I am teaching a nature sketching class to a group of adults who range from “I’ve never drawn anything since third grade” to “I paint and draw every day.” Every week we meet for several hours and learn about other naturalists and the multitude of approaches to keeping a nature sketchbook. We learn about sketching and painting flowers, trees, leaves, birds and anything else that we are curious about in nature.

Today is 68 degrees, sunny, and a perfect spring equinox for our sketching outing. We spent a few hours sketching in the sun.

Here are some pages from the sketchbooks of my students. If this inspires you to grab paper, pen and head outside, here is a quick exercise to get you started.

Ask yourself “What is happening outside right now?” It can be outside your window, your backyard, in a park, anywhere. List seven observations… Date, time, season, temperature. What do you feel? Warm sun on your skin? Wind in your hair? What do you smell? Fresh mowed lawn? Rain hitting hot asphalt? What do you hear? Birds chirping, a wind chime in the distance, kids laughing? Write down your observations. Then do a little sketch of something that catches your eye. Something simple or something complicated. It’s up to you. Paint it if you’d like or leave it black & white. Enjoy connecting with nature. Turn the page.

Welcome to keeping a nature sketchbook!