Scientists, naturalists, artists, architects, writers, poets, parents, grandparents and children all use journals, diaries and sketchbooks to record and recall the magnificent and mundane moments in life. Nature sketchbooks and field journals are the most important tools I carry. Because, for those of us whose most memorable moments happen in the great outdoors—they become a personal legacy and a record of passion. Nature journaling is a skill that anyone can learn, at any stage in life, and at any age. Nature journaling abilities will develop with intention, learning and practice. Memories fade quickly, or become distorted and fragmented over time. So, the very act of recording what we see in nature infuses our memories with permanence and accuracy. Taking the time to stop, sketch, query, and strive for more information gives us the gift of seeing nature more clearly. But why should you start nature journaling? Recording what you see as accurately as possible, gives you the opportunity to preserve and immortalise your experiences in nature, and it creates your legacy of experience for future generations.
Nature Journaling has three simple elements; Observe, Record, Inquire:
Observe
Writing, sketching, and note-taking improve our ability to observe, process and remember experiences. A nature journal will not only trigger memories, but it will promote a deeper understanding of the natural world, and inspire questioning. When you focus your awareness on a subject and surroundings; when you flow with a moment or experience; when you take note of what interests you, you begin to follow questions, look for patterns, find exceptions and make comparisons. All this helps develop a deeper understanding of nature.
Record
Sketching, writing and drawing sharpens your observation and strengthens your memory. It will profoundly change the way you see the natural world around you and will add deep dimension to your observations. The sketching process is simple: Begin by blocking in the simple shapes that define the subject; build the framework around those shapes and enhance it by adding in the detail. You can work on value with our without colour, the choice is yours. Writing can be anything in your nature journal; narrative, poems, lists, questions, stories, comparisons … the list goes on. It is absolutely guaranteed that with continued practice and purposeful intention, your drawing skills will improve and so will your journal writing.
Inquire
Writing, drawing, counting, measuring and estimating help you explore subjects in different ways. There is no right or wrong, there should only be lots of questions, an abundance of ideas, and your own unique expression of what you are seeing. If you. choose, you can incorporate Scientific Method to your inquiry. But this level of inquiry is not for everyone. Understanding the scientific standards of notation, species data, recording and quantifying will help add weight to your journals and deepen understanding. For most of us, however, nature journaling is a personal process that helps us connect with nature.
The most important thing is to develop a nature journaling practice that works for you.
Find more of Dion’s work on Instagram @diondior_art