In our fast-paced world, taking a moment to reflect on all the things we are grateful for each day can be a grounding and transformative practice. A gratitude journal is a great way to acknowledge all the big and small blessings in our lives.

Whether you’re an artist or a beginner, incorporating colour, texture, and imagery can expand your journaling practice, lending it more impact, fun, and creativity. This is also especially good for people who dislike long-form writing. There are times, for example, when I don’t feel like constructing long sentences just to record a meaningful memory. That’s why mark making, doodling, drawing, and sticking things are fun alternatives.

Your gratitude journal will become a visual diary that brings you joy each time you reflect on it and serves as a source of inspiration during challenging times.

A Note to the Perfectionist: Start with Your Favourite Stationery, Rather Than Fancy "Artist Supplies"

To begin your gratitude art journal practice, always have your favourite stationery supplies at hand so you don’t need to look for them each time you begin. You can start with a simple sketchbook or lined journal and colored pencils, pens, markers, highlighters, and washi tape. The idea is to use very simple tools that you are already familiar with instead of looking for expensive "artist" supplies.

A mistake many people make when starting a journal is trying to create something perfect that looks ‘beautiful.’ Starting with this in mind can be a trap that hinders us from jotting down our experiences honestly. For example, when we start with stationery that feels too precious—like specialty paper or limited-edition washi tape—we may hesitate to use it freely, fearing we make a mistake and ‘waste’ it. This mindset can become a stumbling block to our journaling process.

Instead, we can use simple, everyday stationery that we feel comfortable with, or recycled shopping bags, magazines and packaging made of nice materials that we would normally throw out. By doing this, we can avoid a perfectionist attitude and record our most honest reactions on paper.

Artful Ways to Express Gratitude

Daily Doodles & Sketches: Dedicate a small space each day to draw something you’re grateful for—a cup of noodles, a bee, a cozy corner of your home.
Collage of Gratitude: Create a mini vision board of gratitude inside your journal by pasting images, textures, and words that represent things you appreciate.
Use Colour to Capture Memories: Add splashes of colour that reflect your mood of the day or memory of the day—e.g., your favourite sports team colour or a bright yellow umbrella on a rainy day. Use highlighters, coloured pencils, pens, or watercolour.
Stick Anything: Stick keepsakes like tags, labels, ticket stubs, dried leaves—flat objects can be stuck to your journal, then add gratitude notes around these. Have a collection of stickers such as emoji stickers, word stickers, or mood stickers at hand.
Quote and Affirmation Pages: Have a section on quotable quotes and every time you hear/read a quote you love, rewrite it here using your favourite pen or write it on textured paper and stick it in.
Memory Maps: Sketch a memorable moment, surrounding it with notes about why it was meaningful.
Capture Gratitude on the Go: Jot down a running list on Post-its when you experience a moment of gratitude, ie. a call from an old friend, a vibrant orange sunset. Later, you can draw or expand on them in your journal.

Tip: It’s useful to record the date each time so you can look back on it retrospectively.

Aside from this, handwritten letters of thanks are a joy to receive. Write short letters of appreciation to people, that have brought joy into your life. Write them on old postcards, the back of photographs, polaroids or recycled paper.

Making It a Habit

It doesn’t have to take long—set aside a few minutes daily or weekly to add to your journal. Treat it as a sacred, meditative practice rather than an obligation. Over time, your gratitude art journal will become a cherished keepsake, filled with visual reminders of life’s blessings.

Gratitude expressed through art is a powerful tool for self-reflection, joy, and personal growth. Whether you prefer simple doodles or intricate paintings, the act of creating while giving thanks can bring a sense of peace and fulfilment.