My Minimalist Nature Journal Kit

I tend to get carried away with supplies so it’s been a real challenge to come up with the tools that do what I want and remain portable. It also depends on how I’m traveling, how long I will spend in one place, and how remote the site is. I will show you a number of simple configurations that I use.

                                       Every Day Journal

I carry this Moleskin notebook everywhere. Its pages are 3.5” x 5.5” with grids with a bookmark and an elastic strap for closing. I have added a pencil loop for my Pentel Click 0.7 pencil with 2B lead. To-do lists are mixed with drawings. These drawings were done in the car while my husband and I were driving to Sun River, Oregon. We saw the backs of a lot of vehicles. The journal opens flat which is very important. Pages are probably too thin for watercolor but colored pencils would be fun.

                                  Basic Nature Journal

These supplies can be tossed in a small zip bag and carried every day. The Moleskin Journal is in landscape mode with 5.5” x 3.5” pages of watercolor paper. Choose a journal with sewn pages so they will open flat. The covers are hard and provide a nice support when drawing on the open pages. I also use an 8” x 5” journal. The pencil and Sharpie small tip pen (like a Micron) are for outlines and text. The smallest palette I have is metallic and contains Daniel Smith (mostly) colors. I’m experimenting with colors used by Marc Taro Holmes. I like the greens but am not crazy about the yellow. Did you know you can make your own palette with Altoid tins? Check out this John Muir Laws palette. The water brush makes using watercolor easy because no extra water is carried.

                              Enhanced Basic Journal

I have added two Rosemary travel brushes – a dagger and a round. The little water bottle is Nalgene and does not leak. I use very little water when painting because I wipe the excess paint or water on a rag (in this case the top of an old sock of my husband’s that I wear on my non-painting wrist). Then I dip the brush and flip off the excess – called Dip & Flip. I don’t always like using the water brush because I have little control of the water but always bring it in case I want to presoak the paper.

                                               Art Kit

Except for the water bottle, all of the materials in the previous photo fit into this art kit by Maria Coryell-Martin at Art Toolkit. In the pocket behind the brushes on the left I inserted a watercolor sampler card for the palette, a piece of watercolor paper to test colors, and tracing paper to assist me when I looking at placement of items on the page. I also carry a slide with green plastic – helpful for determine values in the landscape.

                                              Optional

These items are bulkier but easily carried in my pocket, around my neck, and over my shoulder. Sometimes I stand to journal but it’s nice to have this little three-legged stool so I can sit, especially if the object is low to the ground. I just got these Pentax binoculars and they are perfect for journaling (my eyes aren’t great) and they are light enough to carry around my neck without cutting off my circulation. My phone – aaaah – my most helpful tool! I usually take a photo of what I’m drawing for later reference. However, I also use the app iNaturalist to learn more about the items I am drawing: birds, plants, insects, amphibians, etc. The California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic collaborated in creating the app. It has identified (by viewing my photo) almost everything I’ve added, including the Hackberry Nipplegall Psyllid. Haha. Another bonus with the phone – it has a magnifier, map apps, weather apps, and GPS.

So, there you have it. Almost. But the additional items can wait for a later post. For now I just want to Lighten Up.