I think is a way for understanding nature, when you take your time to appreciate the tiny details of everything and you discover it's perfection. Trying to illustrate what we see is also about learning lots of new things, beacause is not merely drawing, it takes study and research. In addition, an activity I love to do!
Love this, Alex! Your triangle approach is wonderful. And also that we can define journaling any way we like, that really there are no "rules" at all-a shared love of nature and wanting to record those things we love.
I always enjoy your videos soo much❤ I have started a nature journal myself and really enjoy it for my down time. My husband was re organizing and cleaning out our basement and he brought up a journal I had been writing in for school back in 1982. I was in 6th grade and on November 22, 1982 I wrote - "What I am thankful for. I am thankful for: nature, my home, education and teachers. This was soo profound to read! Clearly my love for nature has always been in me however its only been recently that I have been able to express my love for nature in a journal 💕 All those years that have gone by and never did I think to draw / paint "nature" Its very sad really, as I have always loved art and have lots of saved sketches and colorings from my childhood. Not to mention....all the places and camping trips my parents took my brother and I through our entire childhood....If only I had the art journal creative mindset back then. Oh well! At least I have started now❤ Toni
That's amazing to hear! It's never too late to start expressing your love for nature through art. I often think back and wish I had started sooner, but hindsight is 20-20 as they say! Keep up the great work with your nature journal 😊
Awesome content, please keep it up! I want to point out that I think there is somewhat of a connection between nature journaling and the books created by Tony Wolf called Woodland Folk. And I think the idea of a fantasy nature journal is fascinating. It obviously loses most of the values of an actual nature journal, since there is no real connection to nature, but on the other hand it enables our creativity, fantasy and freedom so much more in the process. Anyway I am thinking about starting my own nature journal now because of you. Thank you for your videos.
I had not heard of these books - they are very expensive on Amazon, must be very rare now I guess! I am delighted to hear you are considering your own nature journal - just a little from time to time is enough to begin with. Often people want to try and do lots and lots, perhaps even daily, and then get discouraged by the big outpouring of effort. So if you do try it, be aware of that potential pitfall and relax into slowly building a new habit. Good luck 😊
Your best video yet for me. So many questions and points raised. I never refer to my 50 odd notebooks as nature journals. In your triangle they would be between the birders log up towards the artists sketchbook. More factual observations, lists and counts than anything else, but I am very interested in other peoples methods. What I do find confusing are those nature journal writers who copy things from books in their journal, ie the chaffinch weighs 25 grams and lays 5 eggs in a mossy nest 6 feet up a tree etc...when theyve never seen a chaffinches nest? Each to their own but I think your own work should reflect your own actual observations...
Thank you 😃 Nice work on filling 50 notebooks 😮 Hmm, yes I agree that the majority of it should come from experience. That is what it is all about in my opinion, but recognise some may feel otherwise. I like to read up on the things I have found and sometimes add notes from the books, but that is always a response to my questions having seen the thing in the first place. Thanks for your comment 😊
Thank you so much for your content. It has changed my life. Your personality, the way you make your videos, and everything you talk about has helped figure out way to spend more time with myself and have conversations with myself that I can’t with others because I have a lot of social anxiety and ADHD. Thank u for your content 🙏
Thank you for your beautiful comment. I felt quite emotional reading that, it means so much to me to make a difference, so thank you for taking the time to let me know. I hope you continue to enjoy your nature journaling 😊
I just found you, and I REALLY enjoyed this deep dive. I love the triangle idea, it has solved a struggle I've had in understanding the relationships, within my art practice, between all my different kinds of nature journalling and separate individual artworks. Lots to think about. I really like your gentle, thoughtful way of presenting. Thank you Alex.
Thank you Alex for sharing this video. It inspired me so much. I am retired and have recently taken up sketching and painting. I have thought of creating a nature journal but wasn’t sure how to start. However I was given a lovely art/journal sketch book for a present, so excuses now. Thank you again and I will certainly be watching more f your videos.
Wow this is an awesome video! Has really got me thinking about everything that I do that involves nature. Will definitely have to watch again. So good also the books that you showed us at the start. Thank you!
Thank you for your lovely comment! Glad to hear that this video made you reflect on your relationship with nature. Glad you liked seeing the books too. I might make a dedicated video about the best nature journaling books as the bookish stuff seems quite popular 😃
This is a great video. I just went to your art website for the first time, and the Lapine Botanica originals that you have for sale are truly magical. They are so beautiful, and the rabbits' eyes really shine. Did you sell all the prints/print products? 💜🐰💗🐇💚
Hi Cynthia, welcome to my website 😄 I am glad you like the rabbit drawings. I have a few prints left, but they weren't selling so I took them down. If you want one, send me a direct message by email or Instagram and I can sort you out with one. I am planning a big overhaul of the shop soon 🙂
A lovely gentle and informative blog thank you. You are a lovely artist. I have felt a strong connection with nature and painted all my life but am now making journals with poetry and quotes. Focusing on nature is so good for wellbeing and I will love creating nature journals of different types.
What is a nature journal to you? How do you define nature journaling? Get your thoughts down in the comments below 😀
I think is a way for understanding nature, when you take your time to appreciate the tiny details of everything and you discover it's perfection. Trying to illustrate what we see is also about learning lots of new things, beacause is not merely drawing, it takes study and research. In addition, an activity I love to do!
Love this, Alex! Your triangle approach is wonderful. And also that we can define journaling any way we like, that really there are no "rules" at all-a shared love of nature and wanting to record those things we love.
That's exactly what I'm going for, an all-inclusive definition. Thanks for commenting over here too 😊😊
Love the art/writing/log triangle approach to the definition. Brilliant!
Glad you like it! 😃
I always enjoy your videos soo much❤ I have started a nature journal myself and really enjoy it for my down time.
My husband was re organizing and cleaning out our basement and he brought up a journal I had been writing in for school back in 1982. I was in 6th grade and on November 22, 1982 I wrote - "What I am thankful for. I am thankful for: nature, my home, education and teachers.
This was soo profound to read! Clearly my love for nature has always been in me however its only been recently that I have been able to express my love for nature in a journal 💕 All those years that have gone by and never did I think to draw / paint "nature" Its very sad really, as I have always loved art and have lots of saved sketches and colorings from my childhood. Not to mention....all the places and camping trips my parents took my brother and I through our entire childhood....If only I had the art journal creative mindset back then.
Oh well! At least I have started now❤
Toni
That's amazing to hear! It's never too late to start expressing your love for nature through art. I often think back and wish I had started sooner, but hindsight is 20-20 as they say! Keep up the great work with your nature journal 😊
I like your definition of nature journaling and nature journal, especially that it is not necessarily a book 👍
Thank you, yeah that's been playing on my mind since 2022. And especially since my current nature journaling project is a set of maps and not a book 😄
Awesome content, please keep it up! I want to point out that I think there is somewhat of a connection between nature journaling and the books created by Tony Wolf called Woodland Folk. And I think the idea of a fantasy nature journal is fascinating. It obviously loses most of the values of an actual nature journal, since there is no real connection to nature, but on the other hand it enables our creativity, fantasy and freedom so much more in the process. Anyway I am thinking about starting my own nature journal now because of you. Thank you for your videos.
I had not heard of these books - they are very expensive on Amazon, must be very rare now I guess! I am delighted to hear you are considering your own nature journal - just a little from time to time is enough to begin with. Often people want to try and do lots and lots, perhaps even daily, and then get discouraged by the big outpouring of effort. So if you do try it, be aware of that potential pitfall and relax into slowly building a new habit. Good luck 😊
Alex - I LOVE your definition of what nature journaling is and what a nature journal is. That is so perfect.🙂❤
Thank you 😊 I'm glad you resonated with my definition of nature journaling. It's such a beautiful and fulfilling way to connect with nature.
Your best video yet for me. So many questions and points raised. I never refer to my 50 odd notebooks as nature journals. In your triangle they would be between the birders log up towards the artists sketchbook. More factual observations, lists and counts than anything else, but I am very interested in other peoples methods. What I do find confusing are those nature journal writers who copy things from books in their journal, ie the chaffinch weighs 25 grams and lays 5 eggs in a mossy nest 6 feet up a tree etc...when theyve never seen a chaffinches nest? Each to their own but I think your own work should reflect your own actual observations...
Thank you 😃 Nice work on filling 50 notebooks 😮 Hmm, yes I agree that the majority of it should come from experience. That is what it is all about in my opinion, but recognise some may feel otherwise. I like to read up on the things I have found and sometimes add notes from the books, but that is always a response to my questions having seen the thing in the first place. Thanks for your comment 😊
Love the history of it all Alex. More like this please.
Thank you so much for your feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and the historical content. I'll definitely keep that in mind for future videos 😃
Another great video. I love you book collection
Thank you, I'm pretty fond of it too. Got a whole illustrated nature library growing 😄
I find art and illustrated wildlife books to be one of my greatest addictions. @@AlexBoonArt
Thank you so much for your content. It has changed my life. Your personality, the way you make your videos, and everything you talk about has helped figure out way to spend more time with myself and have conversations with myself that I can’t with others because I have a lot of social anxiety and ADHD. Thank u for your content 🙏
Thank you for your beautiful comment. I felt quite emotional reading that, it means so much to me to make a difference, so thank you for taking the time to let me know. I hope you continue to enjoy your nature journaling 😊
Greetings! Here from Honduras, learning about nature journaling!
Wonderful! Hello from the UK 👋👋
Always enjoy your videos. Thank you for sharing these recommendations. I'm going to check out the authors too.
You're welcome! Thanks for your comment 😊
I just found you, and I REALLY enjoyed this deep dive. I love the triangle idea, it has solved a struggle I've had in understanding the relationships, within my art practice, between all my different kinds of nature journalling and separate individual artworks. Lots to think about. I really like your gentle, thoughtful way of presenting. Thank you Alex.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for the lovely comment 😊
Thank you Alex for sharing this video. It inspired me so much. I am retired and have recently taken up sketching and painting. I have thought of creating a nature journal but wasn’t sure how to start. However I was given a lovely art/journal sketch book for a present, so excuses now. Thank you again and I will certainly be watching more f your videos.
Thanks for your comment, that sounds like the BEST way to spend your retirement, I hope you enjoy trying nature journaling out in your new journal 🙂
I really like your definition
Thanks 😊
Wow this is an awesome video! Has really got me thinking about everything that I do that involves nature. Will definitely have to watch again. So good also the books that you showed us at the start. Thank you!
Thank you for your lovely comment! Glad to hear that this video made you reflect on your relationship with nature. Glad you liked seeing the books too. I might make a dedicated video about the best nature journaling books as the bookish stuff seems quite popular 😃
This is a great video. I just went to your art website for the first time, and the Lapine Botanica originals that you have for sale are truly magical. They are so beautiful, and the rabbits' eyes really shine. Did you sell all the prints/print products? 💜🐰💗🐇💚
Hi Cynthia, welcome to my website 😄 I am glad you like the rabbit drawings. I have a few prints left, but they weren't selling so I took them down. If you want one, send me a direct message by email or Instagram and I can sort you out with one. I am planning a big overhaul of the shop soon 🙂
A lovely gentle and informative blog thank you. You are a lovely artist. I have felt a strong connection with nature and painted all my life but am now making journals with poetry and quotes. Focusing on nature is so good for wellbeing and I will love creating nature journals of different types.