My first entry in my quickie DIY journal (see previous post) was really fun to create. I liked the larger size of the full spread – about 14″ x 9″ – it gave me much more room to develop a theme and create more interest on the page. The book was easy to hold in […]
As a long-time book artist I have made many of my own elaborate (but always functional) journals. I taught a class on making a leather-bound nature journal sewn with long-stitch, with a beaded spine and a braided linen thread closure. Students were afraid to write in them for fear of “messing them up”! Pros: Opens […]
Join me in my nature journaling class on October 28, 10 a.m. – 12 noon, Pacific Time! I teach classes for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) through HSU. I spend the Falls in Nebraska and I will be featuring plants, animals, and landscapes that are unique to the area around our cabin in Central […]
When starting a journal entry on-site I don’t always finish it until months later when I am in another location. This entry was started on the Kimtu Beach in Northern California, July 16, 2021 and included everything except the map and drawing of the shelter. I finished the entry in Nebraska, September 16. Fortunately I […]
I love watercolors. I don’t even have to paint anything recognizable – I just love the way they feel when I add water and put the pigments on the page. I like swishing them around, dropping bits onto wet paper and watching them spread and granulate – if they are so inclined. Mixing pigments on […]
The Bald Hills east of Orick produce some really spectacular scenery, especially during the Spring when the lupine breaks out all over the coastal prairies. Mother’s Day was a very special day to be there with so many others who come to appreciate the natural beauty of this place. There were people in chairs enjoying […]
After a year of isolation and with immunizations in hand (arm) we traveled with six friends to Death Valley for some much needed R & R. The first thing I always pack are my art supplies: watercolors, brushes, pens, Moleskin journal, portable microscope, and binoculars. I was going to do my first nature journaling while […]
Yesterday was quite the day – sunny and NO wind. My friend, Nancy, and I always walk on Fridays at the Arcata Marsh and everyone was out enjoying the “balmy” weather. There was even a “typical” Arcata visitor doing topless weight lifting in the middle of the trail. Willows are just leafing out and my […]
I made my first art journal during a class taught by artist Andie Thrams . This square, leather-bound journal is still my favorite even though I usually use Moleskin journals with watercolor paper. Outside on the beautiful grounds of Pacific University Andie guided my first efforts with journaling in nature. My big takeaway from the […]
Everyone finds different ways to watercolor journal outdoors. I like all my supplies close at hand and I don’t want to root around in a bag after I start. At a campsite I use a camp chair with a pockets and a pop-up tray. Everything I need is close at hand. When hiking I will […]