Nature Journaling - Part I

A Nature Journal is simply a nature-themed sketchbook filled with observational sketches of your outdoor environment. 

You can use an ordinary sketchbook for your outdoor sketches, or you can create your own unique, personalized, customized Nature Journal. 

Your journal can include lots of small descriptive sketches or detailed scientific illustrations - or both. You can use dry drawing media only (drawing pencils, charcoal pencils, colored pencils, Sharpies, markers, pastels), or you can also include watercolor pencil, ink, and watercolor sketches.

If you enjoy being outside and you love to draw, nature journaling is for you! Get started by taking a Nature Walkabout. 

You will need:

A drawing board, drawing media, a camp chair, a few sheets of drawing or sketching paper, (or your sketchbook), masking tape, cellphone (camera), sun screen, and a brimmed hat.

If using drawing paper, tape two corners of each sheet to your drawing board to keep it in place. 

Drawing tips: 

Feel free to use more than one art medium for your drawings. Mixed media is great for depicting nature! 

Move in close! Look for details.

Sketch your subject lightly with a drawing pencil first, or skip the pencil and be bold! Start with markers or ultra-fine Sharpies, and dive in to the drawing - trust yourself! 

Observe your subject closely. Rule of thumb is to spend more time examining your subject than looking at your drawing. 

Mistakes can be fixed. If the art medium is un-erasable, no worries! Remember nature is not perfect and you can adjust your drawing to look like the subject without looking exactly like the specimen in front of you. 

For example, a pepper in your garden can take on innumerable shapes and variations in color as it ripens. And every wildflower is slightly different. Use your mistake to your advantage to individualize your subject: change the shape slightly, add deeper shadows, or create more texture. Or turn boo-boos into bees (or hover flies, like these).

If you run out of drawing time (or your subject skitters, hops, or flies away) consider taking a picture of it with your phone before drawing. That way you can finish your drawing in the studio. 

You may be able to ID your subject using an online app or locate your subject in a field guide such as a National Audubon Society Field Guide. 

Another option for future sketches is to collect specimens to draw in the studio. Collect objects that are laying on the ground such as pinecones, bits of bark, broken twigs, acorns, feathers, seedpods, leaves, and rocks. You can also use items like (realistic) artificial  flowers and specimens from your seashell collection. These photos show just a few studio specimens that we collected to observe when the temperatures got too hot for us to work outside. 

Choose a specimen and place it on a sheet of white paper directly in front of you. Study it carefully, then draw it in detail, adding color using your art media of choice. These two scientific illustrations were completed using colored markers and colored pencils:

Polyphemus moth specimen (top) with two artists' illustrations

This moth was found at the end of its life cycle in our walk-about space (my yard). Notice how ragged the wing edges are! We looked it up and found that the the Polyphemus moth lives an average of 6 to 7 days after emerging from its cocoon. It has no mouth or digestive system so it cannot eat: its only function is to reproduce.  We also learned we were very lucky to find it because this moth is normally active only at night, and also that some people believe finding a Polyphemus moth is a sign of good luck!

Next: How to assemble a Nature Journal using your drawings.

Nature Journaling - Part 2

Now that you have a few nature sketches and drawings, it's time to assemble your Nature Journal. 

First, examine your pages of outdoor sketches and choose your favorites to refine and complete for your Journal. 

To assemble your Nature Journal:

1) Try making labeled pages for various categories of subjects or specimens for a more organized format. Write or glue a category heading on each page - and make a title page as well. 

Take a look at our Nature Journal templates to print out or to help you with your own design ideas. (This is a pdf file.)

You can now sketch or draw specimens directly on each page or you can (loosely) cut out your refined outdoor sketches and glue onto your labeled nature journal pages. Or BOTH! 

As you work on your Journal and fill each page with sketches you can add more pages as needed.

2) Decide whether you want to add the names of your specimens. You can identify your insects, birds, wildflowers, etc. or you can choose to simply draw them on the labeled page of your choosing, and then move on!

3) Make a cover using two sheets of cardstock and create your own
unique cover art for your Nature Journal. 

4) Punch three holes along the edge and attach everything together using brads or leather lacing or yarn. Your personalized nature journal will have loose pages that you can reorganize or add additional pages to whenever you choose. Tip: Brads make reorganizing or adding pages super easy.

Here are some Nature Journal page samples:

Have fun making your own Nature Journal!

Nature Journaling - Part 3

Now that you have started your Nature Journal, why not challenge yourself a bit? Challenges can involve creative problem-solving, trying new things, or going the extra mile to complete a goal.

Here are some Nature Journaling Challenge ideas:

Use an art medium that is unfamiliar or that you have not used much in the past. For example, this page was completed entirely with colored markers. Young children are familiar with markers, but older artists often do not use markers for serious drawings. This adult artist's challenge was to combine and layer colors to create blended hues and tones, shades and highlights, and bold textures using only Crayola markers. 

Fill an entire page with your sketches and drawings. Although it may take a while, make it your goal to fill up each category page. Take a walk, use photo resources in books and field guides, and/or find online images of selected specimens. Then, once a page is full, start another one and fill it up too! 

Remember, you can add pages to your Journal (or reorganize it) any time you wish.

Draw unfamiliar items. Don't stray away for objects and specimens that you have never drawn before. No matter what the subject of your drawing, remember that it can be depicted with lines, shapes, colors, and textures. Use your observational skills to interpret the subject in your own way using these basic art elements. These rocks were collected and drawn using markers and colored pencils.

Draw 'hard' subjects. Don't avoid subjects that seem 'too hard' or too complex to draw. Draw them anyway. Tip: 'warm up' with  less complex object studies first. Leaves might be easier to draw than mammals, for example, so draw leaves (on your 'Leaves' page) first. Focus on shapes, details, and accurate colors. This will help you gain the confidence you need to draw more complex subjects. These mammals were sketched in pencil first, then finished in colored pencil.

Can you think of any other drawing challenges? Remember, any goals you set are unique to you, so focus on skills that you personally would like to achieve. Most importantly, have fun making art! 

Donuts for Dad

For Father's Day, we made Donuts for Dad!

I took a poll beforehand, and it turns out that all the dads in question were big donut fans (who knew?) So... the kids couldn't wait to get going on their donut-making for Dad!  

Okay, that goes for us adults too. For ourselves.

For this version (we've made many donuts in the past), we used cake temperas on white sulfite paper cut to 12" x 12" (any heavy drawing paper will do). Also needed: liquid white tempera to mix tints - and, of course, donut samples! 

We also used pencils for sketching, round templates for the basic shape (plastic lids), and black Sharpies for outlining.                                                                 

First we divided the paper into 6" x 6" quarters, which is a great way to help younger kids use a ruler. Then we traced our round templates (so the donuts wouldn't end up too small) - one per square.

Next, they needed to decide what types of donuts to make. They observed their donut samples and sketched icing on their donuts.

To paint the donuts, they mixed various browns and made tints for the icing by adding white to any chosen color. This is very much a color mixing art activity.

A colorful background was added behind each donut, and each was outlined with Sharpies after the paint was dry. Sprinkles were added with colored Sharpies and colored pencils as desired.

These donuts were made to appear as they would in a pastry box, using the same art media plus paper punchouts and puffy paint. These are a lot of fun for older kids and teens. See more of these and how to make them on our Delectable Donuts post. 

Easter Basket Collage Art

Here is a paper collage project suitable for any kid who looks forward to Easter, loves making things, and especially enjoys being super-creative!

This process art project utilizes cut paper and glue in new and exciting ways. First it's a collage, but really it's a whole lot more because it features some three dimensional elements. 

(Plus, a few chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps to make this basket really special!)

Once they catch on, young artists will figure out on their own how to add texture and other 3-D elements to their collages. 

Various scrap booking papers, stickers, and gold wrapping paper (for the ultra-desirable golden egg) can add to the fun!

We employed some interesting paper-working tools such as our handy grass-maker (okay, a paper shredder), a butterfly punch, and a paper crimper. If you have these, great, but kids can always figure out how to create their own special effects once they get going with their own ideas. 

We also used a variety of pre-cut cardboard egg templates, which were traced on various papers and cut out to make awesome decorated eggs!

One particularly challenging process is that of weaving paper. In the past I have had 12-year-olds who had never woven paper before! So below, I am including some basic instructions for teaching kids how to get started with weaving, until eventually the light will come on and bingo!  

"Oh, I get it!"

Basic Paper Weaving Instructions:

We start with 8 strips of construction paper, any color. Choose 4 to weave through the other 4, one at a time. It's okay if they are messy. Use these to practice until artists figure out the over-under-over-under process.

Next the paper strips are squished together until they touch and form what looks like little squares. Wow! This looks cool!  Next, weave more paper strips along the edges to make a larger shape or to change the square shape to a more rectangular shape.

When done weaving, artists carefully cut around the shape like the one below. To keep it from unraveling, put a spot of glue beneath each loose flap along the edges. We use glue sticks because they dry fast! If you want to, you can carefully flip the weaving over and do the same thing on the back.

A bit of texture was added to the top and bottom of this basket using crimped paper strips.

For more Easter Basket collage ideas, take a look at our previous post:

                                                    Awesome Easter Baskets 

Backyard Birds in Oil Pastel

American Goldfinch, by Jackie, oil pastel on black paper

In February we created these sweet bird paintings in oil pastel on black paper. 

Wait, did I say "paintings?" 

Yes! Pastel artwork is generally considered a painting, not a drawing. Did you know that? 

Dark-eyed Junco (or Snowbird), oil pastel on black paper 

These portraits of backyard birds are first lightly sketched on 9" x 12" black sulfite paper using either black or white soft pastel (which can be brushed off easily with a soft cloth as the sketch is being adjusted).   

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, oil pastel on black paper 

Northern Cardinal, oil pastel on black paper

Black-capped Chickadee, oil pastel on black paper

Since our intent was to learn how to work with oil pastels, we did not want to spend all of our time attempting to draw anatomically correct birds. So a shortcut was available.

First, artists chose a photo of a bird from my large file of resource photos (from calendars). They could use the photo to observe and draw their bird freehand, or, with tracing paper, they could trace the basic outline, eye placement, and main markings of the bird. 

Then a piece of carbon paper was sandwiched between the tracing paper and the black paper and the bird was retraced onto it. 

A natural element, such as a branch, was also sketched in the scene for the bird to perch on. The background was left black. 

Now artists selected a pallet of oil pastel sticks to be used for the painting. They held up each possible color to compare to the resource photo. Once chosen, this pallet was kept until the painting was finished. 

Artists learned that oil pastels can be blended, mixed to make new colors, and used lightly or heavily to create shadows, highlights, and textures.

If you have a set of oil pastels that you would like to get to know better, give this little bird portrait a try. You will likely be pleasantly surprised! These samples were painted by adults, but I have also had great success with teens and children (ages 8 and up).

Winter Scene in Watercolor

 

A small group of adult artists came by to paint this lovely little winter scene, a perfect subject for this very cold January! 

This is an easy watercolor painting that works well in a small format. Our artists chose either 9"x12" or 7"x10" watercolor paper. (90# works for the smaller size, 140# is better for the larger format.)

Want to paint your own? You can do it! First, tape the paper down to a watercolor board to keep it from curling and to ensure a nice white border when you are all done. 

Next, sketch a basic scene, starting with an uneven horizon line. Try to keep it below the center if the paper. Sketch in the basic shapes of the birch (or aspen) trees in the foreground. Feel free to use resource photos of trees to help you. Just sketch the trunks and large branches - no need to include the smaller branches and twigs. 

Now, with an old brush, fill in the tree trunks and branches with masking fluid (or frisket) and allow to dry. 

To complete the painting, take a look at The Virtual Artist for detailed instructions. 

We found this painting to be easy and fun, and we loved the results! Everyone's painting was different, showcasing each artist's interpretation of this crisp, wintery scene!

To see more about this painting, see our previous post Winter Landscape.