Heidi Cogdill

New Lined Journal Available

As someone who loves to write and always has a million ideas floating around in my head, I’m constantly on the hunt for the perfect journal. When I started designing my own journals it became an obsession! Now every time I need a specific journal I just design one myself and have Amazon print them for me and…YOU!

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This time the cover design came before the actual size or style needed. I was putting together new vintage ephemera packs with my latest vintage finds and I just loved the way the papers looked all weathered and tattered with the old script fading into the paper. I decided to convert one of my drawings into digital and then use the vintage ephemera as a background. I loved the design so much that I knew I had to make it a journal. I’m typically a girl who likes a thicker journal, but I’d been needing a thinner journal, so I decided to create a 100-page journal this time.

The cover turned out so cute and the pages are thick and high-quality. It feels really nice to write in, and the lines are spaced perfectly, which makes it super easy to keep my writing neat and organized.

I’ve been using this journal for everything from jotting down ideas for creative projects to making to-do lists, and it’s been such a helpful tool for me. It’s also small enough to take on the go, so I can jot down ideas or make a quick note wherever I am.

If you’re in need of a new journal or just looking for a way to stay organized, definitely give this one a try. You won’t be disappointed.

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Art activities for self-discovery

Looking for a creative way to explore your inner self? Why not try an art activity? Creating art can be a powerful way to express your inner thoughts and feelings, and to better understand yourself and the world around you. Here are some ideas for art activities that can help you on your journey of self-discovery:

Create a mandala. Mandalas are patterns created with circles and other shapes that can be used as a meditative practice. Creating a mandala can help you reflect on your current state of mind and help you to focus on your thoughts and feelings.

Paint or draw your feelings. Take some time to sit down and paint or draw your feelings. It can be a therapeutic way to express what’s going on inside without needing to use words.

Create a vision board. Vision boards are a great way to express what you want to manifest in your life. Gather images, quotes, and other visual representations of your goals, dreams, and aspirations, and create a collage to reflect what you want to bring into your life.

Make a self-portrait. Self-portraits can be a powerful way to explore your identity and how you see yourself. Try to capture not only your physical appearance but also your emotions, thoughts, and ideas.

Write a poem or story. Writing can be a great way to express yourself and to explore your feelings and thoughts. Take some time to write a poem or story about yourself and what you’re going through.

These are just a few ideas for art activities that can help you on your journey of self-discovery. Give one or more of them a try and see what insights you can gain!

What is a vision journal and how to create one of your own

Learn how to create your very own vision journal and unlock the full potential of your creativity. This step-by-step guide will show you how to clarify your goals, stay motivated, and track your progress, all while providing a creative outlet. Plus, get helpful tips and tricks specifically for artists. Start creating your vision journal today and bring your dreams to life!

Creating a vision journal is a powerful way to bring clarity to your life and manifest your dreams. A vision journal is a special notebook where you can write down your goals and aspirations, as well as record your progress towards achieving them. It helps you to focus on the positive and align your actions with your desired outcomes.

Why create a vision journal?

There are many benefits to creating a vision journal:

It helps you clarify your goals and priorities. By writing down your aspirations, you can better understand what you want to achieve and how you want to get there.
It keeps you motivated and focused. Seeing your goals and plans written down in front of you can help you stay motivated and on track.
It allows you to track your progress. By revisiting your vision journal regularly, you can see how far you have come and celebrate your accomplishments.
It provides a creative outlet. Whether you use words, drawings, or collages, creating a vision journal can be a fun and creative activity.

How to make the most of it.

Get organized: Start by determining the structure of your vision journal. Give each goal a section and make sure you have enough room to record your thoughts, ideas, and progress.
Set your goals: After you’ve organized your vision journal, it’s time to set your goals. Be specific and realistic with your goals and be sure to include a timeline for completion.
Record your progress: As you work towards achieving your goals, make sure to track your progress in your vision journal. This will help you stay motivated and stay on track.
Get creative: Your vision journal is a great place to let your creativity shine. Use colorful markers, stickers, or other decorations to make your vision journal fun and inspiring.
Reflect and review: Finally, make sure to review your vision journal regularly. This will help you to stay focused and on track with your goals.

How to create a vision journal:

Choose a journal or notebook that you love. The journal should be small enough to carry with you, but large enough to allow for plenty of space to write and draw.
Set aside some time each week to work on your vision journal. It can be helpful to set aside a specific day and time for this activity, such as Sunday mornings or Monday evenings.
Start by writing down your long-term goals and aspirations. These could be career goals, personal goals, or creative goals.
Break down your long-term goals into smaller, more manageable steps. For example, if your goal is to write a book, you could break it down into smaller tasks such as outlining the plot, writing a certain number of pages each day, and revising the manuscript.
Include ideas, inspirations, and insights that come to you. Your vision journal can be a place to jot down ideas for projects, quotes that inspire you, or observations about the world around you.
Add visuals to your journal, if desired. You can use drawings, collages, or other visual elements to help you visualize your goals and bring them to life.
Review and update your vision journal regularly. Set aside time each week to look back at your journal and reflect on your progress. Update your goals and plans as needed, and celebrate your accomplishments.

Creating a vision journal is a great way to bring clarity to your life and manifest your dreams. Don’t be afraid to get creative and make the most of your vision journal. With a bit of time and effort, you’ll be sure to reach your goals in no time.

Tips and tricks for artists:

Use your vision journal as a sketchbook. You can use your journal to sketch out ideas for artwork, try out new techniques, or experiment with color schemes.
Incorporate prompts and challenges. You can use prompts such as “What would you like to create this year?” or “What is your dream project?” to spark creativity and inspire new ideas.
Keep your vision journal with you at all times. This way, you can capture ideas and inspirations as they come to you, no matter where you are.
Use your vision journal as a portfolio. You can use it to keep track of your artworks and exhibitions, and to document your creative process and evolution as an artist.

Ways to use gesso in art journaling

Gesso is an essential product for any mixed media artist, and it’s especially useful in art journaling. In case you’re not familiar with it, gesso is a white, opaque paint used to prime surfaces for painting, drawing, or mixed media art. It helps to create a smooth, even surface for your artwork, and it also helps to protect your pages from damage caused by paints, markers, and other media.

If you’re new to art journaling, you might be wondering how to use gesso in your work. Here are a few ways that gesso can be used to enhance your art journaling practice:

As a primer: One of the most common uses for gesso is as a primer for your art journal pages. If you’re working on paper, gesso will help to create a smooth surface that’s ready for paints, markers, and other media. If you’re working on a canvas or other porous surface, gesso will help to seal the surface and create a barrier between the canvas and your art materials.
As a background: Gesso can also be used to create a solid white or off-white background for your art journal pages. Simply apply a coat of gesso to your page and allow it to dry before adding any other media. This can be a great way to create a clean, minimalist background for your artwork.
As a resist: Gesso is also useful as a resist medium, which means that it can be used to block out areas of your art journal page that you don’t want to be covered with paint or other media. To use gesso as a resist, simply apply it to your page in the shape or pattern that you want to protect. When you add your other media, the gesso will resist the paint, creating a negative space in your artwork.
As a texture: If you’re looking to add texture to your art journal pages, gesso is a great option. You can use a palette knife or other tool to create texture in the gesso before it dries, or you can mix it with other media like sand or glitter to create a more textured surface.
As a writing surface: Finally, gesso can be used to create a surface that’s suitable for writing on. If you’re using a journal with thin, delicate pages, gesso can help to create a more durable surface that’s less prone to damage from pens and markers.

Overall, gesso is a versatile and essential product for any mixed media artist, and it’s especially useful in art journaling. Whether you’re using it as a primer, background, resist, texture, or writing surface, gesso is sure to enhance your art journaling practice and help you create beautiful, professional-looking artwork.

Benefits of commonplace books for artists

For artists, commonplace books can be incredibly beneficial tools for inspiring creativity and organizing ideas. Commonplace books are notebooks or journals in which you can record meaningful thoughts, quotes, observations, and other inspirations. By having a single repository for these items, artists can easily refer back to them and use them as a source of inspiration.

Commonplace books can also be great for documenting creative processes. Instead of having to search through files, emails, and other digital clutter, a commonplace book can be used to keep track of ideas, notes, and other information related to a project. Artists can also use a commonplace book to create a timeline for projects and create a visual representation of the creative process.

Moreover, commonplace books can be a great way to help artists practice mindfulness. Instead of going straight to the canvas or digital workspace, taking a few moments to write down ideas and thoughts can give the mind a moment to rest, clear away distractions, and find focus.

Overall, commonplace books can be great tools for artists to capture ideas, organize their creative processes, and practice mindfulness. By taking the time to create and maintain a commonplace book, artists can reap the rewards of a more organized, focused, and creative lifestyle.

I have a class all about creating Commonplace Books on Skillshare.

Enroll through Skillshare:

With a membership to Skillshare, you’ll get access to my entire class catalog, including this class. New members can unlock a free one-month trial.

Favorite Books Currently On My Nightstand

I get asked all the time about the books I’m reading so I thought I’d share some of my favorites that are currently on my nightstand. I’m an avid reader and I’m always looking for something new to read. Here are a few of my favorite books I’m currently reading:

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen: A beautiful and touching story. This book is as magical and enchanting as all of Sarah’s other books. She’s a favorite author of mine! She tells a story in such a beautiful and lyrical way.
The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman: It’s about a middle-age woman returning home and reconciling with her sister. She helps with their family bookstore and gets her Happy-Ever-After after a lonely life. This is a short read at only 36 pages, but it’s a powerful story and so worth the read.
The Art of Aliveness: A Creative Return to What Matters Most by Flora Bowley: Artist Flora Bowley Flora outlines the creative tools she uses every day to live a life full of more joy, play and healing! It’s a great read.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill: I’ve heard about this book for years and been told by so many to read it, so I finally decided to pick this one up. I think the thing I love most, besides the history of the people the author is speaking about (I’m a sucker for history) is how he speaks to mindset and the power our thoughts have. I’ve been surprised by this book. I think it’s a necessary read for everyone.
Make Your Art No Matter What by Beth Pickens: This book is a great support book for artists. It discusses obstacles we go through as artists and how we can support our work.
Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan: Mia is a new author to me, but so far this is a heart-wrenching love story and I’m here for it!!

What about you? Any great reads?? Tell me!!

How to use vintage ephemera paper in art journaling

Are you looking for a way to add some vintage charm to your art journaling? Look no further than vintage ephemera paper! Ephemera paper can be found in antique stores, flea markets, and online. It’s typically paper with a vintage style, such as old postcards, letters, newspaper clippings, and more.

I use vintage ephemera paper in my art journal, collage art and even in the backgrounds of my canvas paintings. I started collecting vintage ephemera when I was just a teenager and it’s still one of my favorite things to look for. I’ve even been selling vintage ephemera packs in my Etsy shop, so if you are interested in picking up a curated pack of papers, jump on other there.

Using vintage ephemera paper in art journaling can add a unique and eye-catching touch to your artwork. Here are a few ideas for getting started.

Use vintage ephemera paper as a background. Cut a piece of ephemera paper to the size of your journal page and glue it down. You can then use other media such as paint, pencils, markers, and more to create a design on top.
Cut ephemera paper into shapes and use them to create a collage. This is a great way to add texture and dimension to your journal pages.
Use ephemera paper as a template. Trace the outline of a piece of ephemera paper onto your journal page and fill it in with other media.
Create a pocket page. Cut a piece of ephemera paper in half, fold it in half, and glue it onto your journal page. You can then slip in other small pieces of paper, photos, and more.
Use ephemera paper to make a mini book. Cut a few pieces of ephemera paper to the same size, fold them in half, and bind them together with ribbon or string.

As you can see, there are many creative ways to use vintage ephemera paper in art journaling. Have fun experimenting and don’t forget to share your creations with me!

Embrace failures to grow as an artist

As an artist, it can be easy to get discouraged when we don’t meet our goals or feel like we’re not making progress. However, it’s important to remember that failure is an essential part of the creative process. By embracing our mistakes and learning from them, we can expand our horizons and become even better artists. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your failures:

Acknowledge your mistakes: Acknowledge that you have made a mistake and accept that it is part of the learning process.
Reflect on your failure: Take time to reflect on why you failed and identify any patterns in your work.
Use failure as an opportunity: Use the failure as an opportunity to innovate and come up with new ideas.
Find the right support: Find support from people who can help you learn and grow as an artist.
Keep trying: Don’t give up and keep trying until you reach your goals.

Embracing failure is an important part of the creative process, and it can help you become a better artist. So don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and use them as an opportunity to grow and learn.

Purchase Individual Art Classes

Many of you have asked to purchase my classes individually instead of paying for a Skillshare membership. So you can now take three of my classes hosted here on my site.

More classes will be available soon!

Once you register and pay, (within 24 hours) you’ll receive an email confirmation with class information and login password.

IMPORTANT – You’ll have unlimited access to this class. You will be able to access this class at any time and you’ll be able to work at your own pace.

Class will be held on a private blog that only registered student can access.

Free Art Magazine: Creative Muse

I wanted to create something fun for my newsletter subscribers but felt that all the options were overdone. I decided what better than an art magazine full of fun projects, worksheets, coloring sheets, color palettes, supply guides, and tons more. So that’s what I set out to create and I’m so excited to announce that the magazine is ready to go.

If you are a current subscriber the email with the free 76-page magazine already hit your inbox, so go check it out.

If you aren’t yet a subscriber, that’s okay, there is still time to get your copy of Creative Muse.