Grid Journaling: A Playful Approach to Abstract Art

 Feeling Stuck in Your Art? Let’s Fix That.

Okay, tell me if this sounds familiar: You finally carve out some time to make art, sit down with all your beautiful supplies, and… nothing. Total blank. You start questioning everything—Do I even know what I’m doing? What if I mess up? Maybe I should just clean my studio instead? (Spoiler alert: that’s a trap! 😆)

Listen, we’ve all been there. The blank page can be intimidating, but I’ve got a solution that makes it way less scary: grid journaling. This simple but wildly effective technique helps you bust through creative blocks, explore new ideas, and build confidence—all while actually having fun instead of stressing over every brushstroke.

Oh, and I’ve got a whole YouTube video walking you through exactly how to do this. Watch the full video here

What Is Grid Journaling?

Think of it as your creative playground. You take a journal page (or any piece of paper) and divide it into a grid—let’s say 18 squares to keep things interesting. Each square is a tiny art experiment where you play with marks, textures, and colors. Same color palette across the board, but totally different approaches in each section.

It’s structured and freeing at the same time. It gives you just enough constraint to keep you from spiraling into overwhelm but enough freedom to explore without pressure.

Why Grid Journaling Is a Game-Changer for Artists

1. It Gives You a Safe Space to Experiment

Ever feel like every piece you make has to be good? Grid journaling smashes that pressure to bits. Since each square is small and low-stakes, you can try new techniques without worrying about “ruining” anything. Mess up? No biggie. You’ve got 17 more chances.

2. It Helps You Discover Your Artistic Tendencies

Patterns emerge when you do this regularly. Maybe you gravitate toward certain color schemes, marks, or compositions without realizing it. Grid journaling makes your instincts visible, so you can either embrace them or push yourself in new directions.

3. It Trains You to Let Go of Perfectionism

Since no single square is meant to be a masterpiece, you stop overthinking and start trusting your intuition. You learn to appreciate the process instead of fixating on the end result. That’s a huge mindset shift that carries over into the rest of your art practice.

4. It Breaks You Out of Creative Ruts

When you challenge yourself to fill a grid with different ideas, you’re forced to step outside your usual habits. This leads to happy accidents, fresh ideas, and creative breakthroughs. It’s like shaking up a snow globe—the same elements are there, but they rearrange in totally new ways.

5. It’s Just Plain Fun

Let’s be honest—sometimes we make art way more serious than it needs to be. Grid journaling brings back the joy of play. No pressure, no expectations, just exploration and curiosity.

How to Get Started with Grid Journaling

1. Grab a journal (or any piece of paper—don’t overcomplicate it).

2. Draw a grid (I like 18 squares, but you do you).

3. Pick a color palette (limiting your options actually helps).

4. Experiment in each square—different marks, layers, textures, whatever comes to you in the moment.

5. Release the need for perfection and just let yourself play.

Ready to Try It? Let’s Do This.

I’ve put together a FREE ‘Grid Journaling Made Easy’ guide that walks you through the whole process—grab it HERE.

If you give this a try, let me know how it goes! Drop a comment or DM me a pic—I’d love to see what you come up with. Happy creating!