Introduction to Nature journaling

Introduction to Nature journaling

Date: Saturday, June 7th

Instructor: Dr Paula Peeters ( www.paperbarkwriter.com ) 

Location: THECA Hut - outdoors, with nature, shelter and toilets

Times: Lunch from 12.30pm; the workshop from 1-3pm

Duration: from 2+ hours

Cost: $30 for adults ; $15 for 10-17 years

Maximum group size: 25

Nature journaling is the practice of drawing or writing in response to observations of nature. The practice slows you down, increases your mindfulness (or clears your mind), and increases your attention to detail and appreciation of beauty. It helps you to notice the details in nature, and improves your recognition of different species, and your understanding of where and how they live. With time, it also improves your ability to observe, to draw and to write. Spending quiet time in nature has many wellness benefits, and nature journaling is a practice that encourages this ‘quiet time’ and reflection.

This 2-hour session is pitched to adults and children aged 10 years and above, if accompanied by an adult.

A 2-hour session includes: a brief introduction to what nature journaling is; a reflection on place; beginner lessons in drawing and writing; an exploration of nature journaling prompts; an introduction to nature journaling materials; and time for free nature journaling. There will be time for free nature journaling.

What to bring: 

● A blank unlined notebook, sketchbook or journal

● Greylead pencil or mechanical pencil (preferably 2B)

● Ink pen with waterproof ink (e.g. Pigma Micron fineliner size 03 or similar)

● Colour materials (e.g. coloured pencils or watercolour pencils or small palette of watercolour paints) are optional, but fun. 

● Dress to be outdoors (e.g. hat, closed shoes) and bring a water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a folding chair or a mat to sit on.

Dr Paula Peeters is an ecologist, artist and writer based in Beechmont, Qld, who combines these skills to teach the practice of nature journaling, and regularly collaborates with a range of organisations to bring nature journaling workshops and lessons to a diverse audience. Paula has been teaching nature journaling since 2016, and has written 3 books on nature journaling: Make a Date with Nature – An Introduction to Nature journaling (2016); Take this Book for a Walk: A step-by-step guide to nature journaling (2020) and A walk in the mountain forests: My nature journal of Binna Burra, Beechmont and beyond (2023). Some of these books will be available for purchase on the day She is also the illustrator of five colouring books about threatened species and ecosystems. Paula’s website and blog is www.paperbarkwriter.com

* A special note from Paula about materials: 
A blank unlined notebook, sketchbook or journal
A basic one is fine if you are mainly using greylead pencil and coloured pencils, and most cheap unlined journals are also usually ok for ink. 

If you want to use wet colour materials (e.g. watercolour paints or watercolour pencils) a journal/sketchbook with watercolour or mixed media paper is better.