A Wild Braid Nature Journaling

More tree sketches. In my mind I’ve been categorizing them as “from a photo.” Until recently, I’ve not really appreciated how photos act as view finders. It can be challenging to find a focus when sketching “in the wild.” Photos help with focus and framing!

I very rarely draw from photos but since the weather has not been very pleasant these past few days, I decided pics were my best option!

I think Kiku doesn’t care as long as he can participate in some way. 😉

For this sketch I used water soluble pencil by Derwent. I like to say to myself, “monochrome is the overthinkers friend” because it helps eliminate so many decisions that can bog down the process of sketching a scene!

Want more of my go-to strategies for simplifying trees in your nature journal? I have a workshop in June at Swoon City. Space will be limited to 8 so sign up for my newsletter to know when it goes live.

Two of my favorite ways to nature journal: monochrome landscapes en plein air and smooshing plant directly on my journal page.

Want to start nature journaling this Spring! Join me this Saturday, March 28th from 4-6pm venue: . Registration is through Eventbrite. Follow the link in my bio! Tickets are $45.

Prepping a couple of handmade sketchbooks . I try to have one or two of these books in different formats in my sketching bag. It makes it easy to do small, fast sketches while out. Some of my favorite sketches have been done in the time it takes to fill the gas tank.

For Seattle locals: I’ll be teaching this easy no-sew book this coming Saturday, March 28, as part of my Beginning A Nature Journal workshop. Space is limited to 6 and there are a few spots left! Hope to see you. Better yet, bring a friend!

Tickets are $45 per person. 4-6 pm at the C & P in West Seattle.

More details and registration on Eventbrite! Follow the link in my bio for easier navigation to the registration page.

So many cold and rainy days lately and I’ve decided that painting from inside of the car suits me just fine. Landscape 2 is unfinished.

White gel pen on toned paper! Very satisfying.

White mushroom is called a fibercap. The mullusc shell is a magogany clam.

Did you know there are freshwater mussels? Not me! …until twice in one weekend and at two different freshwater systems I came across a similar shell. At first I thought maybe someone brought their dinner to the river/stream? But a lone shell? So i checked with iNaturalist and lo! Western Pearlshell Mussel was the ID, a species of freshwater mussel native to the PNW!

The two locations were Cedar River in Renton and a creek in Arlington.

In PNW even in winter some plants decide to flower!

This plant is called Spotted Lady’s Thumb, Persicaria maculosa. I found it growing in a field near the place we play with Kiku (responsible for the teeth marks on my pen!).



’sthumb

Even in winter, flowers bloom.

My brother-in-law gifted me this succulent planter for Christmas. I tend to neglect my indoor plants (I’m easily distracted) but I hope to be better at it this year!

I’m honored and excited to be a part of this online event hosted by .

Finding Clare Walker Leslie’s book, The Art of Field Sketching, in a bookshop 20+ years ago started me on my quest to learn nature drawing and journaling.

The wonderful line up of teachers include
Clare Walker Leslie


Susannah Fisher writer of Cricklewood Nature Journal on Substack
Madeleine Jubilee Saito author of You Are A Sacred Place: Visual Poems for Living in Climate Crisis

Jane Pike
Becki Clifton

Please follow the link in my bio for more event information and to find the registration link.

Cost is by donation and if you sign up through my link half of your donation goes to me! Thank you!

The squirrels left me some acorns so I could do another ink-speriment! Wasn’t that nice?

Maybe I’ll have enough for one bottle!

I have just a handful of bottles of hibiscus and butterfly pea ink. Come get some! I’ll have them at the Gather and Glow Pop-Up market on Dwcember 14th! Details on my website. Link in bio.

Already feeling nostalgic about summer!

Felt like sharing some of the flowers that bloomed in my garden this year.

I finally got around to adding rudbeckia, the anemones finally got taller than my knees, the chicory was a surprise. And I don’t even know what that 3rd from last is! Toadflax?