I’ve kept a constant journal going since I was about 8 years old or so. For many years, everything went into one journal and sometimes I would sift through it and mark the pages that were really interesting to me. Those journals were exclusively writing, with no real drawing. Recently I started keeping a dedicated creative journal. Any time I have a creative idea, or I want to just do a quick sketch or watercolor, I go to this book. It’s basically a little journal where there are no wrong answers and I can just play.

I make sure everything is pretty portable so that I can write or draw or sometimes paint no matter where I am. I’ve really liked having my notebook with me wherever I go, because that also means if I’m stuck waiting somewhere I can write instead of look at my phone. Sometimes I don’t feel like reading while I’m waiting so having a journal to write in is really fun.

I think knowing that this is a creative journal also frees me up to put in weird half-baked ideas, bad drawings, all sorts of stuff. Just today I had a drawing in there that I really didn’t like, and instead of erasing it I just covered it up with a bunch of wildflower stickers!

I also get a lot of joy out of going back through my journal. It’s fun, it’s weird, and sometimes I see old ideas in there that I finally have the space to add on to or go try out.

Here are the tools I use for my creative journal. I’m actually pretty set in my ways with most of my journal accessories. I have specific brands that I like after years of trying different things. You’ll see that a lot of it is made in Japan. I feel like a lot of Japanese stationery is slightly smaller scale and lighter. It all fits into my hands way better than other brands, and seems like it travels more easily:

• Midori MD Notebook A6 (red string, blank)
  • In my opinion the best notebook. The journal is lie flat. It has soft, wonderful paper, and a happy red string to mark your place.
• Gold Metal Wire Small Binder Clips
  • I use these to help me keep my paper flat when I paint. They’re simple but look fancy.
• OHTO Sharp Mechanical Wood Pencil, 0.5 mm
  • This is one of those items that just a joy to use. It’s pretty to look at and feels good to write with. It’s a thin hexagon shape, wooden, and has a nice brass metal tip which complements the wood tone nicely.
• Pigma Micron 005 - 03 felt tip markers
  • These are the best markers! They come in such fine points and the ink doesn’t bleed and they are just amazing.
• Mark’Style Time for Paper Gel Ink Pen
  • I like that this pen is thinner around, and is also a hexagon. It’s also short and light so it’s easy to carry with me and the ballpoint is very fine and precise so I can write and draw with it easily.
• Art Pop watercolor half pan
  • I use this specifically because it’s travel sized and will fit in my bag. It has two sides for color blending and you can add different individual watercolor pans.
• Glue stick
• Washi tape
• As many fun stickers as I can get my hands on
• Velessera pencil case
• Portable paint brush holder
• Collapsible silicon cup for water
• I’m in the market for a new small and large watercolor travel brush, so if you have opinions, let me know!