How I began my illustrated journal

Dive into a captivating tale of creativity and self-expression in this video, where I share my 25-year journey with illustrated journaling. This journey began in a small basement section of Tower Records in New York City, where I stumbled upon a handmade zine titled "Moonlight Chronicles." The simplicity and intimacy of this personal diary, filled with hand-drawn illustrations, sparked a profound shift in my creative life.

🎨 Inspiration from 'Moonlight Chronicles': Discover how D. Price's simple yet evocative journal, depicting his life in a tiny Oregon town, became my window to a world of minimalism and creativity. His handmade life, documented with pen drawings and personal anecdotes, inspired me to capture my own experiences in New York City through a similar lens.

🌿 Embracing Simplicity and Authenticity: Witness how D. Price's choice to live a frugal, self-sufficient life on the Snake River, far from the bustling streets of Manhattan, exemplifies the beauty of simplicity. His unique lifestyle, captured in his zine, juxtaposes my life in a big city, creating a rich, ironic tapestry of experiences.

✏️ The Art of Illustrated Journaling: Learn about the transformative power of journaling with drawings and words. I share techniques and insights from my journey, encouraging you to start your own illustrated journal, regardless of your artistic skills. This practice is not just about art, but a deeper contemplation of life.

🔄 A Journey of Mutual Inspiration: Explore the friendship and creative exchange between me and D. Price, leading to adventures and shared artistic experiences. Our journey highlights the impact of mutual inspiration and the evolution of our respective artistic pursuits.

🌟 The Lasting Impact of a Creative Life: Reflect on how D. Price's approach to journaling and living influenced not just me, but many others. Although he no longer publishes his zine or journals, his legacy continues to inspire and guide new generations of journal keepers.

📘 Start Your Own Illustrated Journal: I invite you to embark on this fulfilling journey. Grab a pen and sketchbook, and start documenting your life, from the mundane to the extraordinary. Share your experiences and progress in the comments below.

Remember, an illustrated journal is more than a collection of drawings; it's a reflection of your life, growth, and the beauty around you. Start today, and let your journal be a canvas for your thoughts, experiences, and creativity.

No matter your level of talent or experience, you can learn to draw and I am going to teach you how, starting with this intro to my drawing tutorials. All you need is a pen, some paper, and a little time.

📚 Some of my Books:

Share your thoughts and questions by replying to any of my essays.

👉 Stay Connected:
Check out my other videos for more inspiration and practical advice on living a creatively fulfilling life. And don't forget to subscribe!

Your support and interaction mean the world to me. Let's embark on this creative journey together!

#IllustratedJournaling #CreativeInspiration #ArtisticJourney #DannyGregory

[nichadaye]

I had a drawing teacher and he made us carry a sketchbook. We had to fill the book by the end of the semester. It was him that changed me to draw in my book. He passed away suddenly and he changed me.

[astridarroyave]

You are not only a great artist, but a wonderful storyteller as well!

[bigblue]

In a time when everything is high tech and highly polished you can see why something so human can appeal.

[skywatcher]

You inspired me a while back and I started journaling. Now I have started drawing little pictures and coloring them with colored pencils. And I am watching drawing tutorials to improve my artistic endeavors. I'm almost halfway through my first journal. It is helping my memory and I quite enjoy my penmanship. It is nice to see little pops of color as I review my pages.

[Akforgetmenot]

❤I love this advice! My sister has always journaled, and she encouraged me to journal. I would always complain. I never knew what to write in a journal. Then three years ago, I had a ruptured aneurysm in my brain and had to be life flighted out of my state spent a month in ICU while they fixed it and found that I had two other aneurysms in my brain, which they also secured. After spending a month in ICU and coming back home, my sister stayed with me for the first few weeks while my husband worked out of town. Now she had me as her captive audience and she plopped in front of me a journal and said start journaling. With much skepticism I started, but continued every day that she was there. She said, just write down anything whatever you eat what you did. So I did now I journal every day. It doesn’t matter what you write. She has done the same thing with me with drawing and art. I have always wanted to make art of any kind but drawing and painting in particular. So now I try to make the time to do a little bit of drying every day. Sometimes it’s just a mushroom or a flower. Combining the two is such a sweet mixture of creativity. I’ve always loved illustrated journaling, and I thank you for encouraging to just start.

[eggbunni]

This is the coolest story. I don’t hear many people having experiences like this anymore!

[LauraRebecca]

Hey Danny! Just stumbled on this video while searching for some guidance on making Illustrated Journals. I remember that 'zine section in Tower Records in the village!! What a cool story. I just started making an illustrated journal a little over a year ago, and began publishing some pages in my monthly newsletter. This is very inspiring and I'll definitely be watching more of your videos!

[hanichay]

I have started an everything notebook because when sketching and journaling are separate activities I never seem to do both as regularly as I want to. Now I combine them and it’s working. Loved this video. Amazing.

[JJsketchbook]

I have D.Price’s books and return to them regularly. Many years ago it was your own book Creative Licence that inspired me to keep an illustrated journal, of which I now have over 50. I too am so grateful to you for that and whenever someone sees me and asks, “are you an artist?” (Which happens a lot), I say, “I keep a sketchbook. I read a book my a man called Danny Gregory and since then I’ve been drawing.”

[hushingsilence]

Been both drawing and journaling a long time. But for a period of time, I switched to drawing *and* writing about my own simple life. Rule #1: No pre-pencil sketch, just rule-free drawing. It could look as bad or stupid as it turned out. No pressure.

After a bit I developed a cartoon of myself, and wrote and drew all sorts of stuff about my day. I used a medium point sharpie (the slender ones, very hard to find in medium point), and colored pencil. And I loved it. After a few months, I drifted away from the drawing, and went back to the writing again, while I took my art in yet another direction.

Today, I think I'll grab a medium point sharpie, my box of colored pencils, and draw and write about the nothing really noteworthy that makes up my life. 🙂 Thanks for letting me share.

[tarrynclaassen]

Oh my goodness! What an absolute GOLDMINE of a youtube channel. I am 35 and I cannot express how relevant and inspiring these videos are for me. A thousand thank-you's.

[deskyard-art]

I started two days ago. I am so glad I found my authenticity by watching some of your videos. It gave me confidence, fearlessness in my own art. I drew and posted it on my WhatsApp status❤

[elizabethbarnes]

Hi Danny. I am RELISHING this video (although I love All your videos). But this particular video hits all the bases for me, the simple life, drawing, journaling and sharing. Mr. Price’s journal and story and your friendship with him are just so inspiring. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.. it has re-energized my art-soul and I can’t wait to get going on my journals today. Thank you so much. 🤗🤗

[donna-elizabeth]

Such a fascinating story. Discovering D.Price's zine in a basement in a record store was meant to be. I have these moments with books in charity shops - as though they were calling me at that very moment and I was always meant to have read them! Thanks for sharing.

[rebekahcrossman]

I now will forever regret not ever having known about the zines while Tower Records still existed. This one is truly a treasure; so much life contained on just a few pages. I’m 62yrs old and just discovered i can draw and began keeping my own sketch journal with drawings, various insect wings, my thoughts and so many discoveries, etc… even at this age! I’m so glad I found your video because I really enjoyed your expressing such appreciation for another’s “inside world”. It’s nice knowing we’re our own little community of people who’ve discovered we can do this! This zine, (or was it zeen?) is truly amazing.

[daniesza]

I always kept a journal and then stopped. This is a brilliant idea to let two birds free with one turn of the page.

[NarcissaFord]

I kept illustrated journals for years, since i was an architecture student. and then life got really dark and i gave up. I never thought i'd ever be starting again. Thank you for giving me that back. I already started a new journal.

[christineoosthuizen]

Thank you for your encouraging talks... I started daily drawings a few weeks ago, and yesterday I could say to myself... "It is not perfect, but it us authentic!" Drawing has bacome a happy healthy addiction now! ❤

[SlowLivingSligo]

After watching several of your videos, I began my journal two days ago. I can’t tell you how proud I am of it already and even though the sketches (a drawing of my paintbox, sketches of my daughters watching tv and a cartoon of me in my workshop) are far from perfect, I keep looking at them and thinking, “Wow! I drew that!” I’m already addicted and I’m starting to notice little things in my life more and want to draw them and record them. It’s a totally new adventure! Many, many thanks 😊

[Mr.Dishwasher]

I just drew and wrote in a page of a sketchbook that's gone unused for months because of this video, I'm going to try to continue using it as my own illustrated journal. I'm not sure why I never considered that I could both write and draw on the same page, before I always had a sketchbook for drawing and a journal for writing, but I love this style and can't wait to fill more pages. Thank you Danny :)