International Nature Journaling Week was 1-7th June 2024
This year we are exploring the natural processes within the cycle of life. It is winter in Melbourne, so I had to look harder or think broadly about some of the interpretations. As usual I used my wonderful Faber Castell watercolour pencils as usual to create these. I used the colours in my usual sketchkit for these.

It was a wonderful week to explore what is around me.

There is an amazing International Nature Journaling Week team behind this. They are from different parts of the world but are connected by a shared love of nature and creativity.

They had a theme for each day during the week to guide everyone’s focus.

• Germination and emergence
• Growth and development
• Metamorphosis and transformation
• Reproduction and replication
• Fruiting and dispersal
• Decay and decomposition
• Renewal and regeneration

If you are curious here is an excerpt form their website with links to all sorts of wonderful things

Explore the website – there is lots to discover! You can Start Here and then find out How to Participate in the week. There is a page for Parents & Teachers, one for the Reluctant Artist and a page on sharing the Written Word in our nature journal pages. On the Blog you will find posts from nature journalers around the world, sharing ideas and knowledge on different aspects of journaling. The Books & Inspiration page will point you to books and websites where you can learn more about nature journaling and nature connection. Sign-up to the newsletter to receive updates and ideas.

There were all sorts of interpretation and styles and knowledge from around the world shared online during this time. It was fascinating to read about different parts of the world and their plants and animals.

My focus is always the drawing, however, other write, or create more scientific pages.

Germination and emergence.

These Chestnut conkers were given to me a few years ago to draw. There were six in an egg carton. I wonder … would they germinate if I planted them now??? I live in an apartment, so I won’t be testing that theory.

Growth and development

In the middle of a Melbourne winter there is growth on the end of some bunya pine trees in nearby Fitzroy Gardens.

Metamorphasis and transformation

Cicada skins I have in my collection

Reproduction and replication

Quail eggs from my collection.

Fruiting and dispersal

A beautiful gerbera in a bunch of flowers I was given. I cut one in half to show the seed head and how they disperse when dry.

Decay and decomposition

 These are bones of a short-tailed shearwater (muttonbird) from Port Fairy beach , Victoria, Australia. Thousands migrate every year and some die on the beaches there from exhaustion. I found these desiccated bones a few years ago in the sand.

Renewal and Regeneration

I was looking for Winter inspiration. Found ! in a local front yard where someone had done some heavy winter pruning and these small shoots were emerging

I would like to thank the organisers for the time, thought and passion that they put into making this such a successful event once again !

When you sketch, you look and observe nature, it is astonishing !