“In the 20th century, to stop rushing around, to sit quietly on the grass, to switch off the world and come back to the earth, to allow the eye to see a willow, a bush, a cloud, a leaf… I have learned that what I have not drawn I have never really seen.” — Frederick Franck, The Zen of Seeing
In my ignorance, I thought of nature journaling as something hardy types used to hiking massive distances did to record their findings. Nothing wrong with that and my amazing young student Hayes regularly travels 9 miles in search of flora and keeps a terrific journal of his observations. But it hardly describes my practice preferring as I do the city streets o San Francisco..
I am embarrassed to admit that my view was very narrow as will be demonstrated conclusively by renowned nature journalist Kate Rutter in her upcoming Joy of Drawing Online Workshop entitled "Everyday Wonder with Nature Journaling" on Sunday, August 3rd, 2024. She asks that students bring fruit and veg to her workshop as we are obviously unable to hike via zoom (well not yet!)
Nature journaling has a long history, with naturalists using journals to document the world before formal exams were required. These naturalists were more interested in the natural world than in human history or progress, and some also recorded nature as part of their development in other fields, such as art or poetry.
Keeping a nature journal is a time-honored tradition, practiced throughout history; from the ancient Greeks to naturalists like Darwin, Audubon and Muir. Traditionally, its main purpose was to keep a record of one's observations to learn about the principles governing the natural world.
In his blog "Nature Stewardship Through Science, Education and Art", John Muir Laws, a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement and contemporary of Ms Rutter, puts it this way:
"Keeping an illustrated, observational journal is a centuries-old method that has been reenvisioned and refined through the lens of our understanding of neuroscience, learning, and deliberate practice. A nature journal is a lens that focuses our attention and crystalizes our observations, thoughts, and experiences.
"Nature Journaling is collecting and organizing your observations, questions, connections, and explanations on the pages of a notebook using words pictures, and numbers. You do not need to be an artist or a naturalist to begin. These skills can be learned by anyone, and you can develop them with deliberate practice. The system is creative, rigorous, and playful, easy to begin and learn, and will grow and mature over a lifetime. Start now: you can do this, and the world is waiting.
"Nature Journaling will enrich your experiences and develop observation, curiosity, gratitude, reverence, memory, and the skills of a naturalist. It helps you discover, think, remember, and integrate new information with your existing knowledge. Train your mind, and the world will offer you its secrets of wonder and beauty.
I first learned about Mr. Laws when my young granddaughter gave me a sketchbook called The Laws Sketchbook. It was this the best 5x7 inch hard bound sketchbook I ever owned, and I have a LOT - I could use graphite, pen and ink, watercolor pencils, watercolor and gouache without amy major buckling! It was light, fitted in my backpack and, as a huge bonus has tined pages at the back, An even better, the book has an entire section at the back with the basics of nature journaling and instructions on drawing from nature direct from Mr. Laws. Not surprising this is my go-to sketchbook and one I recommend to any artist. Also available on Amazon.
Mr. Laws is the co-founder of The Wild Wonder Foundation dedicated to encouraging nature connection and conservation through attention, curiosity, art, science, and community. The organization is the direct result of his 35+ years of dedicated work creating, nurturing, and growing a diverse, worldwide nature journaling community.
Having established herself as a leader in the nature journaling community, Kate Rutter now sits on the board of this important Foundation. She describes herself as an avid nature journaler, urban naturalist, educator, and native plant enthusiast who works to enliven nature-human connection through sketching, observation, and curiosity. She facilitates sketching, sketch-noting, and nature journaling workshops online and throughout the Bay Area and beyond. You can find her on Instagram at @katerutter.
I, for one, cannot wait for Kate's workshop which will be live-streamed on Zoom and will be recorded for those unable to attend in person. If you are interested in joining, here is the link:
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