In-person Nature Journaling Workshops
£25.00 – £50.00
Have you ever considered keeping a nature journal? It’s a great way to connect with nature, learn to slow down and observe, and improve your creative skills at the same time. In these 2.5 hour workshops, you’ll have a chance to see Alex’s nature journals and ask questions before trying nature journaling for yourself. A sketchbook and pencil will be provided for you to use and keep, and other art materials will be available for you to try (type dependent on session). If you wish, you can bring your own preferred art materials.
Saturday 10th June, 10-12.30 – Leigh Browne Room, Sidmouth – £25. This workshop is a part of Sidmouth Biodiversity Festival. The workshop will begin with a brief talk about what to expect, provision of prompts and materials. Then we will go out to some urban biodiversity sites (gardens and churchyard) to practice. We will return for the last hour of the session, to try creating some artwork based on the outdoor experience, using Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils. Materials will be provided (a sketchbook and pencil to keep, plus art materials to use during the workshop only) but you can bring your own preferred art materials if you wish. Dress for the weather as we will be outside for half of the workshop duration at least. This workshop is suitable for anybody, especially beginners to art! Children must be accompanied.
Saturday 22nd July, 10-12.30 – Umborne Bridge Studio, Colyton – £25. Sketching moving birds. This workshop is suitable for anybody, especially beginners to art! Children must be accompanied. The format of the workshop is as follows:
10-10.45 Demo and bird sketching technique practice: how to sketch birds quickly, how to embellish a landscape with birds, practice with fast-disappearing photos!
10.45-11.30(ish) Sketching the house martins by the river, we will go to the field behind the studio, where the house martins have been prolific and practice quick gestural drawings of these birds in motion. Failing that, swifts are always present in July around the church!
11.30-12.30 Painting birds at the studio, back with the guide books and photos, we will expand our drawings from the field with notes and additional paintings from photos and videos.
A sketchbook and pencil are provided for you to use and keep. Paints, inks and brushes will be available at the painting session.
Saturday 19th August, 10-12.30 – Umborne Bridge Studio, Colyton – £25. Summertime guided nature journaling ramble. Learn to identify the local plants and birds, and how to sketch/write about what you find in your sketchbook. We’re going walking along the river with our journals again. Plan to get as far as the meadows beyond Heathhayne and sketch wildflowers, birds, and landscapes along the way. A sketchbook, pencil, and gentle beginner-friendly tuition will be provided. Suitable for any ability, adults and accompanied children. This workshop is entirely outside and involves riverside walking, a reasonable level of mobility is required. Come prepared with your own refreshments, a snack, and something to sit on if you would like/need. A sketchbook and pencil are provided for you to use and keep.
Wednesday 26th July, 10-16:00 – FULL DAY – School of Art & Wellbeing, Honiton – £50. In this one-day introduction to nature journaling, Alex will show you some fundamentals of nature journaling with fun prompts and exercises that are suitable for any artistic/naturalist/writing skill level. We will begin with a simple sketchbook and pencil out in the School of Art and Wellbeing grounds. You may bring a sketchbook if you prefer though a small book and pencil will be provided for you to keep. After a lunch break (please bring a packed lunch and some snacks to share, some extra nibbles will also be provided), we will be working the morning’s observations into a page of paintings and writing. A pool of art materials will be available for you to use, though you are welcome to bring your own. Tuition will focus on the use of Derwent Inktense pencils and waterbrushes (provided for you to try). This is a taster day for the upcoming nature journaling mornings (Thursday mornings from 21st September), although it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone day.