The Calming Power of Nature Journaling

Before I knew the term "self care," when my children were quite young, Sunday afternoons were mine to take my nature journal to the woods to sketch & create.  

Those afternoons freed me up to be an artist, and filled my soul with the peace of nature.

 I always returned rejuvenated and ready to get back to the intensity of being a stay-at-home mom.

These days, nothing in my life compares to that full-on work of tending to little babies, but I still lean on my nature journal in stressful times.

Recently, after having some dental work done, I took ten minutes in my car to center myself, and sketch this pair of trees across the road.

I could feel the jittery stress dissolve as I followed the lines of the locust trunk's grooved bark, and explored the arching limbs and craggy turns in the branches.  I purposefully slowed my drawing down, looking only at the trees for most of this ballpoint pen sketch.

Nature and the journal worked their magic, and soon I felt calmer, centered, and ready to drive home.

Later, I added color with Caran D'Ache Neocolor II watercolor crayons.

When you are in the practice of connecting with nature this way, you set yourself up for the calming power of nature journaling, knowing that it doesn't matter what your drawing looks like, only that you are drawing, and slowly connecting with nature's healing peace.

Copyright 2023 Betsy Bangley

Figure Drawing Update: Class Prep.

 I'm getting my drawing hand warmed back up for a new semester of teaching figure drawing.  Here are some sketches from the last few days of David -- from a private artist's drawing session I was invited to last night, and from a session today.

Gestures (1 & 2 minutes):

Five Line Drawings (1 minute each):  The game here is to use only 5 lines to capture the pose.  It takes a moment to think, and an abstract image results, often expressing the emotion of the pose as well as just the form.

Longer Poses (5-20 minutes):

Celebrating Color in Summer

The joy of new paints is trying out the colors and exploring what you can do with them.

The page "Things Leaves Do" was inspired by nature journaler Hannah Hinchman, author of A Trail Through Leaves: The Journal as a Path to Place.  She fills illustrated journal pages with topics like "Things Snow Does."

Finished 3 Fabulous Feathers!

I couldn't be more delighted with my new Schmincke watercolors.  Here's the finished study of a Crow feather, an Owl (?) feather and a Downy Woodpecker feather.  Of course, the real feathers that I found out on hikes and around my farm weren't purple and blue, but I decided to take a colorist's approach to the black, earth-toned and black-and-white, feathers, respectively.

Nature Journal Update: A Stormy Afternoon

A stormy afternoon made me reach for my watercolors and gouache. I love how white gouache sits on top of the watercolor painting, allowing me to lift out highlights in the turbulent sky.

Nature Journal Update: Summer Thunderclouds

A summery afternoon built cumulonimbus clouds that didn't travel very far very fast, but rumbled and dropped curtains of indigo.  Tired at the end of a busy day, I sat on the front porch and sketched, blissfully.

Collage Creations, Week One

I love the way that creating with collage opens up opportunities to mingle materials and images.  I once used to try to create "perfect" collages and artworks, but I have come to realize that getting in the neighborhood of "good" is far more productive and satisfying.  Yesterday, as I taught Collage Creations online, I spread out my materials and just let my eyes fall on interesting pieces to use -- postage stamps, book pages, maps, pressed plants, etc.  Later, I was happily surprised by connections I saw within my compositions, and it reinforced that I can trust my intuition.  That's the best thing about art for me - the after-effect of peaceful reverie and contentment.

Here are some collage post cards I created during class yesterday.

New Online Art Classes for June!

During the Covid-19 quarantine, I have found myself picking up a paintbrush or pen and experimenting more with art. And those experiments have made me feel calmer and more positive. Art has the power to take us to a different mental space. I've put together two online classes for June 2020, and I invite you to email me at betsybangley@gmail.com to register.

Creating Calm Through Art Explorations

All human beings are artists. In this class, you will use your natural creativity to help to create calm in your life. No previous art experience is necessary! Drink tea, play with watercolor paints, doodle with ink, and give yourself permission to try new art explorations to see where they lead you. You provide the watercolor paints, paper and brushes, and I provide the inspiration, instruction and positive thoughts to help you create. All that is required is a willingness to play with art supplies with the intention of self-care. 4 classes, 2 hours each, $59 Wednesdays, 10 am to noon, June 10th through July 1st.

Collage Creations

Sign up at least one week in advance, by Wednesday, June 10th. You will receive a packet of materials -- old book pages, maps, postage stamps, etc. -- in the mail. During class we will create collages together -- make collage cards, mixed media artworks or journal covers. You will need to supply Modge Podge, brush for gluing, pens, paints, & journal. 3 classes, 2 hours each, $59, postage & collage materials included. Wednesdays, 2pm to 4 pm, June 17th through July 1st.



I love feedback! Let me know what you would like to see in future classes. Would you prefer in-person classes at my Beaver County farm, or do you like the safety of an online session?

Looking forward to creating with you!

Betsy

The Importance of Playing with Squiggles

One of my aims in teaching art is to liberate people to create.  So many of us feel that we must make something of meaning or value, something pretty or even Perfect.  Of course, we all know that there is no such thing as perfect in any human endeavor, and saddling ourselves with these expectations before we even pick up a paintbrush or pen can turn our hands to lead.

I recommend giving yourself over to the experience of discovery as you draw or paint. Look at your subject and find the parts that fascinate you, then dive in and play with ways to represent those things. Removing any expectation of the finished result opens you up to create freely.

Another great way to play with your creativity is to focus merely on mark making.  I was inspired by Amy Maricle, of Mindful Art Studio, to take up a brush pen, loaded with India ink, and paint swoops, swirls, and squiggles on heavy paper I had cut to various sizes.



I set up outside on a picnic table and just let the painting happen.  By keeping my paper small, and having stacks of these little "canvases," I could create, explore designs and marks, then set the work aside and start fresh on a blank page.  I found myself drawn to thick and thin wavy lines, like the curve around a woman's hip.

As I created, I experienced the bliss of the present moment, the brush slipping over the paper, a Song Sparrow warbling nearby. The designs evolved, becoming trees, grasses, simple curves, then tadpoles swimming in a pond. Occasionally, I would dip back into familiar shapes and symbols, often used, and I noticed that these were not fulfilling to me.  I sought a fresh experience, and the explorative marks were the ones that felt exciting and refreshing.

I finished the experiment by cutting scrap pieces of white mat board to post card size, and making tadpole post cards.

Tadpole post card.

At the end of the experience, I laid out my favorite paintings on a board, and placed them where I would see the artworks as I walked by.  The joy of the creative experience lingered for days, and every time I passed by my little paintings, I felt a thrill.  I created that!

I hope you will try this technique, too.

At the end of my experiment, I added a Micron pen to my tool kit. Perhaps my next mark-making project will begin with bubbles & ovals!

Forsythia Blooms & Inspiration

Though the human world seems to have ground to a halt right now, nature bursts with new life out here in the country around my home. Everyday some new flower spills fresh color into the landscape, and I want to capture it all in my nature journals.

I have been watching videos from John Muir Laws' website on keeping a nature journal, organizing journal pages, and using watercolor pencils to best effect. Inspiring!  Check them out for free here: https://johnmuirlaws.com/blog/

I have taken to carrying a journal with me on hikes with David, or even down the driveway to put a letter in the box. Here is a collection of recent findings in no particular order.

Paint Yourself Calm

I found a fabulous book of inspiration at the library recently, entitled Paint Yourself Calm by Jean Haines (Search Press, 2016).  In the book, she tells her own story of how painting has been a calming influence in her life.  And, she walks the reader through a variety of painting projects designed to help you relax.

Her watercolor activities are easy, take little time and no previous experience, and give you the chance to simply play with your art supplies. Yesterday, I tried the activity entitled "Simple Landscapes." When my landscape was dry, I propped my it up in my kitchen where I could see it as I passed by.  The colors caught my eye, and I could imagine the place I painted -- a quiet, sunny, natural space thriving with birds, blooming flowers & a lush distant woodland.  Just what I desire this time of year.

I particularly enjoyed Jean's outlook on the importance of finding time for your art.  She writes:

"It was only when I made the conscious decision to treat painting like eating, as part of my daily routine, that my life and art career changed. More importantly, the happy calm state I am in when painting helps me deal with other issues far more easily."