Keeping a Nature Journal, 3rd Edition: Deepen Your Connection with the Natural World All Around You

Clare Walker Leslie

Jun 2021 · Sold by Storey Publishing, LLC

About this eBook

Hone your observation and drawing skills with this mindful nature journal, filled with prompts to get you engaged in the world around you.

Clare Walker Leslie’s approach has long been acclaimed for its accessible style of teaching people to see, witness, and appreciate the wonders of nature. With an emphasis on learning to see and observe, Leslie shows how drawing nature doesn’t require special skills, artistic ability, or even nature knowledge in order to reap the benefits of her book.

Originally published in 2000 with endorsements from E.O. Wilson and Jane Goodall, Keeping a Nature Journal was at the forefront of the nature observation and journaling movement. The third edition features more of Leslie’s step-by-step drawing techniques, a new selection of pages from her own journals (which she’s kept for 40 years), and an expanded range of prompts for observing particular aspects of the natural world in any location.

This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

 

Ratings and reviews

Keeping a Nature Journal, 3rd Edition by Clare Walker Leslie Deepen Your Connection with the Natural World All around You I wasn’t sure what to expect when requesting this book and since a fellow blogger suggested it to me, I thought, “Why not?” This book is filled with information and almost a collection of the author’s thoughts and ideas captured in sketches and words that have been compiled together with works of other artists of all ages and then shared with the reader. The book is divided into sections with Part I dealing with why one might keep a nature journal, how to set your journal up, an introduction to drawing and how to keep an ongoing journal. Part II discusses journaling explorations and gives topics that might be considered for observation. What I liked: * The variety * The sketches * Being able to see how varied nature journaling can be * Seeing the way teachers use nature journaling with students * Being inspired to want to pick up sketching again * The multitude of ideas * Seeing that I don’t have to be perfect to actually sketch and keep a nature journal * The idea of mindfulness that was brought in * Seeing how “artists” keep their journals * Wondering if this might be an interesting way to keep a diary * Enjoying the uninhibited sketches by young artists and the clarity with which they saw what was around them. * All of it really What I didn’t like: * Having so many ideas at the end of looking through the book that I can’t choose ONE to actually start in on with a new nature journal. Did I enjoy this book? Yes Would I like to have it in my library? Yes Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

About the author

Clare Walker Leslie is a nationally known wildlife artist, author, and educator. For more than 30 years, she has been connecting people of all ages to nature using drawing, writing, and observation of the outdoors. Her books include the bestsellers Keeping a Nature Journal and The Nature Connection, as well as The Curious Nature Guide, Nature Journal, and Drawn to Nature. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Granville, Vermont.