During the first lockdown I re-discovered my love of drawing when I started to draw the plants and flowers in my garden and those I saw on my walks. Connecting with nature has been very important to me all my life. I need to be out every day, even if it is only for a short walk around the block to take in all that is growing and living around us with all my senses. It brings me joy and helps me to relax and feel connected with the life force that we are all part of.
For a few years, I had been sharing my daily observations by posting a photo each day on my Instagram account and during the first lockdown I started adding photos of my drawings. I found there were lots of inspiring nature artist on social media that were willing to share their work and tips and they gave, and are still giving, me lots of inspiration.
I do not keep a nature journal in which I record my finds in drawings and words. Instead I draw and paint whatever and whenever I like, which is at least once a week. I love experimenting with different techniques, art tools and media. I started drawing from the photos I took, but I’ve been drawing from nature in nature more and more. Mostly in our garden, but I also go out sometimes to find a spot to sit, observe and sketch.
Inspired by Katherine Owen (@thewalkingsketchbook) a fellow artist I connected with on Instagram, I started to include rain and snow in my drawings. Here you can see a rain painting I made. I drew the flower first, then added a few drops of ink and let the rain splash it around. After the ink was dry I added colour to the flower with colouring pencils. And this is a painting in collaboration with the snow. I brushed a layer of Quinck blue-black ink on paper keeping the moon empty and then took it outside to let tiny snow flakes fall on it. The snow flakes created these little stars turning everything into a magical night sky.
A year or so ago I also started making my own inks from plants and flowers. Such a fun things to do and a lovely medium to work with. I have made ink from Acorn caps, Poppies, Daffodils, Privet Berries, Rooibos tea, Golden Rod and even Apple tree bark.
Here is a drawing a made with dip pen and brush and two of my inks: Apple bark and Privet berry.
Using dip pen is a great way to free up my drawing as you cannot help it getting a bit messy, which I love. Another way to free up my sketching was by using a stick. This is a sketch of our Medlar tree made with a stick and Privet berry ink. I also like drawing with my non-dominant hand and I love continuous line drawings. I find using all these different techniques, tools and materials keeps it fun and, as in nature, there are so many things to learn and discover.
Hopefully this blog has given you some inspiration to go outside, connect with nature and have fun experimenting with all kinds of ways to draw nature!
About Marion
My name is Marion Ooijevaar (my surname means Stork) and I live with my husband, our lovely dog Lotte and two chickens in a small village in the centre of the Netherlands. I work at a teaching college, teaching English and Environmental Education and I have set up ‘Connecting With Nature’ as a means to encourage people to go outside and use all their senses to observe nature and all its wonders.
Instagram: @connectingwithnature.nl
website: www.connectingwithnature.nl