I'm inspired to use a journal to be fully present and notice specific details as well as the amazing scope of the place I'm in.  I'm eager to learn and observe more of the small bits that fascinate me before I move on to the next thing.  I'm also hoping that journaling and sketching will help me focus and use time wisely as I recovery from surgery and am unable to walk much for the next few weeks. I'm in awe of the artistic skill level of these journal sharers.  I feel like I'm not far beyond lollipop trees and snowmen and happy faces. THe colors in these journals are jaw-dropping--they look like the sea and clouds could just wash over me.

oops, I moved too fast :)

I love watching the birds in my little backyard and how different ones come at different times of the year. I need to learn how to capture these amazing little creatures as they flit to and fro, hang out on the feeder and play in the bird bath. These videos were awesome. Before I started this class, I had this vision of just learning to journal birds, but after watching the videos I’ve changed my mind, I want to learn how to draw plants & rocks.  I like the idea of having some notes with the drawings, particularly the date, time & location.

I have never been a person who journaled, but I started journaling earlier this year as part of my “dreaming big journey of discovery” to start a new business. It’s been an amazing personal growth experience. Now I want to expand to journaling and field sketching my time in nature with native plants, birds, butterflies, and more. I’m very excited to start this course because I want to capture these times with drawings and words. The journaling style that I hope to accomplish is filling a couple of pages per month, maybe weekly.

I live next to a chaparral preserve and love observing our summer-dormant natives spring to life with the first winter rains.  Nature journaling will give me the ability to document these changes in a way that is both memorable and beautiful. I am drawn to the first journal and how her drawings spring out of the boxes, it really brings them to life.

I have never thought myself to be artistic (think stick men...), but a couple of years ago decided to give watercolours a try.  I've enjoyed attempting to paint the birds that visit my bird feeder, but mostly by taking photos then painting from them.  They are simplistic pictures, but they are mine and I enjoy them!  I'm looking forward to learning to record nature as I see it (rather than from photos), and love the idea of recording thoughts and impressions alongside.  The monthly nature journal page especially appeals to me!

I am an avid birder and my husband and I camp a lot.  While I have done some sketching when we have traveled it has never been organized or consistent.  Nature journaling will encourage me not only to capture some of the beauty that I see but also to write about the experience, something that isn't captured in a photo.  I also see it as a meditative exercise, a chance to slow down, be in the moment and observe the beauty around me either at home when when traveling.

1.I am retired and I love walking in nature.  I want to develop my powers of observation.  I have never drawn as a hobby so I want to see how I do with it. 2.  I like the idea of using geometric shapes to start the sketch.  I would like to record details in writing as well. A page per month sounds reasonable.    

I have been a bird watcher since I was a little girl. That practice has followed me into adulthood. I do want to get out in nature more, and nature journaling seems like a wonderful practice to incorporate into that time. I really appreciate the journals that include accurate renderings as well as facts and observations. I am very excited about this course. 10/22

This is something I have been thinking about for a long time.  I have been doing Citizen Science for a number years birds, butterflies and dragonflies mostly.  I have wanted to see what my artistic ability is and do more with keeping records of what I see in nature.

I was inspired by Liz in a previous course I took about sketching birds. Also, I have kept a journal on trips I've taken out west and they are so special to me. They typically are not set up in anyway, and are on lined paper. I want to step it up a little bit! I want to start organizing my journal a bit more- and try to make entries weekly of normal, every day "wonders" so I form a habit that feeds my soul. I also want to be able to share this practice with my students.

I was inspired to begin nature journaling by a recent trip to Alaska. I spent many days hiking in the wilderness with small groups of people (less than 6). One day I was hiking by myself and found time to get down on my hands and knees and look at the plant life. I took pictures and they were great but I found I wanted to spend more time with the plants. At the time I wished I had a journal to make some sketches. When I got home I had an email with information about this course. It was perfect timing. I know that sketching really allows you to see details that you might otherwise overlook. I am happy to be participating in this class. 

I want to develop my experience of observation

I'm enrolled in the Master Gardener Basic Program. Journaling will help reinforce what I am learning by teaching me to observe details and recording those details. I like the idea of using water color and recording time, place, weather, as well as, describing what I see.          

I want to learn to preserve some of the colors and shapes of ordinary things that I see in different light outdoors, and to record some of my thoughts, feelings and observations. Some images that I see are so fleeting as light and seasons change and deserve preservation. I have no experience with drawing or painting.

1. What inspired me was the ability to capture detail in a full scene, or just one element, like a leaf or a twig. I'm also excited to learn how to gesture draw animals. I often get caught in the details and would love practice capturing just the important things to highlight a movement or a pose. Lastly, in my recent creativity journey, I've been captivated by urban sketching using pen and watercolor, so I hope to practice that in this course!

Nature journaling forces you to really observe the details about an animal or plant or place.  It also makes you aware of the overall appearance and behaviors, too.  By being actively involved in looking and recording makes you more aware of subtle things that you might overlook by just snapping a picture.  I want to improve my observation skills as well as my descriptive skills.

I became inspired when I saw this course, and saw the chance to improve my ability to draw birds. I really like the idea of making each page tell a story and a journey, both of the creature and environment, and of the person making it.

I started yesterday and my first journal entry was looking out the window while I was volunteering at the library bookstore. There were trees outside an old building. I was viewing the back of the structure. I’m fascinated by trees and find drawing them difficult. I’m hoping to get some tips and ideas from the class and nature journaling seems a good tool for me to use to continue looking at and trying to capture the trees I see outside my home and in the woods and while visiting different places. Thanks. Wanda 9/16

1 what inspired me to try nature journaling? the shifting of the seasons and the beauty of seed pods. a body memory of sketching decades ago. paying attention to something in nature can shift the inner dialogue, create a more open and accepting conversation with self, the world, helpful in the fall as the cold closes in... 2 I like the drawing a day, a page of daily drawings, the close up details, the memory aid the drawings provide, ID support. I hope to capture my various garden beds so I recall what is there and add care notes.

I am interested in journaling to try to capture those moments that are significant that I miss with my camera (I am a wildlife photographer).  Sometimes there are moments that can not be recorded as a photo or film due to poor conditions of one kind or another.  Also sometimes I may hear a story of something that has happened near where I live and I missed seeing it but some how it stayed in my awareness so I would like to be able to draw and paint it along with telling the story.

I love the page where the journal writer documented several different kinds of ferns. I currently am interested in plants - drawing them and identifying them - botany.

1. I really enjoyed the field journals and field collection notes I did for my archaeology and botany classes. I joined this class because I'd like to start incorporating watercolour but have never worked with that medium. 2. The journals that had notes to go with the sketches felt the most familiar and fit best with how I process information. 3. I really liked how many different types of physical journals were shown - small, large, blank, lined, landscape or portrait, cards or books - it emphasized how personal and versatile this all is. There really isn't a "one way is the correct way".

Nature is incredibly beautiful and I want to capture it all.  I have been a nature photographer for many years and now I want to try other ways to record my experiences with nature.  I have long admired those that keep nature journals and the beauty that can be found in these journals.  I very much enjoyed the presentation on the different styles of nature journals and I liked them all but I think I am going to start out with a box approach.  I think this will help me get started then see what develops from there.  This summer I have been identifying the plants on my property and would like to really get to know them and I can't think of any better way than drawing them.  I have also been a birdwatcher for awhile and have fun photographing them but like with the plants I want to get to know them even better and again I see this through a nature journal.