“Nature journaling is about noticing: colors, where the moon is rising, the contour of a leaf or antler,” Carol Good-Elliott told the dozen people who attended Merry Lea’s nature journaling workshop February 2.
The visitors ranged in age from teen to elder. They came to sketch, write, slow down and take time outdoors. Carol, who has kept a nature journal for many years, shared a few of her sketches and provided ideas that could jump start a beginner or inspire a new angle.
Exercises:
1.Blind contour drawing: Choose an object with an interesting outline and try drawing it without looking at your paper. This will slow you down and force you to look carefully as you attempt to follow the shape. Your drawing may not be beautiful, but you will have trained your eye to see.
2. Observing with a partner: Split up and each find a spot outdoors that you find appealing. Record it in some way—through photographs, notes, sketches, color swatches, species lists—or just observe carefully. Then trade spots and do the same. Share your experiences.
