Urban Nature Journaling

Explore the wildlife in your backyard or on your block like a naturalist. We will record our observations using simple tools and all of our senses. Using drawings and words in combination you can describe your environment, or a single organism. This class will meet in-person at the Richmond Art Center for the first class. The following classes will be held outdoors at an off-site location designted by your instructor.

Sessions:

1.Intro with Leaves (at the RAC): Explanation of the practice of nature journaling, and a lesson on drawing leaves.

2. Mini safari: Each student will get an area to explore and catalogue what they find. Introduction to the ap inaturalist to help with identifying species.

3. Collection: Make a collection of similar objects on the same page.

4. Action: Techniques for showing change and movement.

5. Finding a Niche: Find something you are interested in. Start diving deeper into your specialty.

6. Interactions: Mapping interactions in your environment.

Materials:

• Blank journal or loose paper kept together on a clipboard. My favorite journal is Hand Book Paper Travelogue Watercolor Notebook (about $20 on dickblick.com)
• Pen and pencil. I like to use micron pens, size 02
• Ruler

Optional Materials:

• Watercolors: I mostly use Daniel Smith, but Winsor and Newton is also good. Since these paints are expensive, and it takes forever to get through a tube, I would recommend buying halfpans ($3 each on Etsy:Alexiscarollart). Here are the colors I recommend: Sap Green, Lemon Yellow, Permanent Rose, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber, Pyrrole Orange
• Water brush pen: Niji is $7 on dickblick.com
• Old sock: Cut the tube from the sock to use as a wristband. You can use this to wipe off your brush when you change color.
• Jeweler's loupe
• If you have markers or other ways of adding color that is welcome too.

Notes

This is an in-person class that meets at specified outdoor locations in Richmond.