Fascinated by Swans

My earliest memories of nature journaling come from when I was little. My dad and I used to go for walks watching the birds, picking up objects, and seeing what we could spot – the birds and animals were always favourites. On returning home, I would sit at the coffee table with a “book” made from dad’s old work paper to record the finds we had brought home, both in pictures and words.

Skip forward many years and as an artist I usually have different sketchbooks that I work in simultaneously. They vary in size and paper and are often used for specific things such as urban sketching and watercolours. Within these are drawings and paintings of nature and pocket hitchhikers such as conkers and leaves. Alongside using a sketchbook to record nature, I am always taking photos.

In 2018, I was inspired by the nature journalist Jules Woolford to start a specific nature journal. I also bought John Laws fabulous book The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling, which is so inspirational and a great guide for drawing the natural world. I created quite a few page spreads throughout that year and then… it got neglected being brought out mainly for the International Nature Journaling Weeks. This spread is one that I created in it for my swan project.

Throughout my life I have been fascinated by swans and have sketched them from life since art college days. In 2021, I decided to create a project where I would aim to capture the beauty and movement of swans in various mediums. Starting between lockdowns, I have used a concertina sketchbook to capture swans in all aspects of their life. The handsome swan in my photo was marvellous as it posed for numerous photos and sketches and then came to check out if I had captured their likeness.

In the concertina, I have used different pencils or focused on specific things, like their feet, but I usually get distracted and draw what captures my attention on the day. Here are some images from my concertina sketchbook.

I believe drawing is the basis for all good artwork, especially observational drawing such as these studies from life. In order to improve my knowledge of swans, I have located a museum that has an articulated swan skeleton. However, I will be drawing it on sheets of paper rather than in my nature journal, as I feel larger paper will enable me to capture more. I may then use the journal for specific parts like the skull and wing, let’s see.


For the finished pieces of my Swan Project, due to be completed next year, I hope, I am drawing on black paper with coloured pencils (mainly white of course) and Inktense blocks. Alongside those, I am creating paintings in watercolour and mixed medium.


I believe that even when my swan project is completed I will continue to sketch and photograph swans, alongside other parts of nature that captures my attention, don’t you?


About Sue

I am an international exhibiting artist, currently based in Suffolk UK, producing commissioned drawings and paintings for private collectors. My art is filled with nature and expressed in watercolour and ink. The natural world, gardens and diverse cultures are recurring themes. Whilst realistic in appearance, an artwork represents my interpretation of what I see. Originally a pen and ink artist more often colour enters my work in the form of watercolours or acrylics.