Journal Lab
Junk Journals
Contemporary journaling about nature often incorporates found and recycled materials. Some artists produce “junk journals” from a variety of available resources. In this video I share a few different forms of junk journals with a nature focus.
Educational Tools
School is is session! Journaling can have a positive impact on what you get out of years of educational experiences. In this videoI’m sharing how journaling impacts my own teaching and learning.
Journal Style
Everyone typically develops their own style of journaling. In this video I share a few personal journals that show variations in nature journaling.
What You Love
If you are wondering how to start a journal, the easiest way can be to think about a topic you love and journal about it in as many ways as you can imagine. Here are two journals that are focused on our Bengal cats Vladimir, Tanjiro, & Uschi-Swirl. Doodles, thoughts, and sketches about our daily lives.
Hanging out with Vladi between the goldfish pond and the shed.
Consider the aspects you especially enjoy. Vlady’s unusual tail is partly why we were able to adopt him, instead of him becoming a breeder male.
Try sketching different views, they can be real scenes or imagined.
When you look back at your journal years from now, you will be be able to remember thoughts and emotions.
Try making detailed notes and sketches, taking time to explore your topic.
When sketching, consider what you can draw that would not be easy to capture with a photograph.
Collage in found objects like advertisements and receipts.
Try different painting media and techniques. Anything goes!
Add favorite photos and embellishments. These are scrapbook journals worth keeping and revisiting.
Patterns in Nature
An interesting journaling exercise is to select a pattern, like spheres, dendrites, or in this case, layers. Find or think of as many examples of that pattern as you can and journal your results.
Journal to Learn
Learning a general topic like “flowers” can seem overwhelming. Sometimes it helps to specialize and focus on a more specific topic to develop expertise.
Garden Journals
Humans have recorded seed germination patterns for thousands of years, and modern agricultural records are critical in predicting harvest dates and yield estimates. Home gardeners also often keep records of specific planting dates and factors that impact plant health.
In this video I share a journal that helped me develop a Garden Biology course.
Journal Details
The delight is in the details. Consider visiting and re-visiting journals to add text, images, and objects as your understandings grow.
