In June 2021, the Friends Council resolved to establish a Nature Journaling Group for the benefit of interested members. This is a welcome initiative.
"For over 25 years I have been walking in the bush with my friends, in the Canberra region and more widely around Australia and overseas. Over that time I have made many drawings, some of which have been published and others which I keep for myself and family. Nature Journaling is about observation of whatever you see in nature, whether it be plants, birds, landscapes, people, insects or animals. To sit quietly and contemplate the world around you then record one’s reflections, is a very peaceful activity. It does not have to be a masterpiece. Creating a record of what we see goes back to ancient times. Australian aborigines recorded the hunt or whatever interested them. Explorers used journals to remember what they saw through writing and drawing, for example Charles Darwin. The ANBG makes an ideal setting for such activity. The new Friends Group will meet once a month on the first Monday of each month, with each meeting in a different part of the Gardens. If you are interested in participating, please contact me."
Lesley Page, Co-ordinator.
Some reading suggestions from Lesley:
"Here are 8 books, 3 of which deal with Nature Journaling and how to approach it. The others are about artists who incorporate Nature Journaling and Field Sketching into their work, whether it be scientific records, or purely artistic. Some will talk about colour palettes, colour theory, art materials etc. and one is Botanical Sketchbooks which is really botanical illustration.
1) Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie and Charles Roth. This is very good from the point of view that Leslie records her approach to visual diary writing and sketching of her day to day experiences.
2) The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling written and illustrated by John Muir Laws. A "how to" book full of worthwhile information.
3) Drawing Birds by John Busby, a delightful book on how to draw birds in the wild
4) Lines for Birds by Barry Hill and John Wolseley - poems and paintings
5) 1954 - 1956 Alaskan Field Sketches of William D. Berry. Wildlife artist. Annotated drawings of animals in the wild, recording what he saw. It's real nature journaling with a scientific approach.
6) Explorer`s Sketchbooks
The Art of Discovery and Adventure. Huw Lewis-Jones, Kari Herbert
7) Natural History Painting with the Eden Project
Rosie Martin and Meriel Thurstan. Another How to book
8) Botanical Sketchbooks
Helen and William Bynum
Perhaps really about Botanical Illustration for scientific purposes
