Keeping a Nature Journal

I received Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie as an ebook ARC, which I failed to read by the archival deadline and it disappeared from my electronics. I am going to tell you that was not a bad thing. Keeping a Nature Journal is a book that needs to be read with a physical copy in your hands that you can leaf through, skip chapters and come back to them, and just enjoy the experience of savoring this book. That’s far, far too hard to do with an ebook, not to mention that the figures and pictures are never rendered quite as nicely. At this point, you’ve probably realized that I bought the book. How could I not when I really wanted an opportunity to explore it and delight in it? Keeping a Nature Journal did not let me down. This book is geared toward anyone who has at a minimum ten minutes where they can be outside and just observe, be mindful of the birds, insects, trees, clouds, whatever nature might exist in front of them. The author encourages the reader to keep a journal to take notes, to draw, to see the world around them. She even gives prompts. This creates an amazing journey. In its pages, Keeping a Nature Journal helps the reader to see and gives short tutorials on how to draw what one sees. Even me, an artistically floundering writer has bought drawing pencils to try to draw what I see and create my own nature journal. Also included are pages from the author’s own journal, as well as pictures drawn by her students, as inspiration for the reader’s own journey. If you’ve thought about starting your own nature journal, Keeping a Nature Journal can definitely help you get there and delightfully get there, I might add. I received an ARC and bought a copy and these are my honest opinions.

I am excited to use these ideas.

The book has a lot of information of the “how to” nature journal. There are pages of examples and ideas to inspire anyone. It’s a beautiful book, but the author does refer to evolution, Darwin, science and climate change. There is no mention of God’s Creation.

I teach a sketching class and I love to refer to this book. Sketching is a gift that provides you with self esteem reward, and insight. Learning from other Artists helps the process. The author of this book has done her research and has passed on her knowledge too her readers… Thank you

I am still exploring this book, but her drawings are enough to inspire me to get outdoors and start observing!

I've known Clare a long time and she has always been generous with her knowledge and creativity. This is an excellent sequel to the original book, and I loved seeing so many of field journal examples included. I especially like that Clare has included many examples of the easy and inexpensive ways that anyone can keep field notes. This is the true core and purpose of field journaling, and she celebrates it.

Enjoying it so much!

The book is excellent. It's full of nature information. It invites reader participation through teaching how to draw what he or she discovers. It's an invitation to go on adventures in nature, and it can enhance creativity, artistic skills, observational awareness and stimulate the imagination. There is nothing that I don't like about this book .

Ich liebe dieses Buch. Auch wenn ich nicht jedes Wort verstehe, so sprechen die Zeichnungen und Anleitungen für sich. Es ist viel umfangreicher als ich dachte. Das Buch umfasst Zeichungen der Pflanzen, Bäume, Tiere, Landschaften.... ich habe es zwar seit erst seit kurzem, aber bisher habe ich mich noch nicht an Tiere gewagt und bin erstaunt, was dabei herauskommt. Dieses Buch hat mich ein gutes Stück weiter geholfen.

Fabulous book. Lots in it. Lovely to just read it. Lots of exercises. I will use this book forever.

A gorgeous book, full of ideas and inspiration. If you're homeschooling and need inspiration for nature study, get this book. If you've started nature journalling this book gives you lots of confidence and shows real life examples which are not "perfect". A real keeper. Lovely quality paper and cover.

Great book. Inspiring for all le els of artists and naturalists. I plan to do this as a record of my camping trips but I am already starting to look at the world with more curiosity and looking for things to draw. Definitely a path to mindfulness. Great tips for drawing animals, flowers, birds, perspective etc. Very inspiring.

A lovely book which gives an insight into the nature sketchbooking process. It goes through every step, giving written and drawn examples and ideas throughout. I love the authors actual notes and sketches, she even gives guidance on how to draw certain elements. This book is a must have for anyone wanting to know how to keep a nature journalling sketchbook. Good for dipping into or reading from beginning to end. Easy to read.