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    How to start a visual diary: 5 creative exercises
    Latest blog post

    How to start a visual diary: 5 creative exercises

    Discover what a visual diary is and how to use it to stimulate your creativity. 5 easy exercises to draw, experiment and free your imagination. How to start a visual journal: 5 creative exercises to free your imagination. Would you like to draw more, let your hand loose and unlock ideas without pressure? Visual journaling is a simple and powerful tool to exercise your creativity on a daily basis. Just as a notebook collects thoughts, a visual journal functions as a space where images, smudges and doodles become a language of their own. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or an experienced illustrator: the important thing is not the end result, but the process of experimenting freely. In this article you will discover the benefits of starting a visual diary and find 5 practical exercises to fill it with ideas, color and imagination.

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Heather Thimsen

Heather Thimsen

@kuvfish

San Francisco, United States

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    Ana Victoria Calderon Ana Victoria Calderon @anavictoriana Artista Mexico City, Mexico
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    • Traditional illustration
    • Join me for a Watercolor Retreat in Greece! Spring 2025. Events, Education, and Painting project by Ana Victoria Calderon - 09.16.2024
    • Portugal Watercolor Retreat 2024. Events, Education, Fine Arts, L, scape Architecture, and Painting project by Ana Victoria Calderon - 07.05.2023
    • Magic Jungle Book: Un manual para desarrollar el espíritu creativo. Writing, Editorial Design, Fine Arts, Creative Writing, and Creativit project by Ana Victoria Calderon - 05.26.2023
    • Magic Jungle 2023 / English & Español!. Events, Creative Consulting, Education, and Fine Arts project by Ana Victoria Calderon - 10.05.2022
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    Lucy Fleming Lucy Fleming @lucy_fleming33 Manchester, United Kingdom
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    35,340
    • Traditional illustration
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    • Little Lion and girl illustration . Traditional illustration project by Lucy Fleming - 02.17.2023
    • Baby Books - Illustration Sample. Traditional illustration, and Picturebook project by Lucy Fleming - 01.25.2023
    • Orionid - Stars . Traditional illustration project by Lucy Fleming - 11.14.2022
    • Designing Animals - Fox Sketch Sheet. Traditional illustration project by Lucy Fleming - 07.28.2022
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    Ana Santos Ana Santos @anasantos Ilustradora freelance Salamanca, Spain
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    410,314
    • Fine Arts
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    • Book: The Secret Life of Fairies. Traditional illustration, Creativit, Drawing, Portrait Drawing, Artistic Drawing, Oil Painting, Picturebook, Children's Literature, Botanical Illustration, Acr, lic Painting, Children's Illustration, Digital Illustration, Painting, Fine Arts, Character Design, and Art Direction project by Ana Santos - 11.04.2023
    • Campaign - Depression. "Elena's Journey". Traditional illustration, Animation, Art Direction, Character Design, Education, Fine Arts, Interactive Design, Painting, Web Design, Pencil Drawing, Creativit, Concept Art, Artistic Drawing, and Portrait Drawing project by Ana Santos - 09.16.2021
    • Editorial design and illustration.. Fine Arts, Artistic Drawing, Editorial Design, Editorial Illustration, and Botanical Illustration project by Ana Santos - 04.15.2020
    • Editorial Illustration . Fine Arts, Pencil Drawing, Traditional illustration, and Children's Illustration project by Ana Santos - 03.01.2019
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    Puño Puño @puno Medellín, Colombia
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    • Traditional illustration
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    • Experimental cómic challenge / Confinement drawing journal. Drawing, and Traditional illustration project by Puño - 04.13.2020
    • Reto de cómic experimental / diario dibujado de la cuarentena. Drawing, and Traditional illustration project by Puño - 04.13.2020
    • Class notes. Traditional illustration project by Puño - 03.08.2017
    • Drawings I make in less than 5 minutes to warm up my hand or brain. Fine Arts, and Traditional illustration project by Puño - 02.28.2016
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    Grace Frösén Grace Frösén @gracecallidesigns Lettering Artist Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
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    • Illustrating and Lettering Song Lyrics to "Me and the Sky". Traditional illustration, Lettering, Drawing, Artistic Drawing, H, and Lettering project by Grace Frösén - 09.13.2021
    • Tomorrow Music Video. Traditional illustration project by Grace Frösén - 07.02.2021
    • Ferris Wheel Sponsored Artist Campaign. T, and pograph project by Grace Frösén - 07.02.2021
    • Mental Health Comic Illustrations. Traditional illustration project by Grace Frösén - 07.02.2021
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    Tati Abaurre Tati Abaurre @tatiabaurre Pattern designer & Illustrator Oakville, Canada
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    • Children's Illustration
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    • Woodland critters collection. Traditional illustration, Product Design, Pattern Design, and Digital Illustration project by Tati Abaurre - 04.19.2023
    • Sloth Birthday invitation | Minted. Children's Illustration, Digital Illustration, and Traditional illustration project by Tati Abaurre - 11.18.2022
    • Greeting cards for Stormy Knight. Traditional illustration, Digital Illustration, and Artistic Drawing project by Tati Abaurre - 11.18.2022
    • Lion King pattern for Little Sleepies. Traditional illustration, Pattern Design, and Children's Illustration project by Tati Abaurre - 11.18.2022
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    Allison Cole Allison Cole @allisoncole_illustration Providence, United States
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    13,102
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    • My project in Art Licensing 101: Build Your Illustration Career course. Traditional illustration, Design Management, Marketing, Pattern Design, and Portfolio Development project by Allison Cole - 12.07.2021
    • Surface Pattern Designs. Traditional illustration, and Pattern Design project by Allison Cole - 10.31.2021
    • Purrfect Cattitude . Traditional illustration project by Allison Cole - 10.31.2021
    • Apparel. Traditional illustration, and Pattern Design project by Allison Cole - 10.31.2021
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    Ehab Alhariri Ehab Alhariri @archihab Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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    22,213
    • Design
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    • The Windowless Villa. Architecture, and Design project by Ehab Alhariri - 06.21.2022
    • Pine Acres Forest House. Architecture, and Digital Architecture project by Ehab Alhariri - 09.30.2021
    • Floating Beach House. Architecture, and Architectural Illustration project by Ehab Alhariri - 09.30.2021
    • Elevated Mountain House. Architecture, Interior Architecture, and 3D Modeling project by Ehab Alhariri - 06.20.2021
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    Ruth Wilshaw Ruth Wilshaw @ruthwilshaw Houston, United States
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    27,096
    • Traditional illustration
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    • My project for course: Fantasy Landscapes with Watercolor & Gouache. Fine Arts, Painting, Watercolor Painting, Naturalistic Illustration, and Gouache Painting project by Ruth Wilshaw - 11.18.2022
    • My project in Painting Atmospheric Landscapes with Gouache course. Traditional illustration, Painting, and Gouache Painting project by Ruth Wilshaw - 11.20.2021
    • Magical Landscapes. Painting, and Traditional illustration project by Ruth Wilshaw - 11.19.2021
    • Gouache Landscapes. Gouache Painting project by Ruth Wilshaw - 01.25.2021
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    Lisa Perrin Lisa Perrin @perrin Illustrator, Hand Letterer Baltimore, United States
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    12,008
    • Traditional illustration
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    • My project in Packaging Illustration: Create Imaginative Product Designs course. Design, Traditional illustration, Packaging, Product Design, Digital Illustration, H, and Lettering project by Lisa Perrin - 09.03.2021
    • Vipera. Traditional illustration project by Lisa Perrin - 06.17.2021
    • Gardenia. Traditional illustration project by Lisa Perrin - 06.17.2021
    • Bad Kitty. Traditional illustration project by Lisa Perrin - 06.17.2021
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    Jimmy Craig Jimmy Craig @jimmycraig Boston, United States
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    6,671
    • Children's Illustration
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    • Curious Jorb. Traditional illustration, Comic, Stor, telling, Narrative, Stor, and board project by Jimmy Craig - 05.16.2021
    • jimmytried. Comic, and Traditional illustration project by Jimmy Craig - 04.11.2021
    • They Can Talk. Comic, and Traditional illustration project by Jimmy Craig - 04.11.2021
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    Jeanne McGee Jeanne McGee @jeanne_5 Artist Minneapolis, United States
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    • Hand Printed Cards. Design, Fine Arts, Arts, and Crafts project by Jeanne McGee - 06.04.2021
    • Hand Stamped Reclaimed Wood. Fine Arts project by Jeanne McGee - 06.04.2021
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    • Uppercase: Encyclopedia of Inspiration: Print/Maker. Printing, Design, and Fine Arts project by Jeanne McGee - 06.03.2021
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    Gary Baseman Gary Baseman @garybaseman Artist Los Angeles, United States
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    • My project in Make Art Your Own: Exploring Artistic Identity course. Traditional illustration, Sketching, Creativit, Drawing, and Sketchbook project by Gary Baseman - 09.30.2021
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    • Sketchbook mixed media experimentation. Acr, lic Painting, Artistic Drawing, Collage, Traditional illustration, Portrait Drawing, Sketchbook, Sketching, Stor, and telling project by Gary Baseman - 05.04.2021
    • Sketchbook drawings of global dining experiences. Drawing, Character Design, Fine Arts, Traditional illustration, Narrative, Pencil Drawing, Sketchbook, Sketching, Stor, and telling project by Gary Baseman - 05.04.2021
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    Jessica Roux Jessica Roux @jessicaroux Illustrator Nashville, United States
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    40,355
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    • My project in Natural Illustration with Digital Painting course. Traditional illustration, Drawing, Digital Illustration, Realistic Drawing, Digital Painting, and Naturalistic Illustration project by Jessica Roux - 10.06.2021
    • Fatal Throne Chapter Headers. Botanical Illustration, and Traditional illustration project by Jessica Roux - 05.01.2018
    • 2021 Calendar. Botanical Illustration, Traditional illustration, and Naturalistic Illustration project by Jessica Roux - 09.29.2020
    • 2020 Wall Calendar. Traditional illustration project by Jessica Roux - 09.01.2019
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    Arthur Braud Arthur Braud @arthurmbraud Arthur Braud Chicago, United States
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    8,053
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    • A Sensitive Eye. Painting, and Watercolor Painting project by Arthur Braud - 03.24.2021
    • Expressive Color Study . Acr, lic Painting, Gouache Painting, Painting, and Watercolor Painting project by Arthur Braud - 03.24.2021
    • A Cultural Jab. Watercolor Painting, Gouache Painting, and Painting project by Arthur Braud - 03.24.2021
    • Charcoal Drawing Album Cover. Artistic Drawing, Drawing, Traditional illustration, and Portrait Drawing project by Arthur Braud - 02.07.2021
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    Nicholas Blechman Nicholas Blechman @nicholas_blechman New York, United States
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    5,048
    • Traditional illustration
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    • 100% EVIL. Traditional illustration, and Design project by Nicholas Blechman - 10.23.2021
    • Food Chains. Traditional illustration, and Design project by Nicholas Blechman - 10.23.2021
    • Food Chains. Traditional illustration, and Design project by Nicholas Blechman - 10.23.2021
    • NY Times Op-Ed . Traditional illustration, and Design project by Nicholas Blechman - 10.23.2021
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    Connie Lim Connie Lim @_connielim_ Fashion Illustrator Los Angeles, United States
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    19,660
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    • Gucci Collage. Collage, Drawing, Traditional illustration, and Painting project by Connie Lim - 04.28.2021
    • My project in Creative Fashion Illustration Techniques course. Collage, Drawing, and Traditional illustration project by Connie Lim - 02.16.2021
    • Magazine Covers - FIDA competition. Drawing, Editorial Design, Gouache Painting, Traditional illustration, and Painting project by Connie Lim - 02.15.2021
    • Lifedrawing Practice. Artistic Drawing, Drawing, Figure Drawing, and Traditional illustration project by Connie Lim - 12.16.2020
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    Susan Yung Susan Yung @suzcorriander Background Painter Los Angeles, United States
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    18,223
    • Design
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    • Professional Work. Design, Traditional illustration, Film, Video, TV, Animation, Painting, and Digital Painting project by Susan Yung - 06.14.2021
    • Gouache Paintings. Traditional illustration, Gouache Painting, and Painting project by Susan Yung - 06.14.2021
    • Personal Work. Traditional illustration, Film, Video, TV, Animation, Concept Art, Painting, Digital Painting, and Gouache Painting project by Susan Yung - 06.14.2021
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    Brad Woodard Brad Woodard @bravethewoods Illustrator & Graphic Designer Boise, United States
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    150,681
    • Art Direction
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    • Best of Friends. Traditional illustration project by Brad Woodard - 08.19.2021
    • Flying Fox. Traditional illustration project by Brad Woodard - 08.19.2021
    • Space Rodeo. Traditional illustration project by Brad Woodard - 08.19.2021
    • Vintage Camp Scene. Traditional illustration project by Brad Woodard - 08.19.2021
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    Marcos Chin Marcos Chin @marcoschinart Nueva York, United States
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    18,311
    • Design
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    • The Remote Class of 2020. Traditional illustration project by Marcos Chin - 05.19.2020
    • Kama Sutra. Traditional illustration project by Marcos Chin - 04.08.2020
    • Portfolio. Traditional illustration project by Marcos Chin - 04.08.2020
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    Kevin Waldron Kevin Waldron @kev_wally Nueva York, United States
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    10,475
    • Traditional illustration
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    Ellen Weinstein Ellen Weinstein @ellen_1 New York, United States
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    9,692
    • Traditional illustration
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    • My project in Creative Collage: Telling Stories in Layers course. Traditional illustration, Collage, Paper Craft, Digital Illustration, Stor, telling, Digital Design, Communication, Narrative, and Editorial Illustration project by Ellen Weinstein - 09.09.2021
    • The New York Times. Traditional illustration project by Ellen Weinstein - 08.20.2021
    • Library of Congress. Traditional illustration project by Ellen Weinstein - 08.20.2021
    • Korean Literature Now Quarterly Covers. Traditional illustration project by Ellen Weinstein - 08.20.2021
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    A.J. Alper A.J. Alper @ajalper Baltimore, United States
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    21,107
    • Traditional illustration
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    • My project in Expressive Oil Portraiture: Explore the Alla Prima Technique course. Fine Arts, Painting, and Oil Painting project by A.J. Alper - 03.16.2021
    • Portrait Painted for My Expressive Oil Portrait Course. Traditional illustration project by A.J. Alper - 08.04.2021
    • Neil. Traditional illustration project by A.J. Alper - 03.23.2021
    • Loretta. Traditional illustration project by A.J. Alper - 03.23.2021
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    Joel Santana Joel Santana @officialartofsantana Character Designer and Concept Artist - for hire Tampa, United States
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    76,366
    • Traditional illustration
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    • So Happy Together. Traditional illustration, and Painting project by Joel Santana - 02.03.2023
    • Happy Birthday Dr Seuss . Traditional illustration project by Joel Santana - 03.02.2020
    • Steampunk Pinocchio . 3D Character Design, and Digital Illustration project by Joel Santana - 11.20.2019
    • 1000 Words. Character Design, and Digital Illustration project by Joel Santana - 07.20.2019
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    Fernando Gomez Baptista Fernando Gomez Baptista @fernandobaptista Washington, United States
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    • My Course Project: Create an infographic that will make history. Information Design, Sculpture, and Traditional illustration project by Fernando Gomez Baptista - 07.14.2014
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    Domestika Domestika @domestika Berkeley, United States
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