Keeping Pace...

Through Nature Journaling

“That is one good thing about this world - there are always sure to be more springs.”

~Lucy Maud Montgomery

Recently sketched tulips added to my Perpetual Nature Journal. Forget-me-nots were sketched two years ago.

During long winter months, I yearn for warmer days spent outside. Sketching, painting or just sitting in nature brings such a great sense of well-being. Honestly, I often feel pure joy in the quietude of nature. It is where my soul feels alive and where I tap into a deeper sense of peace.

When I was a child, my days were spent outside in play or observing the wonders of nature. My dad has always been a nature lover, keeping gardens and finding peace in quiet moments outdoors. So my love of nature has come honestly through both my own experiences and from watching my dad.

Sweet Forget-me-nots are out in abundance again! (Sketched spring of 2021)

Scilla was the first to bloom in my gardens this year! Such a joy to see this beautiful color in the garden again.

The arrival of spring comes with a great sense of excitement. The world begins to awaken, bringing daily signs of new vegetation. Quite miraculous really, when only a few months ago the land lay lifeless.

This year’s tulips

Everyday, I check my gardens for new signs of life. Initially small bits of growth begin to peek through the earth and then suddenly Spring takes hold. Daily changes begin to occur in succession, warmer weather arrives and the dance of renewal begins. Leaves budding, flowers blooming, bird song amplified and finally the most beautiful colors arrive. Early blooms bring bright hues, contrasting with fresh spring greens and reds.

Sitting on a tiny stool sketching in my gardens. My husband snapped this pic and chuckled when he came home, saying my hat matched the siding and my top the tulips. Certainly wasn’t planned. lol

With this parade of new growth, comes my longing to record its beauty. Sketching in my gardens, painting on location, listening, observing and realizing I can’t possibly capture all the beauty of spring! She moves too quickly, marching to her own pace, leaving me scrambling to keep up. But, alas there is always next year with a new opportunity to begin the race again. But for now, I will do my best to keep pace.

Warmly ,

Debbie xx

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Anectodes:

Nature journaling is a wonderful way to document the passing of time over seasons. Journals can be maintained with a heavier reliance on either sketches or words or a combination of both. My Perpetual Journal is mostly sketches with a bit of text. If you are new here and unfamiliar with my journal, you can find a post about it here.

Do you keep a nature journal? If not, I’m cheering you on to begin keeping some type of record of the passing of time over a year. You will be so happy you did! It’s a wonderful way to record the passing of time, while creating lovely memories.

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News

"Giants With Heart", 16x12in. Oil on cradled wood panel. Painted from life in my gardens over two spring seasons.

Happy News! “Giants With Heart” was recently accepted into Teicher Gallery’s Annual Spring Group Show. It was so wonderful to actually attend an art event in person again! The entire show continues until the end of the month, then all works will continue to be available to purchase or rent from the gallery.

I was also grateful and happy to hear that I’ve been accepted as one of the gallery’s roster of artists. The gallery represents a wonderful array of Atlantic Canadian Artists and is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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