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Blind contours to break into my journaling. I too

Blind contours to break into my journaling.

I took a wander to explore a new forest trail. I was enjoying the smells, and sounds and new sights when I pulled out my journal.

Strangely, I didn't feel like drawing anything I saw, because they seemed tedious with lots of tiny branches-- I wasn't interesting in too much detail to draw.

So I stood and looked around for something to catch my attention.

Then, I remembered my friend was talking about blind contours earlier in the day!

Yes! Let me just do some blind contours to warm into my journaling!

If you're ever feeling stuck, and you WANT to journal, try some blind contours! It will quite the inner critic while warming up your eye-brain-hand coordination!

I first filled the page with blind contour drawings, then added some color. I did all of this in about 15 minutes out in the forest.

Its a quick, low stress way to capture the feeling of the plant community at this time of year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How to do Blind Contours with continuous line:

✅ Look at your subject, a branch for example
✅ you will be looking at the branch and following the branch and leaves with your eye
✅ Place pen on paper 🖊
✅ You will draw, keeping the tip of pen on paper (one continuous line)
✅ without looking at your paper, draw WHAT YOU SEE
✅ No peeking on your drawing!
✅ Take your time, and remember,its not about the drawing. its about the process of seeing! 😃

Try varying the speed-- go slower, or faster, Add more or less detail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Give this a try and Let me know what you think!

#mindfuldrawing #calmingnature #mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #gratitidefornature #drawingnature #naturejournalclub #naturejournals #naturejournal #sparkinnature #naturesketch #natureconnection #naturejournaling

Do you want to nature journal birds more easily an

Do you want to nature journal birds more easily and have fun doing it?

Do you want to expand your knowledge of birds?
Learn to quiet your inner critic and simplify nature journaling birds!

Join Spark your Bird Love - A Live online interactive course begins Sep 29.
Link in Bio for details and registration.
#naturejournals #naturejournal #sparkinnature #natureconnection #naturejournaling
#birds #drawingbirds

I really enjoyed Bethan Burtons class on Line for

I really enjoyed Bethan Burtons class on Line for Wild Winder- it was easy and playful way to approach drawing!

I use mostly fountain pen these days- so it was a treat to try something new.. it can be uncomfortable to try a new method or medium- but Bethan had the perfect way to calmly ease you in. It was accessible to anyone!

It was fun to try using the pencil in varying your line-

I’m going to experiment more with pencil! Thank you Bethan!!

#calmingnature #naturejournals #naturejournal #sparkinnature #naturejournaling #wildwonder Journaling With Nature

Nature Journaling Safari-- Elkhorn Slough. Otters,

Nature Journaling Safari-- Elkhorn Slough. Otters, seals, shorebirds and friends.

SO much fun in community with other nature journalers. We began with a workshop on how to nature journal marine animals, and landscapes.

I gave tips to help us remember that we are not here for illustration, but rather immersion in nature, observing, being curious, capturing the small wonders and joys in our heart and journals.

And we took a trip on the slough with the Elkhorn Slough Safari boat to practice.

Let me know if you want to save a seat at Elkhorn slough, Moss Landing, California for the next adventure with me!

#mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #gratitidefornature #drawingnature #naturejournalclub #naturejournals #naturejournal #sparkinnature #naturejournalingweek #naturesketch #natureconnection #naturejournaling

See the post in Spark Circles community: https://community.sparkinnature.com/c/nature-journal-club/nature-journaling-safari-553986df-ae88-49d1-b4f2-5252c6190e34

The Monterey Bay Nature Journal Club met on Sunday

The Monterey Bay Nature Journal Club met on Sunday for our monthly online session.

The focus was tree bark and leaves— learning about the bark characteristic while they have leaves is a great way to learn about them. Because it’s harder to identify them when the are bare of leaves in the winter.

We explored easy and simple ways to nature journal tree bark without getting hung up on details and photo realism.

I shared a bit about tree truck parts, and how tree bark behaves during tree growth - they either crack or peel.

Take a look at your nearby trees— what does the bark look like? How can you describe it? Touch and smell the bark. Do contour drawings to sketch the texture.

Use small boxes to confine busy drawings to manageable sizes.

Include a map to get a sense of place.

Sketch the leaves too!

It’s ok to use photographs you’ve taken- just make note of where the trees were. And revisit them over the year.

What do you discover in your nearby nature??

If you missed it, join us next month! 3rd Sunday of the month!

Sparkinnature.com/events

I’ll have the recording up on my website eventually.

#NatureForAll #mindfuldrawing #mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #gratitidefornature #gardenjournaling #naturesitspot #drawingnature #naturejournalclub #naturejournals #naturejournal #sparkinnature #naturejournalingweek #naturesketch #natureconnection #naturejournaling

I wasn’t planning to journal at first but the sc

I wasn’t planning to journal at first but the scenery just kept beckoning me!

The scribbly sketches may not convey the beauty of the day, but it helps me notice more and remember when I nature journal it— and the more I practice (even if it’s quick scribbles) the drawings get better.

I don’t get fussy over “getting it right” because the waves are constantly changing, it’s not possible - unless I use a photo.

Here I’m sitting on the beach, taking in the scenery, wind, sun and smells- and capturing how it makes me feel….

If you want to learn how to nature journal without getting lost in perfectionism, and prefer to play with scribbles, stay tuned for upcoming workshops and course.

#mindfuldrawing #calmingnature #mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #internationalnaturejournalingweek #gratitidefornature #gardenjournaling #naturesitspot #gardenjournaling #drawingnature #naturejournalclub #naturejournals #sparkinnature #naturejournalingweek #naturesketch #naturejournaling

Vibrant orange rose hips stood out against the bro

Vibrant orange rose hips stood out against the browns ans greens of the pine forest today.

I wonder how many people just walk by without seeing these gems?

Have you seen rose hips in your nearby nature?

(Rose hips are the fruit of roses)

#wonderinnature #mindfulinnature #gratitidefornature #sparkinnature #naturesketch #natureconnection #naturejournaling

Sparkling spiderwebs This morning when I let my

Sparkling spiderwebs

This morning when I let my dog out I noticed so many spiders webs in my front yard 🕸all over the ceanothus shrub.

I’ve seen these kinds of spiders in the past and they are hard to sss becuase they are hidden or small.

This time I observed one spider cleaning itself- rubbing its back legs over its swollen abdomen, and sweeping a few drop to its mouth! Wow!

Then a tiny spider building a web, rappelling down like an acrobatic rock climber.

From the past, I’ve observed a few things-
1- it’s very hard to photograph
2- spiders are hard to see
3- and hard to identify
4- the webs become invisible later in the morning when the dew drops dry
5- are hard to draw the 3-D “messy webs”

I was so taken by these gorgeous architectural feats— they repair these every morning- amazing!

They may seem delicate to us, but they are effective food catchers - lethal traps to small insects.

Although I see these every year- these individual spiders are new to me- and worth watching.

I marvel at these works of art right under my nose in the garden.

It makes me wonder how many marvels are hidden in plain sight for us to discover?

I invite you to step outside in the early morning. What spider webs can you find? You don’t have to know what kind of spider they are— just watch!

Notice the shape of the web- is it orderly? Messy, or Flat? 3-d or an orb web?

Find the spider- where is the spider- what part of the web? What shape is the body? Legs? Colors?

What is it doing? Do you see evidence of its victims?

How is the web attached to substrate? Bush , leaf, stem, wall-

Web- are all the silk threads the same thickness?

You can just notice and speak your discoveries out loud, or record them as a voice memo. If you decide to journal it, you can draw from memory.

What surprised you about the web? The spider? The location? The shape?

How did it make you feel? Was it Creepy? Cool? Mesmerizing? Amazing?

I’d love to hear what you discover!
#NatureForAll #mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #naturesitspot #sparkinnature #natureconnection #naturejournaling

The vegetable garden caught my attention this morn

The vegetable garden caught my attention this morning… I’ve been away on vacation and missed watching the daily growth.

I brought a chair out and with my coffee
going over each of my plants with my eyes- noticing how they’ve changed…. Eggplants, peppers, green beans, cucumbers…..

I wasn’t inspired to journal just yet.

I’m still feeling a need to rest after my vacation.

So much chatter was going on in my head if all the things I have to do—-for family, the house, garden, my business- and wanting it to stop…

Then I remembered.

Contour drawings always calm me.

Not perfect illustrations or botanically correct.

Just let me be with the plants, let my hand live slowly across the page.

I enjoyed each curve and wiggle of the line on my page. The way the pen felt…

My breath slowed down, as I consciously slowed down my pen. I said to myself “what’s the hurry? There’s no urgency…. Don’t need to get anywhere..”

I was going to leave it as a pen and ink page- but the colors were so pretty they wanted my attention too!

So I added color- consciously not being too fussy about color matching.

My brush danced in the pans of paint, swirled in the mixing areas and onto the paper.

Feeling each brush stroke as it followed the lines and shapes of the plant models.

Sense of deepening peace washing over me with every brushstroke.

I’m just a few minutes the loud chatter in my head quieted. I was not fully here, in the moment. Grounded in the garden. Caressing each leaf with my eyes and hands.

Do you ever feel bombared and overwhelmed my all the demands that are vying for your attention?

What do you do to calm and center yourself?

There are many ways to do so- slow contour drawings is one way. Give it a try!

Let us know how it works or feels for you. #mindfuldrawing #calmingnature #mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #internationalnaturejournalingweek #gratitidefornature #gardenjournaling #naturesitspot #drawingnature #naturejournalclub #naturejournals #naturejournal #sparkinnature #naturesketch #natureconnection #naturejournaling

Nature journals wild sea otters and other wildlife

Nature journals wild sea otters and other wildlife in their habitat!

I'm offering a very special workshop- very limited seats so save your seat now!

I'll show you how to easily and simply nature journal what we see so you can create a memorable experience!

Then, we'll take the Elkhorn Slough Safari boat on a private charter just for nature journalers!!

Saturday August 27-- 11am -4:30 pm-- Beginners welcome!

Please share or invite a friend!

To Register and more details: Link in Bio

#wonderinnature #naturejournalclub #drawingnature #naturejournals #sparkinnature #naturejournal #natureconnection #naturejournaling #elkhornslough #elkhornsloughsafari #seaotters #Seals #montereybusinessbuildersbni #montereybusinessbuilders

I'll be teaching again at the Wild Wonder Nature J

I'll be teaching again at the Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference! It's going to be online, from 14-18th September, 2022. ⁣
⁣
I'll be teaching a class called Simply Birds-- Rather than a bird drawing class, I will focus on sharing ways to capture birds in your nature journal with simplicity, ease, and fun!

For more details visit https://johnmuirlaws.com/wildwonder/

Spend a otterly fun nature journaling afternoon wi

Spend a otterly fun nature journaling afternoon with Melinda Nakagawa. You'll learn how to nature journal the wildlife and landscapes of Elkhorn Slough, then sketch live on the slough boat with Elkhorn Slough Safari.

**Seats are limited** to ensure plenty of space for nature journaling.

Detail and registration Link in Bio.
Saturday August 27, 2022. 11am-4:30pm, Moss Landing, California

Melinda Nakagawa, M.Sc is a marine biologist, naturalist, and nature journaling educator. In the past she's worked with marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles as a researcher and as wildlife rehabilitator.
She leads the Monterey Bay Nature Journal Club, as well as offers nature journaling classes and workshops online and in person. Melinda will guide you in cultivating a deeper relationship with the natural world, slowing down to nature’s pace, and enjoy the wonder and awe in nature.

#mindfulinnature #drawingnature #naturejournalclub #naturejournals #naturejournal #sparkinnature #naturejournalingweek #naturesketch #natureconnection

In the past month I’ve felt an inner need to slo

In the past month I’ve felt an inner need to slow down my pace. And I’ve not felt the desire to journal as much as I normally do (which is almost daily)-

Instead of pushing myself, I’ve been listens to the quiet signs to shift my DOING activity to more moments of BEING.

To PAUSE for a nature break- you can read more in my blog article here-

https://sparkinnature.com/2022/07/15/pausing-for-deep-nature-breaks/

I know I’ll come back to more journaling. This is a cycle- just like nature around me has cycles and rhythms, we have ebbs and flows too.

I had a very full spring ans early summer and now it’s time to ride the wave of quiet reflection back to the ocean before regaining momentum for the next wave!

I took more conscious time in nature ans allowed my nature journal to come along without having to record everything. I tried some simpler ways to play with my journal (read the blog for more).

Have you noticed if you’ve got an inner desire for something? More rest, more connection, more peace, more clarity, more play??

If so, what’s one small action you can take to feed that hunger?

#mindfuldrawing #calmingnature #mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #gratitidefornature

Nature journaling trains us to notice our world in

Nature journaling trains us to notice our world in a new way. Even without a journal I’m hand, you can slow down or stop to take a mental note.

The past week I’ve noticed variations in the clouds in the sky. It can go from clear blue to a flock of sheep-like clouds.

Notice in the first photo, how the color blue changes from the horizon line as you move up. Deeper cobalt above, and paler blue just above the mountains……makes you wonder, huh?

We don’t have to have answers right now— that is not the goal. The purpose is to notice it- to see that there different shades!! I remember the first time I drew this phenomenon in my journal…..

Here’s you’re invitation this week. What do you see in the sky?

Look at sunrise, late morning, noon, afternoon, evening, late night. Write down and describe what you see… paint it if you’re so included. Write down your questions ans how it makes you feel…

Then, join me on Sunday July 17 on zoom for sharing and journaling together!

See website sparkinnature.com/events for details.

#NatureForAll #mindfuldrawing #calmingnature #mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #gratitidefornature #gardenjournaling #naturesitspot #drawingnature #naturejournalclub #naturejournals #naturejournal #sparkinnature #naturejournalingweek #naturesketch #natureconnection #naturejournaling

Newest round of my custom watercolor travel kits a

Newest round of my custom watercolor travel kits are almost ready! I have a few that are unclaimed. Its filled with 12 Daniel Smith watercolor paints, 5 empty half pans--

If you are in the US and would like one go to Link in my bio.

Green bean plants reaching up for the big blue sky

Green bean plants reaching up for the big blue sky. Reminds me that I’m stretching and growing too!

Im so excited that these are growing well in our new raised beds. They are just starting stretch up a long tendril, so I’ll need set up something for it to grow up!

My parents knew how to grow anything- and I enjoyed lots of fresh garden veggies from their plants. But I never really learned how to grow from them, so now I’m trying.

Learning something new is continually experimenting- with every micro “failure” is a new piece of knowledge/experience gained. It’s personal so I’ll remember it- more than if I read instructions in a book.

Are you growing and stretching to the edge of your comfort zone? What are you learning?

#calmingnature #wonderinnature #gratitidefornature #gardenjournaling #naturesitspot #sparkinnature

Peaceful afternoon trip to the river. Wading throu

Peaceful afternoon trip to the river. Wading through the cool water, painting with river water, contour drawings of willow roots, leaves and catkins….

I was actively focusing on being present in nature, playing in the river with my family, and allowing the busy mind chatter to subside. I was noticing my automatic actions to record everything I see and hear— and chose to be more in flow with nature- allowing the creativity to flow from the river to me and onto the page.

In fact, I could have filled a bunch of pages with loose contour sketches of nature- but hinger hit us ans we had to leave!

I’ll be returning though….. to connect with this place- the willows, poplars, birds and river for rest and replenishment.

What have you done today to give yourself some rest? Take a walk? Listen to birds? Gaze at the night sky? Take deep breaths outdoors?

The more we take care of our inner needs, the better we are for those who need us.

Share with us some ideas that you do to replenish!

#mindfuldrawing #NatureForAll #calmingnature #mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #internationalnaturejournalingweek #gratitidefornature #naturesitspot #drawingnature #naturejournals #naturejournal #sparkinnature #naturejournalingweek #naturesketch #natureconnection #naturejournaling

A young western skink- I thought it was a blue pie

A young western skink- I thought it was a blue piece of plastic and was going to collect it- until I got closer and saw it had a body and head!

This was in on the riverbank in Carmel valley.

When I’ve seen them before they scamper away quickly but this one let me take a few photographs and hung out on the willow roots for some time. Other people walked by and didn’t notice.

Such an amazing creature. Makes me wonder why a vibrant blue?

Happy summer solstice in the northern hemisphere— and winter solstice for our Southern Hemisphere friends!

It’s an unusually scorching hot day for us on the coast in California.

I sat on our deck and greeted the rising sun this morning. Watched and listened to the birds and plants (yes listened my plants- my ceanothus bush’s seed pods were popping).

Feeling gratitude for the long days, and more time outdoors. I often feel a sadness for the season we are leaving but this time I’m focusing on the joy of this moment.

A morning walk with pretty seed heads- and various shades of green, orange ans red….

What’s one thing you can do to celebrate this day?
Stop to look out the window? Smell the fresh air? Nature journal what you experience?

#mindfuldrawing #calmingnature #mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #gratitidefornature #naturesitspot #drawingnature #naturejournalclub #sparkinnature #natureconnection #naturejournaling

I’m enjoying the the cedar and pine first this w

I’m enjoying the the cedar and pine first this week. I’m teaching nature journaling to a group of science teachers and we get to be immersed in this gorgeous place in the planet!

I’m nature journaling pinecones, and they are teaching me so much.

I’m also being mindful of how much time I spend journaling- and to balance that with just BE-ing and soaking in nature with all my senses.

Your turn- get out to soak in nature today!

#NatureForAll #mindfuldrawing #calmingnature #mindfulinnature #wonderinnature #gratitidefornature #naturesitspot #drawingnature #naturejournalclub #naturejournals #naturejournal #sparkinnature #naturejournalingweek #naturesketch #natureconnection #naturejournaling

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