I hope you’re enjoying the prompts for the International Nature Journaling week which is happening right now! I promised myself I would try to participate as much as I can, so I did two quick pages for the first two days. The theme yesterday was plants – I’m already looking forward to the video recording of yesterday’s live event about drawing plants – I always learn a ton from the workshops of John Muir Laws!
Since I’m busy with my vegetable garden at the moment I decided to document the different small plants and seeds that I’m growing right now. Al lot of salads, herbs and a few flowers. I didn’t add notes to the tray with the flower seeds, so I’m up for a surprise when they bloom.
Today’s theme is animals, and I’m already looking forward to Tim Pond’s workshop on sketching animal skulls.
As for my own page about animals, I did a quick sketch with the animals I encountered in the early morning on my way to the community garden – I cross a park, a river and a farm house, so there’s always a lot of animal activity. This turned out as a simple collection page with a few notes – a few insights and observations, and a reminder on how to tell different sparrows apart.
I did the ink sketches on location and added a bit of watercolor later. These sketches were done fast because I was primarily concerned with my seedlings getting safely into the soil, and I found my lines turned out a bit jittery after I got off the bike – but I still wanted to record a bit of what I encountered outside. I didn’t manage to fit the small black farm cat and a few interesting bugs on the page.
When I got home and added the watercolor washes, I also sampled some of my blues to remind myself which one fits our summer sky the best. For my location in the middle part of Europe I always find Cerulean Blue is the best match. Although I also like the slightly redder Mountain Blue that I’ve recently tried out (the beautiful soft blues don’t quite show in the photo).
So I’d love to hear from you if you’re participating – what did you sketch today and yesterday? Do you enjoy sketching through the week so far? I’m having a ton of fun, and although I’m not on the regular social channels any longer, I’m enjoying looking through the feeds on the website: International Nature Journaling week website.
Your pages are always interesting Julia and you are very inspirational . I’ve decided I am adding a page in the front of my sketchbook (which I hand made), which will be titled – “How Can I Improve From Now On”! I was so excited for this week, I spent the weekend making 2 handmade sketchbooks, with Coptic binding no less. The Monday came along, I knew what my subject matter was going to be, a lovely Yellowwood Tree in our own garden, and I have literally spent 48 hours just looking at it, frozen! I laugh at myself though, as I know it’s because I am concerned about what others will think of my amateur drawing skills. Anyway, I have put pen to paper, but I am obviously lagging behind, but I’m ok with that, because despite the angst, I am enjoying it!
Thank you Brenda. 🙂 How exciting that you made exclusive sketchbooks for this, and what a gorgeous tree! I definitely know the situation of being intimidated by a subject, but remember it’s just a sketchbook, and it’s first and foremost for your enjoyment! We’re all here to learn, and mistakes are a great learning opportunity. 🙂