Anyone Can Draw: Yes, Even You!
Drawing? In a Nature Journal? ‘But, I can’t draw!’ I have but one main thing to say about drawing, and I believe it to my core, . . . everyone can learn to draw.
Busting the Myth: Inborn Talent and Drawing
Artists are just born that way. They have some big advantage of being born with the genetic predisposition to be good at drawing. Which gene sequence was that? I forgot. Oh, that’s right, there isn’t one!
Joking and sarcasm aside, I do really believe that anyone can learn to draw. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. I will say that some people get a bit of a head start. However, it’s because they are handed a crayon when they are toddlers, and never put it down. They graduate from crayons to pencils and paint. Drawing and painting are favorite activities all through their lives. But here’s the thing — they are better simply because they’ve had more practice time than you!
Honestly, I believe this to be true of many things in life. Good guitar players live with their guitars in their hands; their fingers bloody and calloused from the hours of practice. A sweater gets knit one ugly stitch at a time. That one perfect cake is baked over and over until it is perfected. Musicians make music, knitters knit, bakers bake. You get better at drawing, . . . by drawing.
My Drawing Story
I was the crayon kid. I have always loved to draw and color. Even though I did pretty well in school, I hated it. The part I loved? Shopping for school supplies at the end of summer. I remember that wonderful, brand-new box of crayons I got every year. Oh, I can be transported in time in an instant by the smell of a new box of crayons even today!
My childhood inspired original drawing “potential”
made with colored pencils on black paperAs I got a bit older, I graduated to pencils. (My mother was not a fan of messes, so paint was not part of the equation.) I copied pictures from magazines. I stumbled upon shading with my fingers. My brother and I held ‘drawing contests’ where we took turns thinking of an object to doodle, then argued about who did a better drawing! (I was better at realism; he was better at cartoon-style illustration.)
Then came adulting — sigh, . . . a ‘real’ job, a marriage, a child. The only things I drew now were silly doodles with my daughter.
Kids grow, lives change. When my daughter turned 16, she got a job and I took drawing classes at a local art center. I was scared and shaky walking into that first class! What if I was too rusty? I was certain that I would be terrible at this, but I wanted it so badly, I gave it a shot.
, . . . and that is where I had an amazing instructor who took me back to the beginning and the basics that are common to all drawings.
Drawing Skills: Begin at the Beginning
Do you believe yet? Are you at least beginning to believe that you can learn to draw? If you’re still not convinced, take a few minutes and watch these two TED talks: ‘Why People Believe They Can’t Draw’ and ‘It’s Easy to Draw! Why is it Hard to Draw?’
I love what Michael Rastovich said. (His video is linked above.) You start with one line. You don’t move on to the second line until the first one is correct. That’s a great truth. You learn to walk before you run. Begin at the beginning. It’s when we try to draw something complex without taking those first baby steps that makes us think we stink at drawing.
So, where is the beginning? My art instructor started beginners off with understanding and using our drawing tools, moving through value studies, shapes and shading; and only after we had a handle on these basic exercises, did we move on to working on a complete drawing of our choosing. I believe it’s the perfect start.
Are you ready to begin your drawing journey? Tomorrow’s skills begin with today’s decisions!
Nature Discovery in Your Own Backyard
Nature discovery is such a natural thing to do in the summer. I remember those days as a kid — summer stretched out before me. Endless days of warmth with nothing to do! Is there anything better? I spent every waking minute outside in those days. We didn’t have air conditioning, so there was no reason to stay inside. Cooling off meant a kiddie pool in the backyard or eating a popsicle under the big shade tree.
Endless Nature Discovery in Your Backyard
Lest you think this is a post about ‘the good-old days’, we’re just here to borrow a few ideas from the past that still work today to help us discover nature all around us. I spent most of my summer barefoot. My grandkids are doing the same today. Barefoot means that you can feel the grass between your toes. Stand still for a moment, you may feel an ant crawl across your ankle. Sit down in the grass and watch the anthill.
Lots of discovery is possible just from going barefoot for a little while. Step it up a notch. Allow yourself an hour — put it in your schedule if necessary — to just ‘be’ outside. Sit on the ground. Use all 5 senses to connect with the nature within your little space.
- What can you see?
- Is there only grass?
- Are there weeds, flowers, vegetables nearby?
- What about ‘critters’ — birds, insects, family pet?
- Lay back and watch the clouds.
- Close your eyes. What do you hear? Train your ears to pick only one sound out of the chaos.
- Birds calling?
- How many different bird calls can you hear?
- Are they ‘chillin’ or are there calls of alarm?
- Dogs barking?
- Insects buzzing?
- Birds calling?
- Can you smell anything?
- Flowering plants?
- Herbs?
- Dog poo? (yes, that’s part of nature too!)
- What can you touch?
- What does the grass underneath feel like? Spiky, soft, cool, damp?
- Is there a breeze?
- Can you feel the sun beating down on your back?
- Is there anything edible? (Be super cautious here — never taste anything unless you are absolutely sure it’s edible and you know it hasn’t been sprayed with anything toxic)
- Think ahead and bring a snack outside with you.
Nature Discovery Through Journaling
There are so many ways to journal. Find something that works for you. I like to sketch. It helps me to notice things about plants and birds that I’m drawing, that I never would have noticed. You have to look very closely and for an extended amount of time to really sketch something.
Maybe you are more drawn to words; storytelling, or poetry perhaps. I was scrolling on Instagram the other day and discovered a woman who writes a haiku on every nature journal sketch. Brilliant! She’s doing her own thing. You do you. Whatever helps you connect to the nature around you!
Your Extended Backyard
While there is plenty to stay occupied in your literal backyard, there’s no need to be too stuck in one spot. Make time in your schedule to check out parks and public areas near your home. You’ll find even more ways to make those local nature connections.
The more time you spend in local nature, the more you’ll fall in love with her! That’s just the way it works. We invest ourselves and our time into something/someone, which makes us care more for them. We learn their personalities, their good points and bad, their quirks and their personalities. Our love grows deeper.
My Grandchildren & I at a park just 20 minutes from home. Nature Discovery: A Few More Tips
- No need to travel to exotic locations — there’s so much to discover right where you live. We see locally every day, but we don’t really ‘see’ it. It becomes nothing more than background noise.
- Ie: I did not know until this past February that orchids are the largest plant group on Earth and grow in every climate! Huh, I had orchids in my backyard and didn’t realize it! On spring walks, I am looking with a different ‘eye’ due to this discovery.
- This spring we’ve had more rain than we ever have. Result? More plants, more insects, more birds. I’ve seen a couple of birds I’ve never seen here before!
- There are 4 seasons and 365 days to discover — you won’t get bored and you will never run out of things to explore!
- Try different times of day (and night). You might be surprised.
- Try the ‘string trick’ — you can only journal what’s in your designated circle. Start with a 5-foot string.
- Ask questions
- Do research
- Discover apps and websites that help
- Take art journaling classes
- Take drawing classes
- Try MeetUp or Facebook to find a group local to you — or start one!
- Do ‘themed’ walks in your area
- Mushrooms
- Spring flowers
- Birding outings (there are birding groups EVERYwhere!)
- Winter walks
I know how difficult it can be to find the funds and/or the time to get out to ‘exotic’ locations. We aren’t all fortunate enough to be able to take those special trips. Please don’t let that stop you! Look with ‘new eyes’ at all the wonderful nature around you and fall in love with the world in your very own backyard.
- What can you see?
Connecting With Nature: Without the Journal
‘Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.’ ~ John Muir
Connecting with nature, without the journal — dare I say it? As much as I love journaling, sketching what I see, and connecting with nature via close observation; there are times when the journal can get in the way.
Much like having our phones constantly in our faces, technology always at the ready, there are times when the sketchbook becomes the reason for being out in nature. The sketchbook can become a wall of sorts that we hide behind. We sketch, we observe, but we’re never quite aware that we are actually a part of what is happening around us.
Here is a short account of what happened to me when I was too hot and tired to sketch, and just sat.
A spur of the moment Nature Journaling trip that ended with me spending 30 minutes that felt like only 5 ~ #inthemoment
A Hot Saturday in June
It was blazingly hot out on a recent Saturday; temperatures in the 90s, but the sun was out! Woohoo! After a week and a half of rain and the wettest spring on record here where I live, I decided to brave the heat for a much needed hike through the woods. I made the short drive to my favorite nearby park.
There were only a few other souls out and about, willing to brave the heat. I could hear myself think. I could hear the birds singing, and the water trickling in the creek — bliss! There is a very specific smell on hot days in the summer — damp and wet in the darkest areas of old growth forest; sunny and dry with a hint of green and grassy in the meadow.
Connecting with Nature Requires Learning to Tune-In
It always takes me a while to ‘tune in’ to the nature around me. Honestly, my mind was busy cataloging; ‘I need to add that bird to my list, I wonder what species of dragonfly that is, look at that interesting fungus on the fallen log, I should sketch that.‘ While there is nothing inherently wrong with any of this, I think what I really craved was simply a quiet connection.
After taking a short lunch break and re-hydrating, I thought I’d stay longer and hike another trail at this park, albeit a shorter one. As I knew that the bullfrog pond was not far into this trail; I continued on. But the heat started wearing on me, so I decided to sit on a bench in the shade at the pond. A school of bluegill, ever watchful for any movement that might indicate an easy snack, saw me sit; and congregated at the edge of the little boardwalk nearby.
At the Pond
Every time a slight breeze happened to drop a leaf into the water, there was a flurry of activity from the fish. We began to get into a little rhythm as we rested there together in the shade. I could sense their presence and their movements without watching so intently. After a few minutes of sitting quietly, the dragonflies determined that I was not a threat and began to skim the pond. Of course, every time they touched the water the bluegill hurried to capture them; once even jumping out of the water! Who knew little bluegill could jump?
Connecting With Nature– Becoming One
I almost gave up on the bullfrogs, assuming they were napping in the shade of the reeds, hoping to wait out the worst of the heat. I was wrong. They were simply waiting for the surety of safety as well, and began their loud, hoarse croaking from the far side of the pond. I sat there without agenda and was simply in the moment. I had a real sense that I had become a part of this idyllic little scene. Closing my eyes, listening; I became a part of that little pond ecosystem, if only for a little while.
This is the moment of connection with nature. This is a moment of magic and reverence.
Nature Journaling After the Experience
Journal page completed at home with picture references. OK, so I did end up with a journal page. My experience at the pond that day was so magical, I wanted to put it down on paper so that I could remember more clearly what it felt like. Once home, I grabbed my journal and wrote about my day, followed by sketching from photos to help enhance the memory. This is not ‘cheating’. There is nothing wrong with using photo references. This is your nature journal. This is your experience.
Oh and, . . . the act of telling you my story is another way to cement the experience into memory — simply journal about it with words!
While this article has focused on using other means to capture our nature experiences, I do believe that sketching can be a very valuable way to record our adventures. Think you can’t draw? I believe that anyone with a desire to draw can learn! It’s easier than you think to get started.
For even more help, check out our blog post on Overcoming Your Fear of the Sketchbook!
Hiking and a Nature Journal: A Perfect Match
Hiking and nature journaling are my favorite pass-times. I made an impromptu decision to try and squeeze in a quick hike today in between rain storms. We have had an amazing amount of rain this spring and I was itching to get a bit of nature. I’ve decided to share my little ½ mile, 1 hour long hiking experience with you to share with you how much you can witness if you just slow down a bit and look!
Hiking: Only a Few Feet From the Parking Lot
I watched an American Goldfinch perched on a tiny little branch at the top of a small bush. It called back and forth for about a minute. Meanwhile, I’m hiking down this steep hill into a planted prairie meadow. From up here, the view is breathtaking.
Just a few steps into the meadow, there is a patch of Queen Anne’s Lace. I stop to get a good look. I want to add these to my Nature Journal later. I get closer to snap a picture. There is a cool bug on the fully opened flower — bonus!
Can You Nature Journal Birdsong?
In the background, I’m hearing one of my favorite birds calling — a red-winged blackbird. I always thought their call sounded a bit like an old-fashioned telephone ringing. There are about 10 of them swooping back and forth across the meadow. They are much too quick and skittish for me to catch a photo with my phone, but I enjoy their presence.
To my right is the usually calm creek that runs alongside the trail. Today I heard it roaring from the top of the hill. We’ve had massive amounts of rain this spring. This normally quiet little creek is a powerful, muddy, rushing river today!
As I walk the trail alongside this creek, I see dragonflies and damselflies flitting back and forth. It’s so difficult to catch them sitting still long enough to get a good picture. (I must get my actual camera out here soon!) I take a short side-trail through the woods to get a good up-close look at the swollen creek. As I head back, I spot a damselfly. I slow down and get my phone camera ready. OMG! I got it this time! I’m not sure what species this is, but I now have a decent shot of it on my phone. I’ll sketch it later and see what species it is. So excited!
Damsel fly modeling for me! Look Closely: Native Wildflowers Ahead
As I walk on, I’m enjoying the native wildflower show all around me. Close to the ground are the delicate pink flowers of vetch. Rising up on tall stems, bursting with buds ready to open, I see hundreds of purple milkweed (aka: swamp milkweed). There are bumble bees flitting back and forth over these. I’m so happy to see so many of these this year. Their super-power is being a nursery plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars. I can’t wait to see those!
Vetch 
Purple Milkweed + Bee
Hiking Reveals Critters as Well as Flowers
Just a few feet up ahead I hear a loud plonk! I know that a black walnut has fallen from the tree. I know exactly where this tree is, as I gathered nuts off the ground last fall from this particular tree. Yum! I pick up the nut and notice that the stem has been chewed. My mind wanders and I picture a squirrel sitting high up in the tree, trying to time the falling projectile to my walking speed. (I’m not really sure why a cartoon scenario is playing in my head — but I go with it.)
Squirrel Grenade- aka Black Walnut I’ve barely taken a few steps from the walnut tree when I spot 2 small brown rabbits resting on the trail up ahead. They appear to be adolescents. I take slow, quiet steps — I want to see how close they’ll let me come. They hop ahead a few feet, but stay on the trail. We repeat this sequence a couple more times before they hop off into the tall grass.
As the rabbits hop away, my eye is drawn to the small pine tree beside the trail. The sun (we haven’t seen much of that lately!) is shining on raindrops still sitting on the needles. It’s so beautiful! I snap a photo. I may want to sketch that later. (I’m not ‘live’ drawing on this trip as it’s threatening rain again and I don’t want to ruin my sketchbook.)
Eye-Popping Color
I round a corner and encounter a large patch of bright orange milkweed on both sides of the path. Wow! Its color makes such a visual impact in this sea of green dotted with soft pinks and lavenders. There are multiple bumble bees on every plant!
At this point, I’m about ¼ mile into the ½ mile trail that I’m hiking today. My boots are soaked. I’m truly in the moment. It’s hard not to be when you’re in a place like this.
Turning another corner, is that a wild rose? As I get closer, I see it’s a blackberry bramble! Itsy bitsy fruits are just beginning to form. I’ll keep my eye on those as they get larger. Maybe the birds won’t mind sharing a berry or two.
Good thing they’re water proof! 
Blackberry Brambles
Across the path from the blackberries, there are a few conifers; one a fir with large cones. As I step closer, I can see the sap dripping from them. I snap a picture — this will eventually go into my nature journal. Spotting a wildflower that I can’t identify, I snap a photo, so I can look it up later.
Too Much Coffee! (Is That a Thing?)
I still have a bit to go on my trail, including back up the steep hill to my car. Sadly, I speed up my pace and probably miss even more cool things, ‘cause — coffee! I didn’t expect to go hiking today due to the rain, so I had lots and lots of coffee! And now I have to pee! Well, it was an amazing hike. I feel like a new person! I’m over-the-top excited about all that I discovered in this impromptu hike that was only ½ mile and about an hour long in a nearby park in the city limits!
As I really wanted to process the hike and this peaceful mood, I stopped at another little park nearby (baseball fields and picnic tables) to use their porta-potty. I got out my sketching materials and sat down at a table under a shelter; figuring that I could sit and sketch even if it started to rain again. The ball-fields were too wet to play. The park was deserted. Alone in the quiet, I was able to relive my adventure while I sketched.
Hiking and Nature Journaling: To Learn and To Remember
I sketched for another hour and a half. I still have a few sketches to add to these pages. Looking back on the hike as I was drawing, I felt this big rush of gratitude for all that Mother Nature decided to show me today, as well as an overwhelming sense of connection — something we could all use more of. I thought about all that I would have missed if I’d been in a bigger hurry; if my hike had been about exercise rather than discovery, . . .
Oh yeah, remember that cool bug I spotted on the Queen Anne’s Lace? Turns out it was a species of lightning bug that I had never seen before! How cool is that? I see a night trip to the park in the near future!
Want more nature journaling? Follow Lisa’s Instagram page! I post hiking and nature journaling daily over there. You may also enjoy this post on Keeping a Nature Journal.
Nature Journaling Without Leaving Home
Nature journaling is on my mind now that summer is almost here! We had a nice, warm spring, but very wet, so I haven’t been able to get out to my favorite parks and hiking trails as much as I would have liked. I had big plans this week. My trails were all mapped out, my field bag ready to go. Then, mosquitoes. Yep, I slept with the window open the other night. It rained. Mosquitoes decided to feast on my feet! The bottoms of my feet! So now I’ve had to get imaginative and find things to nature journal without leaving home.
A New Plan for Nature Journaling This Week
Since I can’t comfortably hike until these bites heal, I’m dropping back to Plan B — nature journaling at home. While it’s nice getting out and about, why should staying home to work in my journal be any less an exciting adventure? Let’s take a look at what you might find to journal about during a week at home:
- My vegetable garden
- Bees on the flowers
- Birds hopping around the yard
- Plenty of squirrels to observe
- The neighbor’s cat prowling through the yard
- That interesting weed growing next to the fence
- One of my many houseplants
- The dog taking a snooze in the sun
- Pill bugs under a rock
- Cloud formations
So many ideas come to mind as I sit on the couch thinking and planning. I’m sure when I actually get outside, something else interesting will catch my eye.
General Drawing Practice: Without Leaving Home
Something else I can do this week while I’m sidelined; drawing practice! I can go back to the very basics and do a few value studies or shading exercises to keep my skills sharp.
This forced downtime is also a good time to get out a few books or comb the internet for anatomy to sketch. I’m really interested in birds, so I tend to draw them frequently. Drawings can be more accurate, if you understand the bone and muscle structure hiding under the feathers, so sketching the anatomy of a bird is a great way to spend some time this week.
As a matter of fact, time spent studying the anatomy of many of the common things we sketch in our journals is never a waste of time! Knowing not only the anatomy of birds and mammals common to your area, but also understanding plant structure will help you to ‘see’ your subjects more accurately and make deeper connections.
Live Camera Feeds: Africa in Your Nature Journal!
Practice your gesture sketching in your jammies! All you need is your sketching materials, your computer, and an internet connection. You can watch animals on live camera feeds from around the world! How cool is that?
Always wanted to go on an African safari, but don’t have the money (or the time)? Navigate over to AfriCam ( www.africam.com ) for a real-time glimpse of the fauna of Africa and sketch to your heart’s content. Or how about a scuba diving adventure? You can’t sketch in real life while you’re diving, but you can capture live sea-life by using Live Feeds! Try ReefCam (www.reefcamtv.com ) or BreatheBonaire, ( www.breathebonaire.com )
AfriCam 
EarthCam 
Explore
Find bees, birds, farm animals, and almost anything else you can think of at Explore ( www.explore.org ) and EarthCam. ( www.earthcam.com )
All of this drawing practice is a way to nature journal without leaving home. It’s not often that I have mosquito bites all over my feet but there are rainy days, sick days and days I just don’t wanna put pants on,… don’t judge me, you know you’ve had some “no pants kinda days” ha! With all these options and ideas at your fingertips, there’s no excuse for times when you can’t get out of your own house and garden!
Overcome Your Fear of the Sketchbook
Fear of the sketchbook. Fear of the blank page or the empty canvas. Writer’s block. It’s the same for artists and writers alike. As someone who keeps a nature journal, I sometimes suffer from both!
‘Don’t wait for you life story to be perfect before allowing yourself to be happy.’
sketches in stillnessAn ‘Ugly’ Sketch is Simply a Problem to be Solved
Many of us believe that you are born with the ‘gift’ or talent of being able to draw. On the rare occasion when we do try to draw something, and are disappointed with the results, we fall back on, ‘I just don’t have that gift.’ We crumple up the paper, toss it in the trash, and decide never to try again.
“Ahhh… What is this” 
“What am I doing with my life”
‘The reality of the creative process is that it often requires persistence, the ability to stare at a problem until it makes sense.’
Jonah LehterLet’s try something different next time. Don’t throw your next sketch away. Leave it. Walk away from it for as long as it takes you to get your emotions about it under control. Now come back to your page.
Sit with this sketch you don’t like. Analyze the sketch — not your talent! Is there anything you do like about it? What — specifically do you not like? You must take the time to do this analysis in order to get better at sketching and drawing. It’s an exercise in problem-solving (not in evaluating your worth as a human). If you can identify the problem areas, you can work on them and improve.
It’s Practice, Not Talent That Makes an Artist
I get it. We all have that fear of facing a blank page. We want everything we create to be of ‘professional artist’ caliber every. single. time. Here’s a revelation — you only get to see the best of the best pages of most professionals! All artists have ugly pages in their sketchbooks; pages they aren’t proud of and don’t want to share with others.
Pro-Tip: If every sketch, every drawing, every painting is successful and perfect, you’re not stretching yourself enough! Stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way to grow and learn new things!
Whether you’re keeping an art journal, a nature journal, or some other type of artistic journal, it’s the practice that makes ‘perfect’. Sketch something every day, even if it’s a tiny, 5-minute doodle. Overcome your fear of the sketchbook 5 minutes and 1 doodle at a time! Make ugly art — lots of it.
The Art of Getting Started
Getting my practice in, I’ve noticed a SERIOUS improvement! Ways to Push Through Your Fear of the Sketchbook
There are tons of ideas out there to jump-start creativity. Here are just a few of the ways that work for me when I get stuck in ‘fear of the sketchbook’ mode.
Canson XL Series Mix Media Pad, 5.5” x 8.5”, Side Wire Bound, 60 Sheets (400037134) (2 Pack)- Purchase or make a sketchbook that begs to be picked up! Yes, that seems a bit superficial, but I am a ‘paper junkie’! I love looking at beautifully crafted journals. I love the way a pencil glides across certain papers.
- Build a relationship with your sketchbook — like any human relationship the more time you invest, the more in love you become!
- Choose a limited color palette to work with for a given period of time. Or use just a pencil.
- Remember why you want to keep a sketchbook
- This is a place where only fun and experimentation exist
- Leave your inner critic behind
- Leave expectations of the outcome behind
- Your sketchbook is not for creating finished works of art — it’s where you play with ideas, take notes, and plan for a finished piece later on
- Your sketchbook pages do not need to be shared with anyone!
- Start your session with a couple of quick ‘no pressure’ doodles — my first attempts for the day are often wonky and ‘ugly’. I need to give my brain time to make the connection that ‘we are drawing’ so that the correct muscle memory pathways kick in.
- If you’re on Pinterest, there are tons of ‘30 day drawing challenges’. Pick one and use it for your doodle practice
- This is my go-to trick. Start small – commit to just 5 minutes at first. Pick up your journal, set a timer for 5 minutes. Most of the time, after that 5 minutes is up, you’ll want to continue. There’s something in our brain (fear of failure/fear of success??) that makes getting started the hardest part. Then once we get into ‘flow’ mode, it’s hard to stop!
- Daily Doodle — choose random words to doodle. Choose random adjective and noun combos — like MadLib. (Remember how fun those were when you were a kid?) Random Generators to jumpstart ideas:
I firmly believe that anyone can learn to draw. It’s a matter of wanting it badly enough to put the time in. It’s a matter of pushing past emotions that get in your way as you’re learning. It’s a matter of relaxing and allowing yourself to enjoy the journey, rather that looking only at the destination.
Earthing: Making the Connection
Earthing is a modern-day term for reconnecting to the electrical systems inherent in the earth. In a nutshell, it’s getting (temporarily) rid of the things that keep us disconnected from the earth and its electrical charge. Making that connection with the earth is easier than you’d think!
Striving for balance
It’s no secret. We are surrounded by positive ions all day long indoors through our phones, computers, TVs, and other electronic devices. They’re in the air, in the form of WiFi.
OK, so why is this important? Without going into the complex science of ions, we’re talking about a matter of balance. If there is an imbalance between positive and negative ions, all those positive ions wander about looking for balance — robbing other materials of their negative ions to find that balance. If all those extra positive ions are inside our body, they rob body tissues of their negative ions. This process is called oxidation. In the outside world, we call this rust.
Oxidation can wreak havoc with our bodies, causing discomfort and chronic disease. Earthing is one easy and free thing we can do to help counteract this process and achieve better balance.
Modern Clothing Blocks Our Connection
Just spending time outdoors, while great for our mental health and making deeper connections with the nature all around us, does not automatically give us that electrical connection that we need to stay balanced.
Modern clothing is made from fibers that are insulators against electrical currents. The rubber soles of our sneakers and boots are designed to keep us from slipping. They are more shock absorbant when we’re walking and running. Rubber resists oils and stains. But they are also fantastic insulators! This is why we need to kick them off once in a while.
The clothing we wear on our bodies is also a problem. The vast majority of clothing is made wholly or in part of polyester, which is spun plastic. Plastic is also a great insulator! Walk down the electrical parts aisle of any home improvement store. Electrical connectors are made of plastic, wires are coated with plastic and rubber insulation, and hand tools all have rubber or plastic grips! All great things if we’re working with high voltage electricity — not so much when we’re talking about connecting with the low electricity that naturally flows through our body and the earth!
Earthing — Making the Barefoot Connection
Turns out, the soles of our feet are perfectly designed to make this necessary electrical connection with the earth. Plus, most of us enjoy going barefoot — we’ve just forgotten as we became responsible adults who wear shoes!
If you haven’t gone barefoot in a long time, it feels, . . . I don’t know – wrong, weird? I promise, though, kick your shoes off in a patch of soft grass or sand or mud. Once you get past the weirdness, it becomes delight!
Going barefoot is freeing — release your feet from those tight sock prisons! Dangle your tired tootsies in a creek or the ocean. Dig your toes into the sand or mud. Splash around in a puddle.
Go for a walk in the summer rain. Take a nap on the lawn.
But what if you aren’t in your own backyard? Wear your boots, but pack an extra pair of socks in your backpack. Sit down on a rock or fallen log, kick off your boots and socks, touch the earth, work in your nature journal, or just ‘be’. Put on a dry, clean pair of socks afterwards. You’ll find that dry socks will also make the rest of your hike better!
Best Places to Make the Earthing Connection
Ideally, we should look for places to go barefoot where we are not directly under power-lines, next to electrical towers, or near cell-phone towers. If possible, head to the beach or a wooded area where power-lines do not cross.
Honestly, we know that life is rarely ideal. So, the good news? You can still get the benefits from going barefoot wherever you happen to be. Concrete is not an insulator. You can walk barefoot on the sidewalk and get your daily dose of earth energy. If the only place you have to walk is under power lines, go for it! Every little bit helps. You can also make an effort to decrease your exposure to the extra positive ions from electronics in your home to help achieve that balance.
Wear natural fibers outdoors whenever you can. An all leather shoe with leather/hide soles will allow you to ground without going barefoot. Clothing made of cotton, bamboo, silk, linen, and wool are all natural and will not block you from the earth’s energy. What are you waiting for? Go make the connection, get earthing!
Spend your earthing time in an area with trees and you are also Forest Bathing at the same time! You’ll never want to leave!
Nature Journaling: More Than Sketching
Does the idea of sketching in a nature journal fill you with anxiety? What comes to mind when you hear the term ‘nature journaling’? For most of us, a nature journal brings thoughts of perfectly sketched or painted landscapes of beautiful mountain vistas with perfect birds and flowers spread through its pages, right?
However, drawing, painting, and sketching are just one way to record your interactions with nature in your journal. Let’s take a closer look behind the scenes of nature journaling!
Why Keep A Nature Journal?
While there are probably as many reasons as there are people keeping journals, here are just a few of the more compelling reasons to make nature journaling a regular part of your life:
- Sketching practice — many people using nature journaling to improve their drawing and sketching skills
- Identifying species — keeping a journal can help you learn to identify wildflowers, fungus, trees, birds, . . . you name it.
- Observational skills — looking at something long enough to record details of the way it looks, how it smells, or what it sounds like has the side-effect of sharpening your skills of observation
- Deepening your connection to nature — This, for me, is the very best reason to keep a nature journal!
The Role of Sketching and Painting in Nature Journaling
Even though there are many more ways to interact with your journal, sketching certainly has its place. I urge you, even if you think you can’t draw, to take a stab at sketching in your nature journal from time to time. The practice of looking at something long enough to try and draw it — to capture its details, forces you to notice things that you otherwise would have overlooked.
For example: I was recently sitting on a bench sketching a landscape. A tiny, fluffy, tan seed landed on my shirt. I have seen these and similar seeds floating around, all my life. They are ordinary because they are so plentiful; but since I had my journal and pencil in hand, I decided to sketch the little seed. As I looked closely enough to draw it, I noticed this tiny little hook-like projection at the bottom. Huh, I’d never notice that before! It makes perfect sense — this seed flies around and ‘hooks’ itself onto another plant, a bird, a dog, . . . and spreads this plant far away from its parent.
What plant did this tiny seed come from, I wondered? I made that notation in my journal next to the seed and finished drawing the landscape. I intended to do some research about the little seed at some point. Then one evening I was watching a rerun of NCIS and there was the seed! It stuck in my mind because of the sketch, and I learned that it was the seed from a sycamore tree.
The moral of this long story: when we draw things we are unfamiliar with and write about them, they stick in our brains. The more we learn about nature, the more in love we become with her!
Nature Journaling: Beyond the Sketch
Don’t want to, or can’t draw? Or perhaps, you just aren’t in the mood to sketch. No worries! Words can be a powerful way of nature journaling and making those important connections. Sketching tends to keep us locked into a visual connection as well as a scientific, observational mode; so we may miss other important things going on around us.
Take out your journal — close your eyes for a few moments. Use your other senses! What can you hear? Birdsong? Can you describe that song with words or letters? Is it melodic, trilling, harsh? Now open your eyes. Can you spot the bird that is making the sound? Try to identify the bird.
Repeat the same exercise using your other senses. What can you smell? Turn a rock or piece of bark around in your hands. What does it feel like? If you are certain about the identification of a plant — taste it.
Record all of your findings in your nature journal. Write a poem, . . . or a song. Here’s a great exercise — how would you describe a particular bird or plant to a blind person? They still have 4 senses! It’s not as easy as it sounds — give it a shot!
Play around with your journal. Have fun. Make nature journaling your ‘happy place’. Go beyond the scientific observation. Feel the nature all around you. Get to know her on multiple levels! All of these fun exercises will absolutely deepen your connection to nature and with yourself.
Helpful Resources
Need a little help identifying what you find in the field? There are tons of available resources out there. Check your local library for guides on identifying everything from mushrooms, wildflowers, birds, mammals, trees, . . .
In the field, Cornell University has a plethora of free resources on birding. Try their eBird and Merlin apps on your phone to help you identify birds and their songs in the field. eBird lets you track birds that you’ve spotted and in turn helps track bird migrations and bird counts. Find eBird here. Find eBird and Merlin apps at your app store.
Make sure to check out this post for a list of supplies and also the mental health benefits of nature journaling.
Keeping A Nature Journal
Keeping a nature journal is a practice that can be as diverse as the journaler! If you do an internet search on nature journaling, you’re going to find, almost exclusively, articles and how-to’s devoted to homeschoolers using nature journals for science. While that is a very worthwhile endeavor, there is much more to keeping a nature journal than as a ‘science class’! And it’s certainly not just for the kids.
Nobody sees a flower, really — it is so small — we haven’t time, and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.
Gerogia O’KeeffeReasons To Keep A Nature Journal
Many of the reasons for keeping a journal of your nature adventures overlap with reasons to just be out in nature, such as:
- Mental health
- According to recent studies, time in nature can decrease depression by up to 70%.
- Boosts serotonin and decreases cortisol levels
- Allows you to process thoughts
- Can be a form of meditation
- Deeper connection to nature
- Forces you to focus on details
- Slows you down
- Teaches you to ‘see’ your surroundings
- Causes you to be in the here and now
In addition to the mental health benefits, keeping a nature journal can help deepen your connection to nature! Taking the time to sketch, photograph, or interact with nature (through things like leaf rubbings and collecting) forces your mind to focus on the here and now, and on the details that give you that deeper connection. You notice details that otherwise you might miss. Journaling gives you the opportunity to discover the ‘awe’ of natural things and phenomena. Personally, I’m always up for more awe and amazement in my life!
How to Keep A Nature Journal
Good news! There is no one right way to keep a nature journal. If you’re like most people, when we think of a journal, we picture beautiful, accurate drawings accompanied by scientific journaling. Those journals do exist, but the simple fact is most people don’t share their journals — they’re personal. They are filled with one person’s private thoughts and experiences. There is no need to worry about your drawing skills or writing expertise.
Here are just a few ideas for you to use in your own journal:
- Pencil sketches
- Watercolor drawings
- Words only — maybe you just want to capture with words what you are feeling as you observe a bird, sit by a babbling brook, or wonder why that cloud formation looks like an ice cream cone (For writing inspiration, find a list of nature writers in this article from the Sierra Club on nature journaling.)
- Objects
- Rubbings of leaves or bark
- Taping flat items to pages
- Pocket pages to hold not so flat items
- Photos — If photography is more your style, your journal can certainly be more like a scrapbook.
Tools & Supplies
The last thing you want when you’re out on a hike enjoying the nature around you, is a huge heavy backpack full of art supplies! Luckily, that’s not necessary. All you really need are a few basic supplies. I tend to carry just a smallish notebook and a mechanical pencil. Always having my phone handy for a quick snapshot so that I can remember colors for later is a big help.
Here are a few simple supplies you may want depending upon how you keep your nature journal:
- Notebook of some type — for me — smallish and easy to transport
- Sketching tools
- Pencil (mechanical — no need for sharpener)
- Watercolors – a very small, dry set
- Waterbrush – no need to carry water — this is a brush with a hollow handle filled with water — you can refill from a stream or your water bottle if you need to
- Graphite stick or charcoal for rubbings
- Baggies for collecting items — flat(ish) things like leaves can be taped right into your journal. A flower can be pressed and added in. You may want to include small pockets in your journal for collecting these items.
- Camera (phone camera)
Skills
More great news! You do not need any specific skills to get started.
- To begin, you need only to develop your skills of observation!
- Add in over time:
- Ability to sit quietly so you may observe/sketch skittish wildlife you may encounter
- A few basic drawing or photography skills are nice to have
- Walking with ‘soft eyes’ vs. ‘hard eyes’. Soft eyes means that you are just walking without any particular purpose or intent in mind. If you are focused and actively hunting for something, you will miss other subtle things along the way. In other words, soft eyes is relaxing and you’ll often stumble upon something amazing and awe-inspiring for your nature journal!
There really are as many ways to keep a nature journal as there are people who keep them. What’s your journaling style? Share your thoughts in the comments!
- Mental health
Forest Bathing: What, Why and How
Forest bathing, translated from the Japanese phrase shinrin-yoku, is the simple practice of spending time in nature — doing nothing in particular. I can’t think of a better place to begin your journey to reconnect with nature!
Forest Bathing: What It Is
Forest bathing is simple in concept. You go to a natural setting. A forest is ideal, but if you don’t live near one, any city park with a tree or two will work also.
A proper forest bath has no agenda, no direction, no goal. Turn off your phone! You are going to amble, wander, sit, explore, wonder, and experience whatever happens. Most people treat a hike in the forest as only exercise. ‘Let’s walk really fast and get some cardio in today!’ It can be that; but it is so much more.
Forest bathing is going to a park — you may follow a trail; you may not. Stop when you feel like stopping, move when you feel like moving. Engage your senses: feel the breeze on your skin, listen to the wind in the trees, take in the scents, touch rough bark, or dangle your feet in the stream. Sit under a tree and munch on the snack you brought. Follow a bird, or sit in the dirt and follow an ant. Talk to a tree. Just be.
Nothing New
What’s currently ‘trending’ comes and goes in cycles. Forest bathing is one of those things that feels new because it’s popping up everywhere you look at the moment. In spite of its trending status it is, in fact, a practice that has been around since the beginning of time.
Before the mass migration into urban and suburban areas after the industrial revolution, everyone everywhere lived in nature. It’s where the food was, and the community activities, the entertainment. It was where you could go to be alone for a while and gather your thoughts. It didn’t have a name, it was life.
Forest Bathing: The ‘Why’
Deadlines, to-do lists, work schedules, getting kids where they need to be on time, . . . need I say more? Current society seems to dictate our every waking minute. Many of us equate busyness and a full schedule with success. But is it?
Are we, as a people, stressed because of our jobs and to-do lists, or does the stress come from lack of connection to nature? I believe it is a bit of both. We need times of deadlines and schedules as much as we need time to ‘do nothing’.
- Decreases stress (decreases cortisol production)
- Reduces sleeplessness
- Reduces depression
- Decreases blood pressure
- Reduces anger
- Increases happiness
- Increases concentration
- Boosts immune system
- Increases the amount of NK (natural killer cells)
There is solid science behind these claims. Dr. Qing Li , an immunologist in Japan, has been conducting research for several years. For an overview of his science check out this YouTube video interview of Dr. Qing Li. He has also written a book: Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness.
Forest Bathing: How Often
In listening to Dr. Qing Li, we learned that he discovered that part of the secret is the volatile oils given off by the trees, so forest bathing must literally include trees! Further, spending time in an actual dense forest creates a much longer-lasting effect than an urban park.
His studies taught us that the effects of spending an hour or so in a real forest last from 2 weeks to one month. He states that once a week in an urban park with trees should be adequate to maintain the effects.
I believe, however, that once you begin to add forest bathing to your regular routine, you’ll want to spend as much time as you can out there–deepening your own special connection with nature!
For more information on just how being in nature can improve mental health, you might enjoy this article. You might also enjoy this article on Hiking for Mental Health.
