Enjoying Outside, Inside - Drawing Nature

Nate Lillge • March 7, 2022

There are many ways to enjoy nature: hiking, mountain biking, fishing, horseback riding, etc. Regardless of your favorite activity, each foray into the wild teaches you something. Perhaps you learn a new bird song or new salamander, or you discover a new trail or catch a new (to you) fish. Nature has endless lessons to teach.


Drawing in nature journals is a way to gain a better understanding of the natural world. By drawing what one sees, you slow down and look at details of a plant, animal, rock formation, or whatever and gain knowledge of the object.


Drawing can be done while in nature or from photos or memories from an outing, or while sitting at your kitchen table watching birds at a bird feeder. Being relaxed and comfortable is important to increase your observation skills. Your journal can be shared with the world or be for your use only. Leave your inner critic behind and have fun!


If you are looking for inspiration or examples of professional nature journals, check out these websites:


Coyote and Thunder


Obi Kaufmann is the author of The California Field Atlas and many other books that showcase the beauty and wonder of California.


Wildfire to Wildflowers: A Sketchbook of Stebbins Cold Canyon Fire Recovery


Robin Carlson documented the impacts of the 2015 Wragg Fire and the LNU Complex Fire of 2020 on Stebbins Cold Canyon.


John Muir Laws: Nature Stewardship Through Science, Education, and Art


John Muir Laws teaches nature study and natural history workshop to increase observation, memory, and curiosity.


These three are wonderful artists. Don’t let their works dissuade you from starting your own. Hopefully these two, never-seen-before drawings from my own nature journal will make you feel better about your own work!

-Nate Lillge; (nlillge@tuleyome.org)


Adventures and Engagement Director


Certified California Naturalist

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