Nature Journaling as the Seasons Shift

Sketching my way to spring and reviving my creative practice.

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Rain first thing in the morning but it didn’t last long. However, the clouds remained for much of the day. I had thought it was warmer out than it actually was, since I was fine in just a fleece jacket (45°F). The cats went in and out multiple times over the course of the day after the rain passed.

Later on, I went for another walk and found some more daffodils sprouting. The forsythia behind our building is covered with tiny buds. A squirrel, looking rather bedraggled and damp, shied away from me as I came around the corner. He was on his way to the bird feeder and quickly shimmied up one of the porch posts as if it was as easy as walking on flat ground. It must be nice to be able to climb anything and everything as if it was nothing at all.

The sky finally cleared as blue hour faded into night. The last colors of the sunset’s grand farewell shifting to black. We are approaching the new moon and only the tiniest sliver of the waning crescent could be seen.

February 20, 2026

A bright and clear day but extremely windy (52°F). I can hear the wind rushing up the hillside and through the trees. It almost sounds like waves crashing upon the shore. Periodically, an extra strong gust comes along, making the branches flail about wildly.

The now waxing crescent moon put on a show as it sank towards the horizon, looking like a giant Cheshire cat hanging in the sky. It glowed orange as it went, sitting next to the blinking red lights of the radio tower. This was the best photo I was able to capture, but the scale and subtle details are not conveyed.

Sprouting Creativity

Blame it on the Lunar New Year and the vibrant energy of the Fire Horse, or perhaps its simply the slow return of sunlight. Whatever the reason, I have been feeling a growing pull toward creative pursuits beyond writing. Namely, nature journaling on little blank postcards. I want to knock the rust off before getting out the “good” paper. About five years ago, I used to sketch practically every day. That was until chronic illness put art, and basically everything else, on the back burner. I know I must be getting better, because the itch to sketch things has started to come back.

Since I run out of focus and motivation for making art rather quickly (because I am out of practice), I’ve been taking my time and going easy with my expectations. Choosing subjects that are straightforward and uncomplicated, a single stem or leaf is fine. Allowing myself to stop if anything feels forced. Giving myself an open invitation to start a sketch with no obligation to finish it. I am not trying to make anything really polished or strictly adhere to my reference. In fact, I’d even call a lot of what I’ve been doing as “scribbling,” for no other reason than I don’t have the patience to be careful with my mark making for the duration of time it takes to do an entire sketch.

However, that’s totally okay. It doesn’t really matter what I make or if it’s good, the important part is stretching those sketching muscles again. The more I practice, the easier it will get. If I can stick with it, soon enough, I’ll be back to my daily sketching habit again.

Nature Journaling

For the time being, I am sketching to welcome the change in the seasons, one little postcard at a time. Noting down a few bits about the weather, or identifying the subject and adding the scientific name. Little things that take an observational exercise and elevate it into a more comprehensive learning experience.

So what is nature journaling anyway? It is all about recording your observations and reflections of the natural world in various ways. It could be jotting down the temperature, tracking the number of birds you saw at your feeder, or doing a quick sketch. According to Wild Wonder Foundation, it is the practice of using, “words, pictures, and numbers to collect and record your observations, questions, connections, and explanations on the pages of a notebook. You do not need to be an artist or a naturalist to begin.”

Their website (as well as John Muir Laws) is an excellent source for additional information. I’ve listed further reading and helpful links in the resources section at the bottom of this post. Its much more about making a record of what you see, rather than creating a “work of art”. I hope you will give it a try.

Recommended Supply List

List of art supplies I recommend and use for outdoor sketching:

Sketchbook: 5.5″ x 8.25″ hand-book journal co. 300 gsm watercolor journal (blue flower on the label) $27-$30
Graphite Pencil: Prismacolor Turquoise pencil with 2H lead. Regular 2B lead can be difficult to erase completely, especially on textured paper. ~$1.50
Eraser: Staedtler Mars white eraser, or similar. NOT a pink eraser. ~$1.50
Pen of Choice: I like fine point Pigma Micron pens (sizes 005, 01, and 05) and Extra Fine nib fountain pens paired with waterproof ink, such as Rohrer & Klingner Sketch Ink. Current favorite fountain pen due to its very fine nib is the Sailor TUZU Adjust Fountain Pen (of course I have the pink one!). ~$3.50 – $48
Watercolors: I use a custom filled watercolor palette from Art Toolkit. Naturally, there are other viable options. You can build your own palette (see recommendations below) or get one with pre-filled pans like this one from White Nights. Cost here can vary wildly from $40 to $200+. However I would encourage you to spend the most on good paint (or on good paper). I absolutely cannot recommend watercolors from Artist’s Loft, Prang, or anything of “craft” level quality. If you buy individual tubes you can collect them slowly over time, or maybe get a friend to go halves with you. I promise you, cheap paint will only bring you frustration, at least that’s what it does to me. Go to brand is Windsor & Newton, among others.
Brushes: My favorite brushes for sketching outdoors are the travel brushes from Rosemary & Co. (I don’t know if you can still get these shipped to the US). I get their red sable blend designer pointed round brushes in a couple of sizes (Links below). Dagger brushes are also fun too! Water brushes can be a cheap and convenient option, but I prefer a normal brush for better water control. To be fair, you don’t NEED a travel brush, multiple round brushes from size 4 to 10 will do. Try to find brushes that have a blend of synthetic and natural fibers, as I have found these to perform the best. Full synthetic brushes tend to be very springy or stiff and don’t hold as much liquid.
Other Supplies: Obviously you can use whatever tools you want, from colored pencils to markers to paint pens and everything in between. The sky is the limit.
You will also need at least 1 water container (I recommend using 2 if at a table or desk), and a towel or paper towel.

A palette setup from the past, complete with travel brush.

Color Palette Recommendations

If you would like to put together your own palette using an empty tin (~$10 Amazon), this is the ~12 color selection I would recommend for landscapes and natural subjects (no white, no black!):

Cadmium Red Light (or other warm orangey-red)
Magenta or Quinacridone Rose (think a true pink)
Aureolin
Yellow Ochre (opaque) or Quinacridone Gold (transparent)
Green Gold (a fabulous color for spring greens and for mixing greens)
Sap Green or Hooker’s Green
Undersea Green or Perlyene Green (think dark natural green, not viridian)
Cerulean or Verditer Blue (Holbein)
Ultramarine Blue and/or Cobalt
Burnt Sienna or Transparent Red Oxide
Sepia or Burnt Umber (I prefer sepia)
Payne’s Gray (great for desaturating colors or mixing grays)

Seasonal Scavenger Hunt

A late winter/early spring scavenger hunt to use as sketching prompts:

Returning bird species, such as a Red-winged Blackbird
Spring wildflowers, such as Dandelion, Violet, or Clover
Swelling buds on trees or shrubs
Early spring bulbs, such as Crocus, Daffodil, Hyacinth, or Tulip
An insect, I’ve been finding lots of Shield Bugs lately…
The lunar phase of the Moon
A fallen leaf from last autumn
Patches of moss or lichen
An evergreen tree or shrub
Pinecones, acorns, or seed pods

Red-winged Blackbird. Image from Unsplash.com; Photo Credit: Bernard Guevara

Other Things to Try

Try using a limited color palette of 3 to 4 colors. For example, I’ve recently been using the following: Payne’s Gray, Sepia, Burnt Sienna, Undersea Green (Sap Green Deep could also work here).

Try sketching the same tree branch or sprouting plant once a week for 4 weeks in a row.

Take photos with an actual camera and get them printed out to glue into your journal. Or try a mini sticker printer like this one from Polaroid.

All of these ideas work well in groups, with friends, or for kids!

Lastly, do not feel obligated to sit outside to draw, especially if its too cold or uncomfortable. I think its perfectly acceptable to take some photographs and a few notes (analog or digital), then sketch from the comfort of your home. Mind you, watercolor paints don’t work too well if its below freezing! If you do decide to get out your notebooks, journals, or sketchbooks please let me know. I’d love to see what you create!

“The pleasure and value of every walk or journey we take may be doubled to us by carefully noting down the impressions it makes upon us.”
– John Burroughs