If you have dreams of working as an art educator, then naturally, you want to find ways to cultivate an inspiring, uplifting and inclusive classroom that encourages exploration and learning. One of the numerous tools you can use to promote artistic development in a manner that’s enjoyable, engaging and expressive for your students is known as visual journaling.
This strategy, which is commonly used as part of an overarching art curriculum, can help students explore their creativity while gaining a better understanding of their own personal style development. And, when you know how to use visual journaling well in your classroom, you just might make this a lifelong practice for your students.
What Is Visual Journaling?
With a better understanding of what visual journaling in the art classroom entails and how a visual journal differs from a traditional sketchbook, you may start to envision the ways in which you might use this technique in a future classroom.
Visual Journals vs. Sketchbooks
Whereas sketchbooks tend to be more focused on the practice and planning of specific art techniques and art projects, visual journals take a broader approach. In a visual journal, students may respond to daily art prompts — leveraging their creative expression to create, explore and practice without judgment or expectation.
Oftentimes, visual journals will organically assume the form of:
- Mixed media journals
- Incorporating written words
- Sketches
- Paintings
- Just about any other medium that can make it onto the page
Components of a Visual Journal
Part of the appeal of a visual journal is its flexibility and adaptability to meet students where they’re at. Typically, visual journals will consist of a sketchbook or notebook. However, it is also possible to keep a digital version of a visual journal for students who are exploring digital art.
For physical journals, the size of the journal can be left up to the student — but a durable paper should be used to hold up to paints, oil pastels and other mediums. Students keeping a visual journal should be encouraged to incorporate written elements, drawings, collage and other types of expression as they see fit.
Educational Benefits of Visual Journaling
No matter their age or level of ability, students can reap the benefits of regular visual journaling in a number of ways.
Encouraging Creative Exploration
For one, visual journaling can be a go-to outlet for students looking to express themselves creatively and explore their artistic abilities without consequence or judgment. For example, in a visual journal, a student may be more willing to take artistic risks and try new things than they would on a graded project or even in a practice sketchbook.
Documenting the Creative Process
In many ways, visual journaling can also serve as its own documentation of the creative process. As students “test out” ideas in their visual journals, they can gradually learn more about their own creative processes and what works for them (as well as what doesn’t work for them). Over time, this can help cultivate a better sense of self-awareness and appreciation for the work that goes into artistic expression.
Supporting Critical Thinking and Reflection
Just as a written journal can encourage creative thinking and reflection, the same can apply to a visual journal. Students taking the time to journal regularly will have the opportunity to experiment with different artistic techniques and approaches that may help them become more critical thinkers and problem-solvers. Meanwhile, the ability to look back on one’s own work and progress through a visual journal can help students visualize their personal growth.
Building a Personal Artistic Voice
In addition to serving as a tool for self-expression, visual journals give students a safe space to build their own artistic voices. Because these journals are not graded or assessed in any way, they allow students to explore their artistic talents while increasing their self-esteem and sense of identity.
Classroom Applications of Visual Journals
Of course, students can only get the most out of their visual journaling experiences with the right application or art journal techniques led by their teachers. Here are a few potential applications to consider when using visual journals in your art classroom.
Daily or Weekly Prompts
Many art educators find success in providing students with weekly or daily journaling prompts. These prompts should be relatively broad or general in nature, allowing students to adapt them to their needs and interests. You might ask students, for example, to create an entry that uses their favorite color as a dominant color. Or, you might challenge them to create a self-portrait. These prompts provide a bit of guidance to help your students get their creative juices flowing — but aren’t so rigid that they take the fun away from the project.
Cross-Curricular Connections
When it comes to art journal ideas for students, art educators can also get creative with their prompts by making connections across different parts of the art curriculum. If your class is learning about a particular artist, for instance, you might give them a prompt to create a journal entry in the style of that artist. This can help assess their understanding of that artist’s style and the characteristics of their work.
Assessment and Student Growth
While visual journals are better left ungraded to encourage maximum creativity and self-expression, teachers may find it useful to review entries alongside students throughout the course of a semester. Doing so can be an excellent way for students to perceive their own growth and learning as artists as well as pinpoint potential areas for future improvement.
Tools and Techniques for Visual Journaling
To get the most out of the visual journaling experience, there are some tools, techniques and best practices art educators can keep in mind.
Choosing Materials and Formats
Digital art students (such as graphic design students) may prefer a digital journal format, yet many students will benefit most from a physical journal where they can have total creative freedom. Physical journals are easily portable, too, so they may be taken out and used whenever inspiration strikes.
Layout and Composition Tips
Students keeping a visual journal should also be encouraged to explore different layout and composition methods. Even with a “traditional” sketchbook, students can create entries in landscape or portrait style. Likewise, experimenting with different composition strategies and arrangements of visuals can be a great way to practice the use of shape, color and other elements in a finished piece.
Mixed Media and Experimental Approaches
At the end of the day, students should be encouraged to be as experimental as possible within their visual journals. As tempting as it may be for them to stick with the mediums with which they are familiar, a visual journal is the best place to practice with less familiar mediums and methods. From collages and decoupage to watercolor and beyond, the possibilities for expressing oneself are countless.
Inspiring Examples From Students and Artists
In better understanding the potential power of visual journals in the art classroom, it can be helpful to look at some real-world examples of how these are used by students and, in some cases, even professional artists.
Student Journals in the Classroom
You can explore examples of visual journal prompts that you may be able to try out in your own classroom. From gratitude prompts and self-portraits to collages and mixed media projects, you may seek plenty of inspiration along with images of real student artwork based on the prompts provided. A few ideas include:
- Mandala pattern representing your current mood
- Mind maps
- Favorite quotes
- Incorporation of different textures
- Dream or travel documentation
- Reflection on fears and desires
Professional Artists Who Keep Visual Journals
According to Artland Magazine, many artists have kept visual journals and sketchbook diaries as a means of developing their own techniques and exploring new ideas. Just a few examples of such artists include:
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Frida Kahlo
- Janice Lowry
Tips for Encouraging Visual Journaling in Art Education
As an art educator (or future art educator), there’s plenty you can do to encourage your students and even fellow colleagues to embrace visual journaling inside and outside of the classroom.
Making Journaling a Routine
Find a way to incorporate visual journaling in the classroom on a regular basis. Even something as simple as a weekly journaling prompt can go a long way toward getting your students into the routine of visual journaling as a form of artistic expression.
Fostering a Nonjudgmental Environment
In the art classroom, it is ideal to maintain an inclusive and nonjudgmental environment. Students’ work in journals should not be formally assessed or graded, although constructive feedback may be appropriate in some contexts. Remember, too, that educators are often mandated reporters — so it is important to review student journals while remaining mindful of their contents.
Providing Inspiration and Structure
The right prompts can provide students with much-needed structure and inspiration for a visual journal. This may be especially true for those who have never engaged in visual journaling or anything like it before. You might even consider giving students a choice of two or three prompts to choose from, rather than assigning a single one to the entire class.
Learn More in an Art Education Program at RMCAD
While visual journaling may be just one of many art teaching methods and tools at your disposal, this can be one of the best ways to fuel artistic expression and exploration in your classroom. Best of all, art journaling can be useful across a wide range of age groups and talent levels — allowing nearly any student to reap the benefits.
Seeking more ways to prepare for your career as a supportive and resourceful art educator? Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education program is specifically designed for those who are looking to teach art at the K-12 level. In this program (offered both on-campus and online), you’ll explore the types of art teacher resources and techniques that help you meet the diverse needs of learners while encouraging artistic exploration and development.
Learn more about this program by requesting further information today, or take the next step in your journey by completing your online application for admission.
