Keeping Nature journals

[millipede]

Im a young and very amateur wildlife enthuisiast, and i am especially intrested in creepy crawlys of any kind. I am on a ventuer to complete my first wildlife journal. I am an artist at heart, so i like painting what isee but i find that i am always painting from books.

Does anyone have any advice on how to collect information when im out so that i can transfer it into my main journal? i have tryed single sheets of paper but they blow about and get soggy and ruined, i really want this journal to be lovely to look over in the next few years, so, any tips people?

thanks alot, Millipede

[Jonny]

Originally Posted by millipede

Im a young and very amateur wildlife enthuisiast, and i am especially intrested in creepy crawlys of any kind. I am on a ventuer to complete my first wildlife journal. I am an artist at heart, so i like painting what isee but i find that i am always painting from books.

Does anyone have any advice on how to collect information when im out so that i can transfer it into my main journal? i have tryed single sheets of paper but they blow about and get soggy and ruined, i really want this journal to be lovely to look over in the next few years, so, any tips people?

thanks alot, Millipede

Hi Millipede and welcome here...............You could try collecting the insects in pots or old jam jars, so you can take them indoors to study them. You can also get waterproof paper if you want to be outdoors. Just a couple of quick thoughts. Good luck.................Jon

[nightshade]

Hi millipede, you can get waterproof writing pads or covered clipboards,a reasonable digital camera may help (some allow voice commentary and or short video clips), a voice activated tape/digital voice recorder is another option have a look in www.alanaecology.com
Collecting insects is fine as long as you are responsible enough to put them back where they came from make a pooter and a small soft net to collect specimens a lidded box with a shoulder strap and a number of small plastic food boxes sold for about 40p in asda suitably ventilated of course

[Alan]

Hello millipede and welcome to the WAB forum.

For recording events and taking notes while in the Field, I'd recommend an A5 sized hardback or ringbound artists sketching pad. If you get a good quality one with a page weight of around 150 gsm, this will take light washes of watercolour. The A5 sizes are quite convenient as they can be carried in a small bag or large inside pocket. If you want to use heavier paint such as acrylics, a weight of around 250 gsm would be better although these usually come in A4 size. To stop your pages blowing about, just use elastic bands around them or bulldog clips.

When you get home I often find it better to transfer the sketches/paintings to a D ring binder and either punch holes in the paper or use document sleeves, although this applies more to the A4 ringbound types. You can then group them in categories such as birds, insects etc. You can also include photographs/printouts as well.

Of course as well as notes, drawings and small field paintings, use a camera too. Small digital ones are quite adequate for quick record shots; just make sure it has a macro facility.

Also Dictaphones/small tape recorders have there uses and PDA’s/notebook PC’s are getting more common.

I've included a few images of the ones I use. But beware; you could end up with a large collection of sketches, field paintings, photos, notes etc

[millipede]

Thanks so much guys, youve been very helpful! alan, youre drawings are wonderful! now, im going to post some pictures of what iv done so far- perhaps you could give me some starters into where i should look/ concentrate on?

thankyou so much, millipede

[nightshade]

They are very good drawings Alan,any chance of seeing some more,I cannot draw and always envy those that can

[Alan]

Thanks for your interest nightshade.

I've included a couple of simple quick sketches to show how they can be used as ideas for future paintings.

The first one was a Kestrel I saw on an old ash tree, I quickly set up the scope, and did a few simple, what you could call shorthand sketches just to fix the bird in my mind. They are not detailed or all that accurate, but are of use in comming up with ideas, and of course unless you're drawing captive birds/animals, you often have to be as quick as you can before the subject clears off! There's plenty of time later to fill in the blanks so to speak, by using photos or captive birds to refere to.

The next day I went back to the spot to do a quick field painting of the old ash. I could have used a camera, but again it's often better to paint or draw the object as it is fixed in your mind, and when you come to start the final painting, you often don't have to refere to any reference at all, so the painting goes easier.

The next image is of the finished painting.

The second set of images is a pencil sketch, again done through a scope of a Little Owl that was high in a ash tree.

This gave me the inspiration for the finished painting which is in the last image.

Both paintings were done using acrylics.

PS: sorry for the poor quality of the pencil drawings, I'm afraid my scanners playing up!

[Jonny]

Very good Alan............It must be very satisfying doing those.................Jon

[nightshade]

Well Alan they look superb to me,I can understand the visualisation and laying out it is the real skill in translating all the shading to make a living picture, very well done thank you for showing me some of your work