Illustrated Creative Journal Specialization

In this lesson I’ll tell you about the materials I am going to use while teaching the course and the importance of using materials that will be compatible with the journal you choose as your Bullet Journal. I’ll teach you the importance of considering and choosing your materials prior to choosing your Bullet Journal.

All about Journals

I’ll teach you about different types of journals, paper and how to choose compatible materials to get the best out of your journal and achieve the results you are hoping for. We’ll consider the type of artwork you would like to create in your final project as this will determine the type of journal you purchase.

Now, I’ll teach you about what a Bullet Journal can be used for and give examples of different journaling styles.

How Journals Can Be Used

Future Log

In this lesson, I’ll teach you what a future log is, how it is used, and how to create one in your journal.

Monthly Calendar, Log and Task List 1

You'll learn how to draw a monthly calendar in your journal which will give a visual overview of the month. We’ll create a monthly log and task list, and then add some simple lettering and an illustration to create a monthly “cover page”.

Monthly Calendar, Log and Task List 2

During this second part of the lesson, I'll teach you how to keep working on the monthly calendar.

Using Symbols, Daily Logs and Creating a Key

In this lesson, I’ll teach you how symbols are used in Bullet Journaling to differentiate between tasks, events, and notes.

In this lesson, I’ll teach you how to create and use a weekly log in your Bullet Journal.

Creating a Weekly Log

Creating a Monthly Habit Tracker

It's time to teach you how to create a monthly habit tracker. Ready for it?

15m

Creating a Personalised Collection 1

I’ll teach you what collections are and show you the collections we have already learned how to create in previous lessons. I'll then show you how to create a custom collection on a subject that interests you.

Creating a Personalised Collection 2

During this second part of the lesson, I'll continue showing you my best tips and tricks on how to create more collections.

Contents Page and Migration

In this lesson, I’ll teach you how a content page is set up and used in Bullet Journaling. I’ll also teach you about migration - what it is and how to use it in your Bullet Journal to remain productive.

Creating a Journal Cover Page

Dive deep on how to add some artistic lettering to your journal in the form of a quote.

Maintaining a Bullet Journal Practice and Effective Planning

In this lesson, I’ll tell you about my own bullet journaling routine and how I make my journal work effectively for me.

Dealing with Mistakes

Let's talk about making mistakes in our journals, and how to cope with these mistakes, as some people can find it hard to move on from mistakes, especially if they are perfectionists. We will also take a look at practical ways to hide the mistakes we make in our journals.

Sharing Your Journals on Social Media

Lastly, I’ll talk to you about sharing your journaling/ artwork on social media and how you can protect your privacy and/or your work while doing so.

Module 3

Let your creativity flow as Shayda Campbell guides you through the joyful world of sketching, doodling, and painting. Using mixed media techniques, you’ll fill your sketchbook with personal art while embracing the process itself. With playful exercises covering flowers, animals, and everyday objects, you’ll develop your own style and learn how to share your creations online.

19 lessons (3h 35m)

What Is Doodling

So what is doodling? Well, I think we all have an idea in our mind of what a doodle is. And technically, a doodle is a drawing or some little art that you do while you're not really thinking about it, and certainly while you're not thinking about the outcome. Let me tell you more about it in this lesson.

Here, you'll be able to see a brief overview of all the suggested materials you'll need to this course.

Overcoming the Fear of Drawing 1

How do you embrace a creative practice when you have ‘no natural talent?’ Why is a blank page so intimidating? In this lesson, I’ll talk about some strategies for diving in and getting started when getting started seems totally overwhelming!

Overcoming the Fear of Drawing 2

Let me show you how to explore the wet-on-dry watercolor technique to add precise layers to a floral composition. I'll teach you how to use abstract brushstrokes and how to enhance your work with colored pencils and markers, bringing out patterns, details, and texture in your leaves and flowers.

Overcoming the Fear of Drawing 3

Here, you'll see how to use the color wheel to create engaging designs. I'll show you how to create four unique patterns using simple doodles, like flowers. You'll see how repeating these doodles and selecting colors thoughtfully—based on the color wheel—can turn ordinary sketches into visually striking designs.

Overcoming the Fear of Drawing 4

To finish this unit, you'll learn to create patterns using markers with layering techniques, building on your earlier work with simple doodles. I'll show you how to move into line-based patterns to explore the power of minimalism. Remember, simplicity can sometimes create more powerful visuals than complex details.

Practical Sketchbook Prompts 1

Have you ever seen a shape and just start imagine how it becomes in anything else? In this first part of the lesson, you'll learn how to pick a shape and a pattern to draw a whole page of fun trees, making sure to try different ideas and combinations.

Practical Sketchbook Prompts 2

Let's dive into the next challenge! Here, I'll show you how to choose a simple object, like a fig, and draw it in various creative ways. You'll experiment with different shapes, cross-sections, and patterns, using mixed media like watercolors, pens, and markers.

Practical Sketchbook Prompts 3

It's time to go further, therefore, you'll see how to create a "Line Landscape" by blending gouache, colored pencils, and markers to form a simple, abstract landscape. I'll teach you how to build texture and details using colored pencils and markers, experimenting with patterns like grass, flowers, and clouds.

Practical Sketchbook Prompts 4

Lastly, I'll show you how to use some earthy colors like browns and grays to paint abstract bird shapes with loose, expressive brushstrokes. Also, you'll see how to add details by using different materials. By the end of this lesson, you'll known how to embrace imperfections by using some messy techniques and having fun in the process.

I love drawing flowers because I can change and abstract them, and more often than not, people still recognize them as flowers. In this part of the lesson, I'll show you how to create a series of simple floral doodles, experimenting with basic flower forms like forget-me-nots, dandelions, and roses.

Doodling Flowers 1

15m

Doodling Flowers 2

It's time to combine everything you've learned to create expressive floral paintings. I'll teach you to add add intricate details and textures using colored pencils and brush pens, focusing on elements like petals, leaves, and floral centers.

Is there something you don't like to draw? I used to shy away from drawing animals, but I’ve learned this subject doesn’t have to be scary! Let me show you how to doodle animals by using simple forms, the trick is to make small changes to have a big impact on your doodles.

Doodling Animals

Can't ‘hear’ your artistic voice? Drawing what you see around you every day is fun, playful and empowering. That's why I'll teach you how to look and illustrate objects that are familiar to you, can help you understand your own style.

Doodling Objects

Using a photo as a reference, I’ll show you how to work from a photograph and break the human form down into simple ‘doodl-able’ shapes.

Doodling People

Now I'll show you an easy-cute way to level up the portrait by incorporating patterns, texture, and a detailed background. This is also a creative way to personalize your artwork.

Adding Environments

Sharing Your Art to Build a Community

Here you'll learn how sharing your art, regardless of skill level, can empower you and build a supportive community.

Art for Everyone

Your sketchbook it's more powerful than you can imagine! In this lesson, I'll talk about how to turn your sketchbook into a journal of growth and inspiration, focusing on the process rather than perfection.

Meditative Art

From time to time we find ourselves trap in our daily routines with no scape. But, doodling is a creative and relaxing way that can help you disconnect from daily stress and enjoy screen-free time. Therefore, I'll talk about how you can use doodling as a meditative practice.

Module 4

You will learn to design a personalized bullet journal that blends creativity with organization. Guided by Louise Chai, you’ll explore visual styles, goal-setting techniques, and trackers to measure progress. By the end, you’ll master a creative method to organize and enhance your daily life. Are you ready? Let's start!

13 lessons (1h 46m)

Why Do You Need a Bullet Journal?

To begin, let's dive into the reasons behind why you would start a bullet journal and how it can help you reach your goals.

Here, I will give an overview of the materials you will need to begin bullet journaling. I will discuss how to choose a dot-grid notebook and the different types of pens to use.

Exercises and Lettering

In this lesson, I will teach you the fundamentals of brush lettering. You will gain an understanding of the basic techniques. Then, I will model an exercise to practise lettering a quote.

Visual Learning and Organization

Next, I will show you how to visually organize your bullet journal. You will see how theme, colour, and layout can make your bullet journal more efficient.

Page Types According to Your Lifestyle

Here, I will introduce you to some other bullet journal pages and we will explore how they might fit into your lifestyle.

Getting Started

During this lesson, I will guide you in defining your goals and making a mood board to set the tone of the bullet journal.

In this lesson, I will teach you how to set up a future log and how to use it. This page contains all the days of the year. This is a very important step in the creative process, as it will help you to streamline your bullet journal experience. Let's get started!

The Future Log Page

Next, I will explain how to set up your monthly pages. I will discuss how to implement visual learning and organization into your bullet journal.

Designing Your Month

16m

The Weekly Pages

Now, I will outline how to set up your weekly pages. I will explore the layout, design, and what to include to create a productive weekly page.

Creating the Required Trackers

Little by little, your bullet journal should be coming together. Now, it's time to talk about trackers. In this lesson, I will explain the different types of trackers and how to create one.

In this lesson, I will demonstrate how to navigate any mistakes in your bullet journal. You will see how to hide or deal with them.

Fixing Mistakes

The Bullet Journal in Your Daily Routine

Now that you know how to put a good bullet journal together, it's time to integrate it into your everyday life. Here, I will discuss how to make a habit of using your bullet journal.

Sharing on Social Media

Last, but not least, I will give you some tips on how to share your work on social media.

Module 5

It's time to explore illustrated journaling as a way to improve your drawing skills and reflect on your day. With guidance from illustrator Kate Sutton, you’ll learn fun prompts and creative techniques to document daily moments, unwind, and find joy in life’s small details.

11 lessons (1h 46m)

What Is an Illustrated Life Journal?

To start with this module, I will explain what Illustrated life journalling means to me and how you can incorporate this daily drawing habit into your life.

In this lesson, I will share with you my favorite materials to use and will give lots of alternative options too.

Inspiration

You will look at the various areas in your life we can look to for inspiration for your illustrated life journal, as well as how to gather reference material.

Drawing and Visual Language

I will teach you how to take the reference material gathered in the previous lesson, and we will try to draw a reproduction of it. Things to consider at this are color choice and how to put colour/marks on the page. Also, I will address how to incorporate text. Then, you will look at drawing another bird, but from imagination, I will also invite you to draw from real life, and for this, you will set up a still life with the contents of your bag.

In this lesson, you will explore things that you are grateful for and will create a journal page based on them.

Daily Gratitude

During this lesson, I will show you on detail how to draw everything you ate in a day!

What I Ate Today

It's time to create an illustrated version of your day. You will learn how to draw it in a grid to tell the narrative.

What I Did or Saw Today

Now, you will see how to explore the world around us by drawing things we saw on our run or walk. I love this because it really encourages you to be present.

Seen on My Run/Walk

16m

Things That Inspire Me

Here you will look at different subjects and things you can look towards for inspiration. There are so many things that can be a starting point for an illustrated life journal page, from all your favorite things, the seasons, to the books you love, or even objects around your house that mean something special to you.

Digitalize and Post Processing Using Photoshop

In this lesson, I will show you how you can digitalise your drawing and work with it in Photoshop.

How to Use Social Media and Keep Up Your Journalling Habit

To finish this module, I will talk to you about how you can share your work on social media and ways to keep up with a daily habit of life journalling.

Module 6

You're about to end this journey! In this module, you will learn to design a personalized bullet journal using playful watercolor techniques. Guided by Manon Pons, you’ll explore artistic themes, experiment with color, and create an organized, creative outlet that beautifully blends productivity and self-expression.

14 lessons (2h 26m)

As an art material collector, this lesson might be one of my favorites. Let's talk about materials! I will walk you through the different journals and papers that are available, which brushes I use, and any other materials that may be of a help during the creative process.

What Is Bullet Journaling?

In this lesson, I will explain the basics of bullet journaling—the way Ryder Carroll invented it. I will highlight the benefits of his system and also explain my personal take on journaling: How do I use my journal and in what way does it differ from the regular system?

Key Page, Grid Guide, and Future Log

Let's get started! In this lesson, I will talk to you about the essential pages before progressing to the monthly themes. These spreads help me to plan throughout the year and make journaling easier.

To make a watercolor illustration, you will need to understand how the paper or journal reacts to the watercolor and control the amount of water. In this lesson, I will share some tips and short exercises to improve your watercolor skills.

Watercolor Exercises

Now, I will explain the concept of monthly themes and how I gather inspiration for these themes. You will learn how to search for relevant pictures and gain access to my Pinterest boards.

Researching for Ideas

Sketching and Creating the Cover

It's time to start with the cover! This is the first page of your monthly theme. Personally, I consider this as a tiny artwork. In this lesson, I'll show you how I create my cover page step by step, using watercolors and fine liners.

19m

The Monthly Log

On to the next spread in your journal: the monthly spread! I will talk you through the different potential layouts and how to create a monthly overview with whimsical watercolor illustrations.

16m

The Tracker Page 1

In this lesson, we will delve into the different things you can track in your journal. I'll show you several ways to keep track and, together, we'll create a handy tracker page using watercolors.

I will now add the final elements to my tracker page, starting with the clouds, progressing to the typography, and finishing with some text boxes.

The Tracker Page 2

Now, you will discover how I use my weekly spreads. I'll talk to you about the different layouts and show you some of my favorite examples. Then, I will guide you in starting to paint a new weekly spread.

The Weekly Log 1

With the night sky complete, I will now work on the foreground of my illustration: the trees. Then, I will add the moon and the stars. Once I'm happy with my artwork, I will use my fine liner pen and geometric triangle to incorporate the columns of my weekly log.

The Weekly Log 2

How can you use your time more efficiently? In this lesson, we will explore the bullet journal as a planning tool. I'll talk about introducing the habit of using it daily or weekly, in order to make your head clearer.

Enjoying the Journal

Sharing Your Work

You've put in the hard work, now it's time to share your result! The bullet journal community is one of the kindest communities I've ever seen online. I encourage you to get involved! Sharing your work can also provide you with new insights and friends. In this lesson, I will uncover some tips on how to capture pictures of your art and post them.

Fixing Mistakes

It's time to talk about the inevitable: mistakes! Making errors in your journal can be a terrible feeling. Luckily there are many tips and tricks that will decrease the visibility of these errors. Let me show you how I cover up my mistakes.

Module 7

Sometimes, a single image can say more than a thousand words. Hermen Lutje Berenbroek shows you how to turn your ideas into powerful visuals that simplify complexity. Through sketches and posters, you’ll learn to structure information and communicate concepts with clarity and creativity, opening new paths to solve meaningful challenges.

12 lessons (1h 46m)

Introduction to Visual Thinking

In this lesson, I'll explain what visual thinking is and, even more important, what it is not. We'll review why it is so human and effective, and how you can use visual thinking in your daily life or work.

Warming up Your Visual Brain

Let's warm up your visual thinking brain! This lesson will discover how powerful our brains are in recognizing patterns and how less drawing is required to communicate an idea.

Kicking off Drawing

This lesson is about the basics of drawing. I'll show you how to practice drawing using elemental shapes, and you'll learn to combine elements to create visuals easily – as simple as possible, not simpler.

Mastering Basic Drawing Skills

Here, I'll show you how to develop your drawing skills further, and how to practice drawing people, poses, and emotions.

Enhancing Your Drawing Skills

This lesson will add another layer of meaning to people: roles and interactions. We practice changing the meaning of icons by adding elements, labels, and symbols. It's important to explore ways to represent diversity and thereby produce inclusive drawings.

Story Structures

Armed with confidence and basic drawing skills, you can now draft stories. You'll learn to recognize visual frameworks and organize information visually.

Getting Started with Your Visual Presentation

This lesson starts with exploring the challenge of your project. We'll focus on the audience, who we need to tell this story, and what they need to know. Understanding your audience is essential to crafting compelling visuals.

Exploring the Audience

Once we know our target audience, objectives, and main focus areas, we can start working on the concepts. We map the current state of our challenge and address our audience's current pains. Then we imagine and visualize the gains of the future state.

Story Structures and Visual Concepts

In this lesson, I'll show you how to compose a concept to gather insights from your audience and refine your visual. It's essential to use the feedback from your audience to create a final visual presentation.

In this lesson, I'll introduce you to different use cases for visual thinking, and I'll give you a few tips to present your ideas in person or online. You'll learn how to capture feedback in different situations and expand your visual library.

Presentation Tips

Digital Tools to Draw and Organize Information Visually 1

Now, I'll give you a brief introduction to the interface and basic tools of three different drawing applications: Pro-create, Tayasui Sketches, and Adobe Fresco.

Digital Tools to Draw and Organize Information Visually 2

Finally, I'll show you how the animation app FlipaClip and the digital whiteboard Mural work and how they can help you organize your ideas.