Are you looking for some art journal theme ideas to try this October?
Nothing brings us back to the charm of autumn more than getting ready in our comfiest sweaters and creating pumpkin-filled art journal cover pages with all the memories and festivities of the season.
Whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or anything in between, October is packed full of possibilities that are great to draw. So here are some fantastic October art journal cover page ideas. So you can make this month memorable!
Cover pages are some of the best ways to pick a theme and aesthetics for your Art Journal monthly setup, plus they are super fun to create!
Before we dive into those, I wanted to let you know there are some free printables for you at the end of the post, so be sure to check those out.
October Art Journal Cover Page Ideas
Considering that the number of theme ideas is limited only by your imagination, it’s easy to create never-ending posts with so many beautiful cover pages.
But let’s focus on the inspiration that makes you happy and smile.
I would like to suggest some ideas for your art journal cover page in October. Also, I will show my October art journal cover page.
October Art Journal cover illustration ideas
October offers a wide range of themes and inspirations for illustrations.
Here are ten theme ideas for October illustrations:
Halloween Delights: Illustrate a spooky scene with jack-o’-lanterns, ghosts, witches, and bats. You can make it whimsical or eerie, depending on your style.
Autumn Harvest: Create a bountiful illustration featuring pumpkins, apples, corn, and other fall crops. Add a rustic feel with a basket or a farmer’s market stall.
Fall Foliage: Capture the beauty of changing leaves with a detailed illustration of a tree or a forest in various shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Cozy Reading Nook: Illustrate a cozy nook with a comfy chair, a warm blanket, and a stack of books. This theme is perfect for those who love to read during the fall.
Chuseok scene: Celebrate the Korean holiday Chuseok (Day of the Korean Thanksgiving Days) with colorful Korean Hanbok, food, and the full moon.
Spice and Warmth: Depict a steaming cup of hot apple cider, a pumpkin spice latte, or a bowl of hearty soup. Convey the warmth and comfort of autumn beverages and meals.
Moonlit Night: Create a mystical scene under the moonlight with a full moon, silhouetted trees, and maybe a mysterious figure or creatures lurking in the shadows.
Outdoor Adventure: Illustrate an outdoor adventure like hiking, camping, or exploring a corn maze. Include elements like tents, backpacks, and campfires.
Costume Party: Draw a lively costume party scene with people dressed in creative and fun Halloween costumes, dancing, and enjoying the festivities.
Autumn Wildlife: Showcase the animals that are active during the fall, such as squirrels gathering acorns, geese migrating, or deer in a wooded glade.
Remember to infuse your style and creativity into these themes to make your October illustrations unique and engaging. Each theme can serve as a beautiful focal point for a journal page or standalone artwork.
My October Art Journal Theme
Creating an October cover page with an autumn vibe illustration can be a delightful way to capture the essence of the season.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating such a cover page for mine.
Creating cover illustrations with a sketchbook or traditional journal
Materials you’ll need:
Sketchbook or journal with a blank page for the cover of the month
Pencil and eraser
Colored pencils, watercolors, or markers
Brushes (if using watercolors)
Black fine-tip pen or pen with varying line thickness
If you have a digital art journal, grab a table and stylus. I use both methods.
A step-by-step guide:
1. Choose Your Layout: Decide on the layout of your cover page. You might want to create a central illustration or a border design around the edges of the page.
2. Sketch the composition: Use a pencil to lightly sketch the main elements of your autumn-themed illustration. Consider including typical autumn elements such as pumpkins, falling leaves, acorns, or a cozy scene with a cup of hot tea.
3. Outline in Pen: Once you’re satisfied with your sketch, use a black fine-tip pen to outline the main elements. This will help your illustration stand out and give it a more defined look.
4. Color the Illustration: Begin coloring your illustration using colored pencils, watercolors, or markers. For an autumn vibe, use warm, earthy tones like oranges, reds, yellows, and browns. Add shading and highlights to create depth and dimension in your illustration.
5. Autumn Foliage: Pay special attention to the leaves if you’ve included them in your composition. Use a variety of warm colors and consider adding details like veins on the leaves. You can also create the illusion of leaves falling from the trees.
6. Pumpkin Details: If you’ve included pumpkins, add texture to their surfaces by drawing small lines and shading. You can also add a soft shadow to the ground beneath them to create a realistic look.
7. Background Elements: Consider adding a background to your illustration. It could be a clear blue sky with a few fluffy clouds or a cozy indoor scene with a window view of the autumn landscape. Blend the background elements smoothly into your illustration.
8. Final Touches: After coloring your illustration, review it and make any necessary adjustments. Add details like small animals, birds, or other elements that enhance the autumn atmosphere.
9. Title and Date: Write “October” at the top of your cover page in an elegant or decorative font that complements your illustration. Add the current year or date to mark the specific October you’re journaling.
10. Protect Your Art: Once your cover page is complete and dry (if using watercolors), consider applying a clear fixative spray to protect your artwork and prevent smudging.
Creating cover illustration with a Procreate app -Step-by-step guide:
Creating an October illustration cover page using the Procreate app can be a fun and creative process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Materials Needed:
iPad or iPad Pro with the Procreate app installed
Apple Pencil (or a compatible stylus)
Your creative ideas and inspiration
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Open Procreate: Launch the Procreate app on your iPad. Ensure that you have a new canvas to work on. You can choose the canvas size that suits your preference or journal dimensions.
2. Sketch Your Ideas: Before diving into the final illustration, start with a rough sketch of your October-themed concept. Use a light pencil brush to create the initial lines and shapes. Consider elements like pumpkins, leaves, or Halloween motifs.
3. Create a New Layer: Once you have a basic sketch, create a new layer to work on top of it. This allows you to keep your sketch as a reference while working on the final illustration.
4. Outline and Define: Choose a brush that suits your style; a fine liner or ink pen brush works well for outlining. Trace over your sketch to define the details of your illustration. You can adjust the brush size and opacity to control the line thickness and visibility.
5. Add Colors: Create a new layer below your outline layer. Begin adding colors to your illustration. Procreate offers a wide range of brushes and color palettes to choose from. Experiment with different brush types and opacities to achieve the desired effects.
6. Blending and Shading: Use Procreate’s blending modes and shading techniques to add depth and dimension to your illustration. Create shadows and highlights to make your artwork more dynamic. You can also experiment with layer opacity for subtle effects.
7. Text and Typography: If you want to add a title or text to your cover page, create a new layer for it. Choose a font style that suits your theme and adjust the size and color. Procreate offers text tools for easy customization.
8. Background Elements: Consider adding a background to your illustration. This could be a gradient, a textured pattern, or a scenic backdrop that complements your theme. Create a new layer below all other layers for the background.
9. Finishing Touches: Review your illustration and make any necessary adjustments. Add small details, highlights, or textures to enhance your artwork further. Pay attention to balance and harmony within the composition.
10. Export Your Artwork: Once you’re satisfied with your October illustration cover page, export it in your preferred format (PNG or JPEG) to use as your journal cover.
11. Backup and Save: Ensure you save your Procreate project in its native format (.procreate or. PSD) to preserve all your layers and settings. You can also back up your work to the cloud or an external storage device.
Your October illustration cover page is now complete and ready to adorn your digital journal. Enjoy the creative process and have fun experimenting with Procreate’s versatile tools and features.
For More about digital art and illustration, please find out my weekly projects.
Stationery Recommendations For Art Journal
Before you leave, you know that I have to share a few of my favorite supplies in case you’re looking for some recommendations on what to add to your collection.
Here are my favorites, especially for fall themes:
Sakura Pigma Micron – a good fine liner is the blood of every Bullet Journal page, especially for October when you get to play around so much with black color.
Tombow Dual Brush Pens – they have a lot of beautiful colors, including different shades of orange and other Fall beauties. Plus, they are great for adding color and brush lettering!
Colorful Blank Journal Notebook – especially a kraft paper one, but I like the others as well. It adds a lot of fun and creativity to your pages, and these are high quality.
Washi Tape – There are many wonderful washi tapes out there, and you can find some that would fit your aesthetics, but I think this one is something special for me and always adds style to my artwork.
Tombow Fude Pens – brush lettering adds style and character to an art journal spread, and I think it would be amazing for cover page lettering as well.
Free Art Journal Printables
Of course, there are some free printables for you! Already in the Resources Vault, you can find my art journal cover sketch pages, including one for October!
If you don’t have access yet, you can always sign up in the form below.
Once you confirm your subscription, you’ll get the password to get free Art Journal printables, stickers, and worksheets to use right away.
Join our newsletter to get access to freebies vault printables!
If you’ve never used printables before, be sure to check out my post about bullet journals. I have been using bullet journals and art journals for 10 years. I have made a digital art journal that can record my digital art.
It’s pretty basic, and you can find my free digital art journal on our Patreon page.
I hope this post was interesting. If you find it, please share! If you enjoy my content and want to show your appreciation, please consider supporting me with a cup of coffee.
Enjoy your art journey!
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