Nature Journaling
by Ellen Duarte
Last fall I offered a class at in nature journaling at a local art center. I had only dabbled in journaling in response to my interest in edible wild plants. But when planning to teach a broader perspective, I was delighted at the possibilities. During the six week course, we touched on plants and flowers, trees, birds, and butterflies, and utilized graphite, colored pencil, ink and, of course, watercolor. It is almost overwhelming what can be included in a nature journal, but what a thrill!
For my own journal, I set a few goals to narrow the scope a bit. First, I set a goal of drawing for 15 minutes at a time. Invariably I draw longer than that, but thinking its only 15 minutes makes it easier to take the time. If I thought I needed an hour, I might push it aside more easily, or not take it up often enough.
I decided to focus mostly on trees, as this is something I would like to learn more deeply about. I also, decided I would be intentional about drawing as quickly and accurately as possible. Planning short blocks of time supported this goal. To accomplish brief accuracy, I do a good deal of the work in ink, eliminating the option of erasing and starting over. My drawing skills and confidence have definitely improved
Also, experimenting and practicing with a variety of materials and techniques has been a goal. Since the journal is not for display, mistakes and failures are of little consequence and only serve to document an effort to learn.
Journaling has helped me to observe and learn, hone skills, and try new materials, and kept me more consistently engaged in plant study. I have journaled from the field, forest, and front porch, and in the process, I am compiling a record of the natural world around me. I have found keeping a nature journal very satisfying and worthwhile, and I highly recommend it.