One of the things I really like about my Nature journal practice is the slowing down and making a better connection with nature, which in turn makes me practice mindfulness. I am present in the moment taking it all in. I am calm and happy, noticing things I hadn't before, then it happens. Either I can't get the leaf quite right, or that shade of blue is just not bright enough. It can take your whole state of mind out of what you were doing and the benefits and you are garnering. Yes we all want to be master drawers or painters but even the masters had constant doubts and "do overs" The only way to get better is to draw, and draw often and try as hard as you can to let go of expectations for at least 50% of the time. I still have issues with this. I feel like I have been drawing long enough that I should be able to draw most things with skill and confidence. Not so. There are so many things I still struggle with, and probably will for the rest of my life. I try to look at that as a gift, I will never run out of things to learn and observe. This helps me remind myself that this practice of nature journaling is not for the worlds most pretty journal or most accurate, this journal is not going to make it into the Smithsonian or the Louvre. I bring this up because 2020 brought a lot more people into the forest, looking for peace and calm. Mindfulness, meditation, forest bathing, or nature journaling they are all designed to bring you closer to nature in different ways but they are supposed to decrease stress, not cause more. I am here to help you learn more about journaling, drawing and science tips, and to be your cheerleader. If you are just starting or been drawing for years we can all learn from each other and learn to be adventurous in our practice and be gentle with the results.
