Art Journal Backgrounds

Art journal backgrounds are a wonderful way to set the tone for your pages — they give you a base to layer writing, collage, paint, and other mixed media.

Every art journal page starts with a background. You can plan the colors and designs that you want to use or design as you go. There are so many mediums that you can use. 

• Acrylic paints
• Watercolors
• Distress inks
• Distress crayons
• Gelatos

Other Materials For Art Journal Backgrounds

There is an abundance of materials all around you to create backgrounds on your art journal pages

• Tissue paper
• Paper towels
• Lint softener sheets
• Pages from books
• Coffee filters
• Tea bag paper
• Paper scraps

Start With A Gesso Base

But before you start on your actual page design, you want to consider adding gesso to your pages. Think of gesso as a primer that also strengthens the pages in your journal. You can use a clear, black or white gesso to prime your pages. Using a foam brush will create an even base. You can also apply the gesso with a brayer. 

You can use any paintbrush that you may have. With a thicker gesso you can add texture. Use different tools like a comb, a knife, a anything that you can think of to create a bit of texture on your page.

Make sure to wash any tools that you use right away so that the gesso does not have a chance to dry. You can also keep a basin of warm water nearby to throw your tools into.

Let the gesso air dry whenever possible before you start adding any more to your page.

Make sure to use some newspaper, parchment paper, waxed paper, or a craft mat on your surface before starting your page.

Simple Way To Create An Art Journal Background

The simplest way to create an art journal background is to simply cover it with color. You can use one color; you can use two or three colors. If you are doing a two-page layout, you can do on a page in one color and the other page in a different color. Remember, it is your art, your way! So, feel free to experiment with color as your mood and spirit directs you. Make sure to use a gesso base when you are adding wet media. 

• Cover the page with any type of paint: acrylic paint, crayon, sprays, watercolors, colored pencils, inks or sprays.
• Create a mix of a few colors to cover the page: you can apply them in stripes, circles, blobs or any other combination.
• Use watercolors to create a background for your art journal. Do not water the color down too much. Mix colors or create abstract shapes. 
• Gesso + Texture – Apply thick gesso, then press textured materials (lace, bubble wrap, fabric) into it before it dries

Types Of Layers

Collage Layers – Tear up old book pages, sheet music, or magazine clippings and glue them down; paint or gesso lightly over them to unify.

Acrylic Scrape – Use an old credit card or palette knife to scrape different colors of acrylic paint in layers.

Tissue Paper Wrinkles – Glue down crumpled tissue paper for a wrinkled, textured base that takes watercolor beautifully.

Stamp & Stencil Overlays – Layer stenciled shapes, stamps, or inked patterns between translucent paint washes.

Add More Elements To Your Page

Spray Inks

Get out your spray inks and have fun mixing colors. Go with one color or go crazy with colors. Just have fun.

Spray Wash

• Spray a small amount of one or two inks onto a palette or plastic plate.
• Lightly mist a piece of watercolor paper with water.
• Use a flat, moistened brush to apply a thin layer (wash) of the first color onto the paper.
• Clean brush in fresh water and apply another thin layer of the second color, blending them where they meet.

Ink Splatters

• Spray a small amount of one or two inks onto a palette or plastic plate.
• Lightly mist a piece of watercolor paper with water.
• Use a flat, moistened brush to apply a thin layer (wash) of the first color onto the paper.
• Clean brush in fresh water and apply another thin layer of the second color, blending them where they meet.
• Blot the ink splatters with a paper towel and allow to dry

Used Paper Towel Technique

If you keep paper towel in your craft space and use them to wipe up inks and pants. you can use them to create a background for your journal page. After you use the paper towel, just set them aside flat. Keep using them until you are satisfied that you have enough media on them. When you have enough. Cut them or rip them. Then use Mod Podge or decoupage medium to adhere them to your paper.

Natural Background Techniques

1. Sun Prints (Cyanotype Style) – Paint a blue background, lay down shapes, and then lighten areas for a sun-print look.
2. Cloudy Skies – Blend white and blue acrylics with a sponge for soft, fluffy cloud effects.
3. Pressed Leaves or Flowers – Glue down delicate botanical pieces under thin paper or gel medium.
4. Leaf Prints – Paint the underside of a leaf and press it to the page for natural prints.
5. Earth Tones + Organic Textures – Use browns, greens, and natural textures like sand, coffee, or tea stains.

Coffee Filter Technique

Coffee filters come in different sizes and shapes. The best thing is that you can come by them so reasonably. Once you have them there are many supplies that you can use to color them and apply them to your pages. You need a good-sized area where the media that you use will not get all over the place. One idea is to use a cardboard box to spray and apply media. You can also work outdoors when there is no wind. Once you get them colored, you can collage them onto a page as a background.

1. Watercolors-You can use watercolors, but don't use too much water or the coffee filters will break down.
2. Alcohol Inks-You can use alcohol inks sprays and reinkers to add color to your coffee filters.
3. Distress Inks-Place some distress inks on a silicone mat or a glass mat. Spray with some water. Then press the coffee filters into the color.
4. Coffee Or Tea Wash-If you want an aged look make some strong coffee or tea and let the solution cool a bit, Dip the filters into the solution. The amount of color that you get will depend how long you leave the filters in the solution.

Alcohol Marker Technique

All you need for this technique is some alcohol markers, some rubbing alcohol and a brayer,

1. Cover your surface with a craft pad or some waxed paper.
2. Scribble the alcohol maker of your choice on that surface.
3. Spritz the surface with rubbing alcohol.
4. Roll the brayer through the alcohol and the ink.
5. Roll the brayer on the paper in a vertical or horizontal direction.
6. Keep going till the paper is covered.

You have to be quick with this technique so that the ink does not dry out.

Acrylic Paint Ideas

Make sure to do a layer of gesso before starting with any acrylics.

1.Mixing Acrylic Paint With Baby Powder

As you work in your art journal you will want to use more creative approaches to your pages. Challenging yourself with new techniques is a great way to explore new options in your art.

Have you ever considered mixing other things with your acrylic paints to get a different effect?'

 Add a fair amount the acrylic paint with a bit of water in order to thicken up the paint.  

You could also do a similar technique by mixing it with a thicker matte medium or heavy matte medium.  It's a great way of thickening up your paint and really giving the page texture.

2. Acrylic Paint Blobs

Use your finger or a brush to create some random blobs. One the first color has dried, add more blobs in a second color.

https://youtu.be/UWwkGiSbjp8?si=fST60afz81URogHu

3. Messy Brush Strokes

Just paint some messy brush strokes in different directions with two to three different colors. Let each color dry before adding another. You can use the same sized brush or mix up different sizes. 

4. Just Drip Some Acrylic Paint 

Drop some paint on your page and let it drop down the page. Do this over some newspaper or a waste basket to catch what drips off the page. Can be done with slightly watered-down paint too. 

Use one color or several. Great technique over a solid color background.

5. Splatter Some Paint

Splattering paint is lots of fun. I prefer to use darker colors on top of lighter colors and lighter on darker colors. White is very effective on really dark colors.

Use a paint brush or an old toothbrush. Load with paint and hit the brush with your hand over the page. The closer to the page you go the larger your splatter will be.

Use this technique before you add any magazine images or any stenciling unless you are ok with splatters on those too.

Acrylic Washes

1. Thin some acrylic paint with water or matte medium.
2. Brush in layers for soft color blending.
3. Gives translucent and dreamy appearance.

Watercolor Background Ideas

Watercolor Wash

Wet the page with plain water, then load your paintbrush with color and run it over the paper. You can use one color or make stripes any direction you choose.

Adding Salt To Watercolors

​​Take a small handful of ordinary salt and add it to the watercolor.  This will create texture to the page as it reacts in the water. It is a good idea at this point to either speed up the drying with a heat tool or hairdryer or wait an hour for it to dry.

Watercolor Blooms

Normally when we use watercolors, we try to avoid allowing the watercolors to mix into each other. Wee, in this technique, that is exactly what you want! 

You can do this with the same color families or contrasting colors. Go where your imagination takes you. One thing to remember the wetter the color, the more muted the tone will be. But also, the wetter the color the better the colors will run into each other. 

You can also paint in one color and let the page dry. Then drop water droplets on it and watch what happens.

More Water Color Ideas

1. Watercolor Washes – Use gradient or wet-on-wet watercolor washes for dreamy, flowing backgrounds.
2. Drips & Splashes – Let watercolor, ink, or acrylic drip down the page for a loose, expressive effect.
3. Galaxy or Night Sky – Blend blues, purples, and blacks; splatter white paint for stars.

Collage And Mixed Media Background

Torn Paper Layers

1. Use cardstock bits and pieces, scrap paper, old book pages, tissue paper, old pa[aer or any kind of paper that you have to create a collage.
2. Glue the pieces down with matte medium.
3. Paint over the paper with gesso or light paint.

Stencils And Modeling Paste

1. Apply a stencil to the page. Make sure to secure the stencil to the page with painter's tape or washi tape. You will want it as flat as possible.
2. Apply the modeling paste over the stencil with a palette knife.
3. Carefully remove the stencil lifting it straight up off the page.
4. Let the page air dry.
5. Paint over the raised areas.

Create A Background Page With Recycled Materials

It is easy to create background pages with materials that you use every day in your home. Be creative and save your craft budget by using what you have.

On this page, I started by mixing inks on the page after I had covered the page with a gesso base. Once the gesso had dried, I inked and blended some distress inks. Then I took some used drier softener sheets to add some layers to the pages.

I used Mod Podge to adhere the drier sheets to add some dimension. Then I added the same color inks on top of the drier sheets once they are dry. I had some bits and pieces from my junk journal stash that I wanted to use,

I am still thinking of adding a few more things, so the page may not be completely finished.

Have we inspired you to create more art journal pages? Please leave a comment, suggestion or idea at the bottom of the page

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Linda

 

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How To Add Watercolors To An Art Journal Page