John (Jack) Muir Laws is a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement. Jack is a scientist, educator, and author, who helps people forge a deeper and more personal connection with nature through keeping illustrated nature journals and understanding science. His work intersects science, art, and mindfulness. Trained as a wildlife biologist and an associate of the California Academy of Sciences, he observes the world with rigorous attention. He looks for mysteries, plays with ideas, and seeks connections in all he sees. Attention, observation, curiosity, and creative thinking are not gifts, but skills that grow with training and deliberate practice. As an educator and author, Jack teaches techniques and supports routines that develop these skills to make them a part of everyday life.

Laws has written and illustrated several books including How to Teach Nature Drawing and Journaling (2020), The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling (2016), The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds (2012), Sierra Birds: a Hiker’s Guide (2004), The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada (2007), and The Laws Pocket Guide Set to the San Francisco Bay Area (2009), all published by Heyday. He is a regular contributor to Bay Nature magazine with his “Naturalists Notebook” column.

Acknowledgments

Why Keep a Nature Journal?

OBSERVATION AND INTENTIONAL CURIOSITY

PROJECTS THAT FOCUS AWARENESS

• Collections and Field Guides - Finding Patterns - Exceptions, and Changes Over Time - Recording Events - Maps - Cross Sections, and Block Diagrams

METHODS OF DEEPENING INQUIRY

• Writing - Diagramming - Depicting Birdsong - Lists - Counting and Measuring - Data Tools - Your Curiosity Kit

VISUAL THINKING AND DISPLAYING INFORMATION

• Taking Notes - Structuring Your Thoughts - Plans, Projections, and Sections - Organizing a Page: Titles, Icons, Frames, Callouts, and Arrows

YOUR JOURNALING KIT AND MATERIALS

• Field Kits - Essential Tools - The Right Journal - Your Palette

NATURE DRAWING

• You Can Do It - Flow - Structure and Shape - Linework - Value - Color - Details and Texture - How to Show Depth - Composition - Shortcuts and Hacks

MEDIA-SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES

• Graphite - The Non-Photo Blue Pencil - Water Soluble Pens - Markers - Toned Paper - Colored Pencil - Iris Step by Step - Watercolor Pencils - Gouache - Heron Step by Step - Rock Pigments

HOW TO DRAW ANIMALS

• Insect Anatomy - Ladybug Step by Step - Insect Textures - Butterfly Step by Step - Transparent Wings Step by Step - Spiders - Amphibians and Reptiles - Ensatina Step by Step - Leopard Frog Step by Step - Scales - Birds - Lazuli Bunting Step by Step - Song Sparrow - Birds in Flight - Duck Profile Step by Step - Assembling a Mallard- Sketching Waders - Red-Tailed Hawk Step by Step - Mammals - Muscles and Fur - Mule Deer, Bear, and Mountain Lion Step by Step - Tracking

HOW TO DRAW WILDFLOWERS

• Flower Symmetry - Foreshortening - Coned-Shaped Flowers Step by Step - Leaves and Petals - Plant Textures - Mushrooms Step by Step

HOW TO DRAW TREES, NEAR AND FAR

• Contour Lines - Shadows, Branches, and Bark Texture - Conifers - Douglas Fir Step by Step - Oak Tree Step by Step - Rethinking Trees

HOW TO DRAW LANDSCAPES

• Landscaptios - Rocks - Rock Outcrop Step by Step - Sketching Mountains - Mountain Landscape Step by Step - Grasses - Oak Woodland Step by Step - Coniferous Forest Edge Step by Step - Waterfalls - Drawing Water and Waves- Clouds - Sunsets - Mountain Sunset Step by Step

A Final Thought

Notes

References

About the Author