel more important.
The page below is mainly about posting my comic, The Rabbits Next Door, on social media once daily for five days. It felt good to complete that schedule, but I had concerns about how readers felt about it. Writing that out in the thought bubbles helps me reflect and remember the concerns running around in my head.
It felt good to vote in the presidential election, and I made time to fill out my ballot at home and then walk to a drop box nearby to cast the ballot. Sure, this is a pretty big deal, but you could also share about something simple you do consistently, like making sure to put your feet up after work and relax or calling a friend to talk about your day.
In the future, you may flip through your journal, find that page, and remember where you were and what you were dealing with at the time. It could give you a nice perspective on where you are now.
Drawing in your journal with anything you have lying around is fine (like a ballpoint pen or #2 pencil), or you can use nicer black ink pens like Microns or brush pens. The point is to just create images and words on one page.
3. Journal About Relaxing Moments
Thinking about the good things in life will help you feel grateful and like life is pretty good. Remembering a vacation or special trip and drawing what you remember about the highlights can spark joy.
I recently drove a few hours south to soak in hot springs with my family. Looking at this journal entry brings that feeling right back.
Using bubble letters and overlapping with a touch of variety in size and shape will make your pages eye-catching. Draw one object or face large to fill up space, and on another section of your page, draw several small objects or details.
You don’t have to draw well to make your visuals interesting. Variance is your friend.
I'll be sharing more about Cartoon Journaling in future posts and repeating it enough so the phrase can become a real "thing." Let’s see if people will actually do this to relax and process the ups and downs of life.
Do you journal using visuals?
What will you draw and write about this week?