Journaling With Nature

An interesting and powerful way to learn something new is to try and teach it to someone else. In teaching a concept or skill we have to first be clear, articulate and intentional with our explanations, and this intentionality can cement the knowledge in our own minds. Is there something new that you have been wanting to learn? How could you break this concept into smaller parts and articulate it...

Trace works as a graphic novelist and illustrator and lives on Djaara Country in south-eastern Australia. Observing and recording the details of the natural world and weaving this together with stories of the people who live and play here, her graphic novels delight readers of all ages. Listen to hear more about: Creating walking maps. Nature journaling and mindfulness. Writing graphic novels. The...

Printmaking is a fun and easy way to capture our impressions of nature and can be incorporated into our nature journaling practice. In this prompt episode I chat about different printmaking techniques and how they can be used to explore our world. To revisit my podcast conversation with printmaker Suzy Sharpe you can find that recording here . You can also see Suzy’s botanical monoprints over on h...

Sushma is a self-taught watercolour artist and author based in Luxembourg. After beginning her career in engineering, Sushma shifted to pursuing art full time, giving her the opportunity to be fully immersed in creativity and nature while sharing this passion with others. Listen to hear more about: Growing up spending time in the Western Ghats in India. How Sushma started watercolour painting.  Th...

A little update on the podcast and an invitation to adjust or delete your Patreon pledge if you feel like it as the podcast upload schedule changes.  Thank you all for the amazing support you have given the podcast!

Join in with the daily prompts this month as we explore nature journaling in the garden. The Wild Wonder Foundation is hosting a year-long series of nature journal prompts and this month Bethan was invited to create a set of prompts on the theme of garden journaling. You can find the prompts list here and follow along at your own pace. There will be a live workshop on Sunday 27th/Monday 28th July...

Victoria is a Chilean artist based in Germany. Her botanical art balances scientific accuracy with creative freedom, exploring themes of social masking, neurodivergence, female identity, and belonging. Listen to hear more about: Victoria’s early connection with nature and creativity.   Moving from Chile to Germany and how art helped her connect with her new environment. Studying botanical art by c...

International Nature Journaling Week is coming up again very soon (1-7th June). In this episode we will explore the themes and ways that you can get involved in the celebration.   Our overarching theme this year is Conversations With Nature . We will explore ways that we can listen, learn from, and communicate with the natural world. We will have a daily theme to focus our journaling. These daily...

Maria is an expeditionary artist whose work has led her to some of the planet’s most wild and remote locations. Collaborating with scientific research teams, Maria uses art as a tool for communication. She is the founder of Art Toolkit, a company that specialises in portable materials for adventurous artists. Listen to hear more about: The links between Maria’s early life and her career as an expe...

Seeds are magical little packages of potential! Each seed holds all the genetic information needed to grow into a plant that may feed us, provide shade, or offer food and habitat for wildlife. The diversity of seeds is both fascinating and valuable, making them the perfect subject for our nature journals. I would love to hear about the seeds that you have been exploring in your nature journal. You...

Jennifer is a gardener, author and podcast host. By examining the intersection between gardens and human culture, her work helps to expand how we think about gardens, positioning gardeners as essential knowledge-holders and change-makers of our time. Listen to hear more about: Jennifer’s first garden. The lessons a garden can teach us. Expanding the definition of gardening and reflecting on what g...

We are often very good at encouraging others and noticing things to admire in the artwork of those around us, but it can be more challenging to offer those same gentle words to ourselves. This week, we will practice finding things to love about our own creations and speaking to ourselves with kindness and generosity. I noticed this when I was sketching with my son. It was easy to find things to lo...

James is an artist and wilderness guide from New York. Driven by a desire to make the outdoors accessible to more people, James created  Hike and Draw - a platform where he combines art and education to help people connect with nature in a meaningful way. Listen to hear more about: The rhythm of the seasons in New York. How the Scouting movement taught James to thrive in a range of outdoor environ...

Learning some facts can be a powerful tool for understanding and connecting with animals. Following on from our conversation with Lee Putman from  Facts and Fine Liners , let’s go on our own fact-finding adventure and see what we can learn about our chosen animal species. I would love to hear your experience with researching facts about an animal. Did you feel more connected with the species? You...

Lee is an artist and educator based in London. Weaving together fine art and storytelling, his compelling videos open us to the fascinating wonders of the animal kingdom. Listen to hear more about: Lee’s creative history, including the development of his street dance and fine art.  Incorporating movement into art practice. Creating art that has a positive outlook.  Animal activism through art.  St...

Contemplating Earth as part of a vast solar system, galaxy, and universe offers a powerful perspective. Let's explore ways to use nature journaling to connect with our place in space. In the episode I chat about the book Orbital by Samantha Harvey . Listen to episode 175 of this podcast where I talk with Kate Skinner about many things including the book Orbital.  You can revisit Roseann Hanson’s f...

Kirstie is a teacher and nature journaler from Alaska. Her career has led her through a wide range of teaching situations, always with a focus on respect for people and place. Listen to hear more about: Kirstie’s career that has spanned a wide range of teaching situations.  The natural environment in Alaska.  The vegetable garden as a place of joy.  The story of how Kirstie came to nature journali...

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe. Nature journaling offers a way to document these events while also capturing our personal experiences and responses. Two nature journalers who document the effects of extreme weather are Miriam Morrill from @pyrosketchology and Robin Lee Carlson in her book The Cold Canyon Fire Journals .  If you are interested to learn how to make a cy...

Angela is a writer, scientist, and natural historian. Through her writing, she celebrates the power of the local—what can be discovered when we slow down, tune in, and notice the subtle wonders of the world around us. Listen to hear more about: How the 2020 lockdowns started Angela’s writing project that would become her book Nature on the Doorstep: A Year of Letters . Angela’s writing process at...

Spirals are all around us in nature, and finding them can be a joyful challenge. This week, let’s go on a treasure hunt by tuning into the spirals in our nearby nature and capturing them on the pages of our nature journals. I would love to hear about the spirals you found this week. You can leave a comment below this post on the Journaling With Nature website. ----------------- Sign-up for  Journa...

Trina is a science teacher at a nature-based school, where she weaves together science and art through nature journaling. By guiding her students in an immersive learning experience, she helps them explore the world while creatively capturing their observations. Listen to hear more about: Teaching science in a nature-based school. Modelling nature journaling habits by drawing alongside the student...

Imagining ourselves in a landscape can be a calming and peaceful experience. What if we transformed these imagined landscapes into nature journal entries? These entries could serve as a source of calm when needed or even as the first step in bringing our envisioned landscapes to life. If you try today's prompt, I would love to hear about your experience and what the activity brought you. You can l...

This very special episode is a celebration of the life of Kate Skinner. Kate was passionate about human rights and social justice. She had a deep love of literature and the transformative power of human stories. Her warmth and love was felt by everyone in her life. Listen to hear more about: The freedom of unstructured outdoor play in childhood. The values of social justice woven into Kate’s famil...

Symbiosis is a close biological relationship between two different organisms, where at least one benefits from their interaction. Symbiosis highlights the interconnectedness and interdependence of living organisms and we will explore the different types of symbiosis in today’s prompt episode.  I would love to hear all about your plans for your nature journal this year and any examples of symbiosis...

Juliene is an artist and watercolour educator. Through her engaging classes and vibrant online community, Juliene inspires artists to build creative confidence and embrace the joy of painting.  Listen to hear more about: The winding career path that led Juliene to becoming a watercolour educator. The natural landscape in Montana. Learning to love watercolour as a medium.  Pivoting from a product t...