My way of nature journaling involves macro photography, stopping on my walks to take super close ups of the littlest things that I would miss if I didn’t stop to crouch and look. Totally agree that nature journaling really helps with connectedness. I want to get back into pressed flowers as well, something I used to do as a child...💜
Nice post. Talking about reconnection with the nature..I went to Inverness yesterday for a walk with the dog to "socialize out of the countryside" and ...it's interesting and frustrating to see people walking and sitting in the forest and paths, ignoring each others while looking at the phones 🫣🥲
Molly, you must have read my mind. I was just thinking over the weekend that I would like to start nature journaling. I love nature so much and I remember a few years ago, staying at a place that had a large rose garden containing several different varieties. Each of the tables had a beautiful fresh rose on it. I lingered after breakfast one day, and just started drawing the rose on an old scrap of paper. Before I knew it one hour had passed and I felt totally, blissfully at peace.
I have been wanting to nature journal for some time and I regularly create art but I still find the idea intimidating! As a child I was greatly inspired by the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady and recently found a second hand copy and reread it. I also have a copy of Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling which is amazing but this is probably the problem! I have set the bar to high and need to concentrate on what I can manage, start small! I hope you a do a YouTube video on this too 😊
I can’t tell you how much this inspires me! I’ve been thinking about nature journaling for some months but have been put off by the feeling of not knowing where to start and wanting it to be perfect. However, as you rightly point out, it doesn’t need to be perfect and it can indeed be just for me to note things that bring me joy and notice things more closely. In fact I think some joy could be found in comparing first pages to later pages and seeing how they develop and grow. Thank you, this will be my bank holiday activity:)
Such a necessary way to stay connected and whole hearted. Thanks for sharing your process Molly. I take flowers from our garden every weekend and replenish bottles and vases round our home. I love to use natural dyeing techniques (marigold works well) and also try new things with flower pressing too. Hoping my daughter will start to enjoy some of this and understand it better soon and we can make nature journals together. ✨🌺
This is such a timely read for me, Molly. I watched the first of Chris Packham's Earth series last night after a dinner time with my girls spent poring over the world atlas I had as a child.
My eldest wouldn't allow me to linger over the pages that detailed each continenent's average Jan and July temperatures because it felt too scary to confront how cool and calm it all appeared in the late 1980s. I agree with her, and think that looking closely can go an impressive way to help us connect with the species we still have.
I love this as you knew I would. I can still remember all four of you clutching your notebooks and off somewhere round the farm to find somewhere to sit and draw. I am so pleased creativity is finding such a happy place in your adult life. xx
Beautiful post, and so needed. I often look for reflections of my own life in nature—what can I learn? How is it reflecting my current path? It's always amazing to me that when I journal about these reflections (I rarely draw), so much opens up. Maybe I recognise myself in a tightly closed bud, waiting patiently to bloom (with an idea), or I find solace in a tree blowing in the wind and rain — I know this time will pass. There is so much to learn from nature. It's important to switch off and (re)connect. Thank you for these words and reminders!💛🙏🏻🌼
I love the idea of nature journaling but I know I would get really wound up because I wasn’t immediately brilliant at it! I would really love to give it a go though as I love journaling in other ways. 🖤
I love the idea of nature journaling - I spend a lot of time walking in nature and I love writing so this would be a wonderful way of combining the two
Hello Molly, great read. I have come back to art at 45,lost it somewhere in between adulting and homemaking. I am self taught too. I draw inspiration from nature..birds and animals mostly. I make greeting cards and bookmarks. Would love to see your art some day.
I feel very much on the same way, despite of living in a city, though one day I could move to the Alps, who knows? In my travelling I often experience a call to slow down, there's an entire world of silent true gems to reconnect to.
To give you an example: when I went to Lecco (lake Como - Italy) I got so captivated by the beauty of the mountains, that I only wanted to take pictures and pictures... Until I realized the big difference between smartphone pictures and live nature. When you are willing to put your heart first, you'll see a larger landscape in every detail 🥰
Nice post. I use photography as my journal. The best camera is the one you have with you. As Ansel Adams said: “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
My way of nature journaling involves macro photography, stopping on my walks to take super close ups of the littlest things that I would miss if I didn’t stop to crouch and look. Totally agree that nature journaling really helps with connectedness. I want to get back into pressed flowers as well, something I used to do as a child...💜
I love that! And yes, pressed flowers are wonderful :)
I love taking macro photos too! But I never considered that it could be a form of nature journalling - thank you for planting this seed in me!
I love the reminder to press flowers! I love finding old books with dried flowers between the pages.💛🙏🏻🌼
Nice post. Talking about reconnection with the nature..I went to Inverness yesterday for a walk with the dog to "socialize out of the countryside" and ...it's interesting and frustrating to see people walking and sitting in the forest and paths, ignoring each others while looking at the phones 🫣🥲
I know, it can feel like a waste...
Molly, you must have read my mind. I was just thinking over the weekend that I would like to start nature journaling. I love nature so much and I remember a few years ago, staying at a place that had a large rose garden containing several different varieties. Each of the tables had a beautiful fresh rose on it. I lingered after breakfast one day, and just started drawing the rose on an old scrap of paper. Before I knew it one hour had passed and I felt totally, blissfully at peace.
That sounds like a wonderful experience! :)
I have been wanting to nature journal for some time and I regularly create art but I still find the idea intimidating! As a child I was greatly inspired by the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady and recently found a second hand copy and reread it. I also have a copy of Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling which is amazing but this is probably the problem! I have set the bar to high and need to concentrate on what I can manage, start small! I hope you a do a YouTube video on this too 😊
I loved those books too! I would be keen to share mine on my YouTube soon :)
I love the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. What an inspiration it is.💛🙏🏻🌼
I can’t tell you how much this inspires me! I’ve been thinking about nature journaling for some months but have been put off by the feeling of not knowing where to start and wanting it to be perfect. However, as you rightly point out, it doesn’t need to be perfect and it can indeed be just for me to note things that bring me joy and notice things more closely. In fact I think some joy could be found in comparing first pages to later pages and seeing how they develop and grow. Thank you, this will be my bank holiday activity:)
Aw wonderful! I hope you enjoy :)
Such a necessary way to stay connected and whole hearted. Thanks for sharing your process Molly. I take flowers from our garden every weekend and replenish bottles and vases round our home. I love to use natural dyeing techniques (marigold works well) and also try new things with flower pressing too. Hoping my daughter will start to enjoy some of this and understand it better soon and we can make nature journals together. ✨🌺
Aw, that will be wonderful! :)
This is such a timely read for me, Molly. I watched the first of Chris Packham's Earth series last night after a dinner time with my girls spent poring over the world atlas I had as a child.
My eldest wouldn't allow me to linger over the pages that detailed each continenent's average Jan and July temperatures because it felt too scary to confront how cool and calm it all appeared in the late 1980s. I agree with her, and think that looking closely can go an impressive way to help us connect with the species we still have.
I need to catch up on that! Very good points :)
I love this as you knew I would. I can still remember all four of you clutching your notebooks and off somewhere round the farm to find somewhere to sit and draw. I am so pleased creativity is finding such a happy place in your adult life. xx
Beautiful post, and so needed. I often look for reflections of my own life in nature—what can I learn? How is it reflecting my current path? It's always amazing to me that when I journal about these reflections (I rarely draw), so much opens up. Maybe I recognise myself in a tightly closed bud, waiting patiently to bloom (with an idea), or I find solace in a tree blowing in the wind and rain — I know this time will pass. There is so much to learn from nature. It's important to switch off and (re)connect. Thank you for these words and reminders!💛🙏🏻🌼
I so agree and beautifully put! :)
I have a nature journal and I really enjoy drawing in it! It’s a very peaceful activity. 😊
Thank you for sharing! :)
I love the idea of nature journaling but I know I would get really wound up because I wasn’t immediately brilliant at it! I would really love to give it a go though as I love journaling in other ways. 🖤
I completely get that. I've had to learn to be patient with myself, but found it really worthwhile :)
I’m the same as you Becky - I’m about as artistic as a dish sponge and would want to be amazing straight away
I love the idea of nature journaling - I spend a lot of time walking in nature and I love writing so this would be a wonderful way of combining the two
Sounds perfect! :)
Hello Molly, great read. I have come back to art at 45,lost it somewhere in between adulting and homemaking. I am self taught too. I draw inspiration from nature..birds and animals mostly. I make greeting cards and bookmarks. Would love to see your art some day.
Think I need to attempt this myself. :)
I feel very much on the same way, despite of living in a city, though one day I could move to the Alps, who knows? In my travelling I often experience a call to slow down, there's an entire world of silent true gems to reconnect to.
To give you an example: when I went to Lecco (lake Como - Italy) I got so captivated by the beauty of the mountains, that I only wanted to take pictures and pictures... Until I realized the big difference between smartphone pictures and live nature. When you are willing to put your heart first, you'll see a larger landscape in every detail 🥰
I love this! Thank you for sharing :)
Thanks to you for writing! I'm part of it, and reading first hand experience is totally encouraging 💚
Nice post. I use photography as my journal. The best camera is the one you have with you. As Ansel Adams said: “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
Lovely :)