7 Sketchbook Pages from My Journals: A Creative Life Practice

Reflecting on WHY I Do What I Do

It's come to my realization that I am bad at sharing glimpses into my creative process and sketchbooks! With 100s of sketches piling up in my journals and photo albums, I've decided to remedy that and start a new series. On y va !

Here are 7 pages (or moments) from my sketchbooks, art journals and creative practice — a disparate collection from different places, years, and moments. They are small pieces of a creative life, gathered over time and the creative reflection each moment gave me.

Have you tried anything like this below? How did the creative process make you feel afterward?

Paris Inspired Sketch Collage After One of My Daily Walks: Fall 2022.

I remember doodling and sketching this journal page from inspiration of a church I walked through that afternoon, and a photo I snapped along the way. I was falling madly in love with Paris at this time, and was obsessed about capturing each moment - that feeling one has when they are falling head over heels for something!

creative realization: Here was the technique I used to make this: I used a ripped page from a book on the bottom, messy acrylic washes for color, black and white photo from my mini canon printer and doodles with a black and gold pen. I could have kept it much simpler to get the same feeling, but spending time in different mediums while enjoying the process, even if more time consuming - is worth it!

Milestone Collage Book in Process: Fall 2025

This is my process for when I make a big collage accordion books. This was specifically for my dad on his 90th birthday! I had printed out loads of photos throughout his life and ephemera from milestones. This photo is of my favorite part of collaging - STORYTELLING!!!

creative realization: Don’t skip this step - organizing your collage materials so that it tells the story you intend to tell is key— and where the creativity becomes magical!

Art Journal Page: Hagia Sophia, Istanbul: Fall 2021

This was some of my earlier days where I was pushing myself to experiment more with not just drawing or creating sketches of my experiences (travels and day to day life) but incorporate my own photos…. Basically I was learning of ways I can actually USE those 1,000s of 1,000s of photos on my photo roll!

creative realization: I love interactive elements - aka the envelope on the journal page!

A Page from my Provence Journal: Inspired by Van Gogh - Early 2025

I have ALWAYS been inspired by the master artists… from all eras! I’m slowly remembering that sometimes a journal page is simply USING that inspiration and experimenting!

creative realization: A reminder that oil pastels are FUN!

A Page from my mini-Zine: A Pique Pique in Luxembourg Gardens

Thanks to my mom and dad - I too LOVE a good picnic. This one was make believe, but drawing it inspired me to take more in real life!

creative realization: I love writing in my journal pages and writing in French helps my language learning, even if I make mistakes… IN PEN! Ha!

A Portion of my Yearly Mood Board - January 1, 2026

This is a portion from the yearly mood board I create for myself. This is from this year, 2026! This rather new tradition (only several years old) is the highlight of my January 1st!

creative realization: I can look at this collage every day for a year, and even years later and still be in love with it as it represents me!

A Sketch on the Go at the Grande Mosquée de Paris - April 2023

I remember this day vividly. We were ending our first long stay in Paris (the one that changed the trajectory of our lives) and I was soaking in all the moments. On this beautiful spring day, I headed to the Grande Mosquée de Paris to capture the Moroccan inspired garden. I was prepping for my upcoming Moroccan Creative Tour that Fall and was looking for inspiration. It did not disappoint. While there I was transported to a different country entirely! 

creative realization: You don’t have to get on a plane to feel like you are traveling!!

If you’d like to explore this kind of creative practice more deeply, I share more information like this daily in my Creative Wanderlust Explorer Lounge - Join now for free and share your journal pages!