30 Day Art Journal Challenge

Have you ever started a creative challenge, only to find yourself in the middle of it saying to yourself “Oh no! What have I gotten myself into?!“ I know I have. (I’m looking at you, #100daychallenge!) So I’ll (also) admit that when I started the 30 Day Art Journal Challenge with CreativeBug and Get Messy Art Journal I was a bit worried I’d feel the same way.

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Well, it’s 10 days into it and I can happily report: it has been so much fun!

I think that’s the great thing about art journaling — it’s fun, creative, and even cathartic, without any pressure! You don’t have to be precious or perfect — or even any “good” (whatever that means, anyway!) You just put your ideas to paper, and you’re golden. And, if you “mess up” (or just really dislike a page or spread) you can always cover it up with something else and try again. (I’ve done that a couple of times now! 😂)

This 30 Day Art Journal Challenge is hosted on CreativeBug but I love the fact that the ladies from Get Messy Art Journal are also sharing live videos during the week on Instagram of their different takes on that day’s project. I also love following the hashtag — #creativebuggetsmessy — to see what everyone else is making! Talk about different takes! Art journalers are just so creative, I swear.

Another cool thing about this challenge is that you can start it at any time! If you’re reading this half-way through, or even in 2 or 22 months from now, you can still go to CreativeBug and start the challenge today! (Bonus: you can get a free trial at this link!)

Anyway, below are my first 10 days of pages of the 30 Day Art Journal Challenge. I hope you enjoy them:

Day #1:

We were supposed to use a photo on day one, but I didn’t have a recent one (and because I’d recently dyed my hair pink, I wanted to show that!) So I just drew this “portrait” of myself.

Day #2:

I used some old artwork I made (but didn’t love exactly as they were — but also didn’t want to throw out!) in some of the layers for day 2.

Day #3:

I kept it simple for Day 3!

Day #4:

Another simple art journal spread for day 4.

Day #5:

We used a certain technique for day 5 that, no offense to the instructors, I didn’t really love. So I put my own spin on it. Can you guess what it was?

Day #6:

This is one that I didn’t love… but I also don’t hate. And it’s really true: art DOES cure boredom!

Day #7:

This is a cover-up page that I really love! And I actually like that you can see some of the blue from the previous version of the page. I’m pretty bad at hand-lettering, so this “joy” felt like a real win for me!

Day #8:

I was missing some of the supplies the instructor suggested for this spread, but I’m not mad about it, at all! I actually really love how it came out.

Day #9:

This was quick and simple, and feels so calm and minimal to me, even though I combined florals and text and a vintage ledger page… I think it looks sweet all together in the end.

Day #10:

This was another cover-up page that was simple, easy, and I like how it turned out!

If you’d like to see what I create over the next 20 days (and beyond!) in the 30 Day Art Journal Challenge you can follow me at @joyfulartjournaling on Instagram. And if you are an art journaler, a sketchbook artist, or an avid bullet journaler, please use #joyfulartjournaling so I can find you and possibly feature you on my account!