Set up your space

• A palette (or a simple white plate). Nowadays I often use a whole lot of small, round, stackable ceramic palettes. As an alternative you can use white or transparent plastic lids. Petri dishes are another good option and often have a lid to prevent paint leftovers from drying.

• Parchment or wax paper to protect your pages

• Paper clips to keep your pages flat

• Scissors

• Spray bottle

• Optional: craft heat gun (embossing tool) to speed up drying

• Water & a rag

• Something to protect your surface (old towel, table-cloth…)

• Something to protect your clothes (apron, old shirt...)

Your art journal

The best art journal will take all kinds of media really well and open flat from the first page to the last:

• You can make your own with a large pad of watercolor paper and THIS TUTORIAL

• The Dylusions journal is a good ready-made option

Painting tools

• Your fingers!

• Your choice of paintbrushes, including a medium-sized flat brush for collage

• An old plastic card (credit card, key card...) and/or palette knives

• White Gesso

• Optional: a small brayer

 Paints & inks

Acrylic paints and inks in your choice of colors (the ones you already love!) + Titanium White. Here are some of my favorite colors:

• Acrylic Paints: Raw Umber, Paynes Grey, Sap green, Gold, Turquoise Green, Titan Buff

• Acrylic inks: Titanium White, Raw Umber, Magenta, Turquoise, Paynes Grey, Yellow Orange

• Alcohol Inks: Light pastel set, brown set

• Distress Inks: Tattered Rose, Walnut Stain, Antique Linen

NB: These colors are part of my "personal palette". Before you go buy anything, I encourage you to take the time to explore YOUR palette, the color combinations that resonate with you the most. They’ll make your art more unique and special!