Try a one-material challenge
Limit yourself to just a black pen, or only stickers, or one paint colour. These mini-challenges push you to stretch the potential of a single tool and think outside the (pencil) box. Remember, da Vinci didn’t have ten types of brush pens—he only had curiosity

Present your day
The best way to start art journaling is with a bit of scrapwork. Use the tickets you bought today, food receipts, or small elements from your day. A leaf from your favourite park, a petal from the footpath you walk on every day, or even the regular conversations you overhear. Being socially aware gets your brain buzzing

The Internet is your realm
There are hundreds of accounts and channels on social media, especially Instagram, that focus on revamping the artist within you. With the help of accounts like @sisleymark, which provide everyday ideas for blank pages, you can boost your creative energy by following someone else’s guidance. You never know how another person’s creativity could rub off on yours

Tear and create
The best way to start something is by shredding it apart. You can tear bits of scrap paper and doodle using its shape and size. Just as we try to create something out of clouds in the sky, you can draw based on the tearing of your paper

Look outside the page
Take your journal to a park bench, a bus stop, or your local café. Sketch overheard conversations, passing shoes, or the feeling of the wind. Draw the traffic lights or the shiny bell on cycles. New environments can jolt your senses and your creativity. The more you soak in, the more you’ll pour out

Revisit the ‘ugly’ pages
Flip back to old pages that didn’t go as planned. Paint over them, collage on top, or turn them into something entirely new. Sometimes creativity isn’t about making—it’s about remaking. Your journal is your playground, not a museum