Ballpoint pens are good for doing the writing exercises. If painted over, the ink won’t smear. Certain pencils work without smearing, too. Just test them first. Look for pens or markers that write over painted surfaces. Be sure the surface is dry before writing or else the pen will gum up.

Get a small supply of inexpensive craft paints, whatever brand is available at your local craft or department store. Use acrylic or tempera paints that dry quickly, making it easy to layer colors and then write on top of them. Watered-down cheap white paint is a great way to transparently cover background collage material.

Before you shop for supplies, check to see what you already have. Crayons and markers, watercolor sets, tape, colorful stickers, tissue paper, wrapping paper, and greeting cards are all fodder for the imagination and your journal. The children’s versions of all of these supplies are just fine for visual journaling.

You’ll also want to start collecting ephemera—the flotsam of daily life—receipts, photos, notes, junk mail, to-do lists. These can all be great additions to your journal. They provide the background narrative of your thoughts and your days. For other background elements, try using stuff from your old work: drawings, plans, paint chips, torn-up sketches, edited manuscripts, project notes, calendars, brochures, and contact lists.