A Five Mile Nature Hike!

A busy schedule had kept me off the hiking trails for too long.  When our opportunity finally arrived, David and I took advantage of a lovely day to walk in the woods.

David brought his camera equipment, and I tucked my colored pencils, a pen and my nature journal in a little bag.  At each water break or beauty stop, I pulled out my journal and made quick sketches of what I saw.

At the halfway point, I sat down and made blind contour drawings of curled leaves still clinging to a sapling.  They seemed to express the force of the fall winds, curling and twisting as if dancing on a breeze.

As we hiked home, I turned to see the distant hill in the setting sunlight.  Calico oak leaves dappled the forest canopy with rich color.

These sketches bring back the experience, just as David's photos bring back memories of the friendly people and horses we encountered on our adventure.

That's the power of an image -- it locks in the memory of the time you made it, transporting you back in time to relive moments in the beauty of nature.

I hope you get the opportunity to sketch a natural scene.  Go ahead; lock in a memory of the peace and beauty of nature!
 

Copyright 2023 Betsy Bangley.

Sunrise with Vintage Prismacolors

The other morning, I was sitting at my art studio work table and glimpsed a view into the sky that inspired me.  I had just gotten a pack of Prismacolor colored pencils from the 1980's, and this was the ideal opportunity to test them out.

I layered in the pinks and blues with pale blue and white, trying to mimic the rich colors that I saw outside.  The overcast morning meant that the horizon treeline was dark.  With most of the leaves gone, the treetops created a lacework, with peeks of light and color showing through.

I played with different mark making to express the texture of the treeline, which turned out to be a delight in itself.

Every time I pick up my nature journal to draw, I learn something new.  I slow down, notice details and feel refreshed.  

I hope you get a chance to slow down and draw in nature -- or just out the window.  Art and nature make a healing combination!

Copyright 2023 Betsy Bangley

Nature Journal: Evening Sketch

Some days, especially after a busy week of activity and demands, I feel overwhelmed, tired, and like I need a recharge.  I have learned that the best self care for me in these moments is to sit with my art supplies, outdoors, if possible.

These drawings are from times when I was weary and just needed to settle in nature and breathe deeply, connect with a tree, a cluster of leaves, or blades of dewy grass.

Sometimes, I take slow "Beauty Walks," moving at a turtle's pace like a curious wild creature.  I stop to notice details like the exact color of the cucumber tree leaves, or how dew drops clinging to a grass blade give an upside-down view of the world to anyone who's willing to look closely.

After sitting for ten minutes in front of this cluster of wild grasses, I noticed a little hollow place, protected by the overhanging blackberries and weeds, and I imagined a cottontail rabbit tucking away inside.  

As I sketched in the fading light of evening, I noticed gentle twittering sounds of songbirds fluttering into the overgrown grape vine nearby.  They were tucking in for the night, and I was fortunate enough to witness their evening routine.  I felt let in on their secret, and the knowledge warmed my heart.

These are the ways that nature and art restore me.  After a sketching session like this, I feel rested and renewed.  Of course, getting a good night's sleep is critical to feeling well, but I also notice that having a little time to create in a quiet place is also vital to my health.

I hope you can find some time to slow down and connect with nature, make a sketch or write about something you notice in nature.  I hope you find it as healing as I have!

Copyright 2023 Betsy Bangley.

Sketching Leaves

The wonderful thing about a nature journal is that you can tuck it under your arm along with a few drawing tools and take to a woodland trail to make discoveries.  Here, I took my nature journal along on a hike.  When we stopped for a water break, I sketched the leaves at my feet.

The connection with nature, the beauty of the day, all are recorded here for me to return to, along with the note that it was "A day of interesting woods travelers to talk with."

My nature journal contains lots of memories as well as my artistic journey -- the  types of media I enjoy using at any particular time & my evolving skills.  And, I record what was happening in nature each season.

I hope you'll take some time to sketch in a nature journal with your favorite medium, and enjoy your connection with art and the earth.

Copyright 2023 Betsy Bangley.

The Last Bouquet of Autumn

The night before the first frost, I stepped outside under the moonlight, with scissors and baskets in hand to collect frost-sensitive flowers, herbs and vegetables.  

Having all of that fragrant life indoors inspired me to sketch these zinnias, Queen Anne's Lace and basil tucked in an old Mason jar.

Later, I walked in a nearby corner of Raccoon Creek State Park, sketching an old cabin on top of a hill, and the woods in the floodplain along a big creek.

This is the season for nature journaling!  

Earthy color and beauty reside in the landscape, just waiting to be witnessed, sketched and enjoyed.  Journaling like this never fails to relax me, and make me grateful for the beauty around me.

I hope you find some time to walk in nature, make some sketches and take advantage of nature's healing balm.

Copyright 2023 Betsy Bangley.

A New Fountain Pen

I love my new Lamy Safari fountain pen!

I wanted to reduce my use of disposable pens and simplify my drawing kit.  The fine nib that came with the pen suits my drawing & writing needs.

I bought the refillable ink cartridge, and some waterproof ink designed for fountain pens.  The ink flows smoothly and dries quickly.  When dry, it's waterproof.

I find that when I have one well-functioning art material, I create more.  Simplifying my art kit prevents the confusion of too much stuff, and creating comes quicker.

What's your favorite art tool?  Do you declutter your portable art kit periodically?  What would be your ideal travel kit to take out on sketching trips? 

Leave me a comment -- I'd love to know your favorites!

Happy Creating!

The Start of a New Nature Journal

In October, I taught a 2-week workshop on Nature Journaling for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Carnegie Mellon University.  I happened to finish up a nature journal the day before class, so I began this journal, my 26th, in class among my students.

We had fantastic, warm, sunny weather both days of our Nature Journaling class, and I broke out my little travel watercolor kit to splash some autumn colors on the first page.

The CMU campus is home to a wide variety of trees and plantings.  I found a large locust-like tree bearing thick seed pods, and sketched its features. Perhaps it's a Kentucky Coffeebean tree?

Brown-eyed Susans bloomed near the Osher offices and classroom.  Perfect for a blind contour sketch!

At the beginning of each journal, I make a title page, with an expression of what I hope to fill the pages with, and a description of when and where the journal was started. This is the title page from the finished journal,  #25.

I always start a new journal with drawings, paintings, and observations, leaving the first few pages blank for a cover page and an eventual title page.  I like to jump right into making observations, and come back later in a quiet moment to create the title page.  That way, I feel less pressure to make the title page "perfect."  Of course, there's no such thing as perfect, especially in art journals.

I find nature journaling so relaxing and grounding.  I had a wonderful time sketching & painting with my students, and sharing my love of nature journaling with them.

I hope you find time to make some sketches and observations in a journal, or even to sit in nature and absorb its balm.

Happy Nature Journaling!

Copyright 2023 Betsy Bangley.