It was nice to get out after a day of rain, but I was only able to go into my garden. It was neat hearing and seeing  everything coming alive after being quiet for the rain. I did notice it was hard at times for me to ignore “human sounds” like traffic. This sitting reminded me of when my mom and I went out birding when I was a kid. I have always loved the solitude and connectedness I feel in nature.

Comparing to  other sit spot experiences, this one was different in terms of being more aware of surroundings and documenting my observations. I noticed how the color of leaves changes according to sunlight. This is the image from my journal in which I recorded my observations of surrounding setting.    

For this exercise I chose to do a walk instead of a sit spot. Mosquitoes are preventing my stopping in one place for too long. I did choose one particular area as my focus. It was easier for me to notice details in birds than with plants. I am anxious to observe a different area than one I am familiar with. I could see that one page may not be enough for some spots. I already have other sit spots in mind.

I sat just the one time. I hear very well, so i was listening since I wasn't seeing much that caught my eye to draw except the tiny things like the ant carrying the piece of leaf.

I first sat close to a palm tree, I didn't think I could draw anything from a moving subject, so I chose a plant. The following day I found a black skimmer nesting site, I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to draw the fast moving birds, fortunately there dozens of birds and there several of them in the same pose, that helped me a lot. I stayed there for more than two hours and finally they didn't pay much attention to me, and started moving closer, which helped me a lot.

My sit spot was in Heidelberg's (DE) old graveyard. This massive Friedhof hugs the side of a hill and is shaded by towering trees of all kinds. I found a relatively quiet spot along one of the less travelled paths with views into the canopy from side on and below. The canopy and undergrowth was humming with life! It was amazing! I noticed so many new species of birds that I've never spotted in Europe before (probably because I had not taken the time to wait for them to emerge). And they were quite curious about me too funnily enough.

I first went to the beach where I fond some vegetation, I enjoyed sitting down to listen and to observe nature. I chose a palm tree because it was easer to start with, it doesn't move that much, but then I found this nesting place where the black skimmers where taking care of their babies and it was an incredible experience to try to chase with my pencil all that movement. It was hard, it was my first time trying to do this, but after a couple of hours I felt I was able to capture some good poses.

I was greeted by 4 faery wrens. My spot was a fallen tree overlooking the bay. Lots of bird song and a strong wind blowing which I could not capture. A dark blue line where the sea disappeared into mist. Sun started filtering through the leaves and everything changed.

I loved this exercise. I usually spend time outside, enjoying, but it is not easy for me to draw. I can hear birds, thouh I do not always see them. I like the big trees and the colours of little plants above them.

Plants, trees & shrubs come more easily for me. Birds, animals and insects are difficult to get a visual on because of their constant movement such as butterflies and dragonflies. I noticed the sun changes the appearance of things. When it goes behind a cloud everything looks different. Birds and insects are more active in the morning and later in the afternoon.

I really enjoyed sitting behind my neighbour's garden watching the butterflies in its summer lilac. It was so impressive that the butterflies weren't scared of me and after a while they even landed at my arms and head. Most of them were peacock butterflies and just 2 others. I wish my English would be better to express my observations better but I am using this course to practice it

I didn’t get far because I am self quarantining after an extended trip in our RV and we want to make sure we weren’t exposed to the Covid19 virus before heading out among the public again. Also, it is very hot here. Forecast says possibly 109° high today.

I went to a canyon park in the foothills near my home in southern California. I see lots of birds there and usually hike, but today I found a sit spot. Today we had a typical June Gloom all day so far. The wind kicked in and blew the gloom away, sunshine, breezy and cool. I hear people sounds, cars in the park, doves cooing, and lots of birds sounds. I noticed I could hear each gust of wind as it moved toward me, the trees would shake and then it was gone, it warmed and the birds started chattering . After several waves of wind, it became a wave of birds. They came to me. I started taking photos. I get a little over simulated with all the choices. I am a quick spotter, but have a challenge knowing the species. I always have to research to make sure of which type sp. I am just beginning to know the small birds in my neighborhood. I may even have a shot at drawing from life, if the birds come to me, I really like that! Can it be that simple? Spend several days hitting different spots, really like this assignment.  I had issues capturing the birds with sketch but I am beginning to draw faster and the birds are coming closer the more I sit.  

I sat on my porch at night in Denver, CO. Lot's of ambient city sounds and not very much wildlife. Looking forward to trying this out in nature. I did enjoy finding pockets of stillness and peace woven into the soundscape.

This was very engaging for me.  Sitting still is not my forte!  I surprised myself by staying for the whole 20 minutes on the sixth step of twelve looking down on a patio of flagstone, and above and to the right of me was a cascade of wisteria coming from a grassy area with bird feeders.  To the left were two tall fig trees, and in front of me even taller sets of river birches.  I was captivated to hear and see birds return after flying away when I first sat down. The silence lasted for minutes, but slowly I began to hear many different bird calls, at one point it was true cacophony!  A catbird practically shouted at me, and a sparrow came to drink water from a puddle about 20 feet in front of me.  When I turned my head, he/she flew away, but then crept back to the puddle to drink and splash again.  Some birds practically landed on my head when flying by!  Another sight that expanded my sense of observation was the number/variety of "greens" that could be identified as I sat there turning my head to the left and right, above and tho the ground.  It is summer here and the trees have all leafed out, grasses are tall and bearing seeds, and flowers are in all states of development.  I was also aware of the many different shapes and textures of leaves and seeds I could see from the fuzzy lamb's ear plant to a waxy succulent and a shiny reflective leaf from a birch tree. The weather was sunny although a thunderstorm was expected.  It never came.  What a peaceful time!

Today was rainy, so I sat on my front porch. At first, it was hard to sit and be still. I look around and listen often. But this was different. I paid far more attention and noticed more. I heard a blue jay call. I don't think they are common in my neighborhood, or are they? Are they around, but I don't tune into them? Squirrels spiraled down the tree trunk. I've seen them do that often, but today, I asked "Why do they spiral?" When attending to measurements, I noticed the huge difference in size and shape of the hosta leaves right next to the door. 

My first/second sit spot was in my backyard June ?, 2020 it was a fairly nice day, although not very sunny since it was still early. As soon as I got out of the house, I noticed a small egg lying beside the lilac bush, so I decided to investigate... there was a dogwood petal attached to the shell that was broken open, so I ran over to the dogwood tree that we have and looked around. There were no other shells on the ground and in the tree, there was one empty and small nest that didn't look like it had been used. A few days before, there had been a windy storm and so the egg probably got brought here by a crow or something, then the rain glued the petal onto the egg and blew it over to the lilac bush. it was a fun adventure, and I did some sketches to remember; pic's not great quality but still legible the next sit spot i did was at my friend's house, SHE GOT CHICKS!!!. so i had to draw them.. i probably spent 2 hours watching them...

June 14    15 degrees Celcius. A very mild sunny day with a slight breeze.  Sit spot exercise. I did not do any drawing with this activity, I just sat quietly taking notes and I observed. I found it a very relaxing 15 minute exercise. For 15 mins I sit quietly in my yard. I hear the rustling of the bushes, the cooing of a peaceful dove. The flapping wings of erratic flight of a little wattlebird as it forages in the bush. The breeze is cool. The sun shimmers across the grass creating bright-lit blades and shadowy areas.  I can smell the dampness of previous rains. The clouds are light grey and are a thin blanket in areas. I hear starlings singing and a Mynah bird passes quickly by. The lorikeet are now screeching and the mudlark is singing out with its tinny ringing voice.  I can hear the gentle chirping of the thornbill birds. The dove continues to coo. The rustling trees get louder as the wind picks up. I can hear a blackbird is chirping, slightly alarmed as it runs along the back fence. The bottlebrush has few flowers this time of year but the bees still hover in search of nectar. My Apricot trees remaining autumn leaves are barely hanging on as the tree gently blows in the breeze.  

I went to  a shallow water beach a bit after 07:30 a.m. I was able to spot birds from a distance hunting/fishing for their morning treats. I focused my attention to a heron ; Western Reef. I tried to  quickly sketch different gestures while watching. Then another one arrived, which was much active than the first one. I liked the reflection so I included it in my quick sketches. Then, I tried to sketch the first one and  to give some sense of the environment around him. Shallow water, rocks and shells forming lines one before the heron and the other is far behind it. This framed the heron in the middle of lines ; sea, rocks , shallow water, then again the rocks and shells and the shallow water. The sun was rising and the weather was getting humid, therefore, I decided to sketch the heron that I photographed several days ago in the same area. After sketching it quickly, I though there is a missing feeling between the quick sketches of the same bird and the final sketch from a photograph. Can you feel the difference too? I didn't write much -- I went back indoors quarter after 8 because the weather was getting warmer and warmer (I should've got myself an umbrella or some sort of shades (and a water!). I'm planning to go there again and to sketch the tinny small red crabs that makes plenty of tinny small sand balls! I consider them to be the artists of the shore ; they form WOW shapes on the sand - worth observing!

Sitting and enjoying the calm was no problem. In drawing I noticed details I would not have otherwise...lighting for example made me very aware of the feeling of the atmosphere around me. That led me to notice the way the breeze moved through the area I was sitting in. Writing down my questions did two things. First, it made me relax because I knew I could try to find out more later. Second, I responded by trying to see if I could notice more that would help me answer on my own. That in turn led to new observations. Finally, I was surprised by the level of sound all around me. Usually, I just hear the birds. Of course, I did hear the birds and was intrigued by how many more calls and songs I heard as they adjusted to my presence. But beyond that there was lots of rustling (some turned out to be a busy chipmunk) and buzzing of a variety of insects and the noise of the foliage moving in the wind.

I loved this exercise, it is something I do often.  We have a second home in Idaho, very remote, I often wander the property for hours at a time. Now I can put my observations down on paper and refer back to them to research what I have found. I notice birds more then others so the bird IDs are easy but I have just started to ID plants. I am becoming more aware of what is an invasive plant versus a native plant. Im not sure what would be 'outside of the box' for me, maybe insects.

From my sit spot in my yard,

My sit spot is my porch. I have been observing nature from my porch for years. I watch the birds and squirrels and chipmunks. I watch the changing of the seasons. I listen for what birds are present. What was new was how layered the visions are and how hard it is to capture that on paper. I drew the tress but what about what was behind the tress? I drew the rhododendron but what is on the ground in front of and behind the rhododendron? The other layer is the layer of color. The rhododendron's flowers are ink, some brighter, some paler capturing that is hard. And where was the sky?

During this time of pandemic isolation and restricted movement here in Australia I have been enjoying the change of pace and getting out into natural spaces near to home when I can.  It is nice to be able to spend time just sitting  noticing and wondering.  Here are a few of my Journalling attempts