Today I wanted to share with you an art prompt that that I keep coming back to: using deliberately illegible handwriting as a visual texture in digital Mixed Media. It’s a twist on asemic writing where the marks do have a personal meaning, but they’re so messy and obscured, that no one else can actually read them. It’s expressive, mysterious, and surprisingly freeing.
In the video, I’ll show my process to build up a layered collage using brushes from my Mixed Media and Greenery brush sets, then I’ll add chaotic, swirling, illegible text that gives the final piece a sense of movement and story. This prompt is perfect for art journaling or digital collage, especially if you’re craving something personal and intuitive.
Having trouble viewing the video? You can watch it on YouTube instead.
The Prompt: Use your own handwriting as a visual element by writing something personal in a deliberately messy, almost unreadable way, freeing yourself from perfection and adding and expressive texture to your artwork.
Use whatever brushes and palettes you like, add hidden journaling to something you’ve already made, or follow along with the steps and supplies I’ve listed below.
Supplies Mentioned
- Mixed Media Brush Set
- Greenery Brush Set
- Free Mixed Media Rainbow Palette
- Art Journaling Canvas Tutorial
Create a New Canvas
- Size: 3000 x 2000 pixels at 300 DPI (landscape format)
- Load the Mixed Media Rainbow Palette and select your brushes
Add Paper Texture
- On a new layer, stamp the Notebook Paper brush from the Mixed Media set using a pale color
- On another new layer, stamp the Kraft Paper 2 brush with a lighter brown tone
- Both brushes have a torn edge effect; stagger them for a layered paper collage feel
Add Botanical Layers
- Switch to the Greenery Brush Set
- From the “Build a Fern” section, add 4–5 different ferns in various shades of green, adjusting saturation and brightness each time
- Place each fern on its own layer for easier arrangement
- Group all fern layers and name the group “Ferns”
- Group the two paper layers and name the group “Paper”
Paint & Splatter for Texture
- Between the paper and fern groups, add a new layer
- Use the Dry Gesso brush to paint randomly in various colors from the palette: light green, pale blue, dark blue, yellow, pink, and white
- Use white to blend and soften areas behind the ferns
- Add a few splatters with the Sparse Splatter brush in both white and dark blue to add depth and tie the composition together
Hidden Handwriting Layer 1
- Create a new top layer
- Use the Toothy Fine Liner brush (Mixed Media set)
- Choose a dark blue color and begin your journaling in the messiest, most illegible handwriting possible
- Don’t overthink it, write whatever comes to your mind, knowing that it remains private
- Rotate the canvas to write around the ferns and shapes in your design
- Feel free to add ridiculous flourishes, imaginary letter shapes, and nonsense words
Hidden Handwriting Layer 2
- Create another new layer
- Use the same brush and switch to white ink
- Write over white or light areas of the background so your text becomes even more hidden
- Keep it messy, illegible, and overlapping with other elements
- This gives another layer of visual interest and personal meaning without sacrificing privacy
Final Touches
- Add one last top layer and name it “Splatters on Top”
- Use the Sparse Splatter brush in white to add some final marks, especially near focal points or gaps in the composition
Why This Prompt
This hidden journaling technique (also known as asemic writing) provides an opportunity to simultaneously create aesthetic appeal, and introspection. It lets you process thoughts while contributing to the visual story of your piece. The result can feel raw, expressive, and unexpectedly beautiful. You know what you wrote, but no one else has to know. From the perspective of an observer, your work remains abstract and open to interpretation.
I would love to see what you come up with! You’re very welcome to tag me on Instagram @alainajensen, use #alainajensenbrushes or share your work in our free facebook group.
If you have any questions please click here to contact me. I’m always happy to help!
You can click below for more information about the brushes.
Brushes: Mixed Media Collage
Brushes: Greenery
