Drawing for Connection: How to Start Nature Journaling

Hi, I’m Bethany, a Fine Artist and Tutor, living and working in Hampshire. I work with coloured pencil, watercolour, pastel, acrylic, ink, charcoal, graphite and more, as I love to explore and experiment with different media, subjects and styles. I am an experienced art tutor/teacher and workshop leader (having taught for 16 years). I have a PGCE in Lifelong Learning. I aim to be a patient and friendly teacher and inspire my students, both young and old, to reach their goals and enjoy learning. I teach with a growth mindset approach and believe that lifelong learning is important to well-being. I teach painting and drawing in a range of media and nature journaling. I run regular classes and courses both online and in-person for both complete beginners and more advanced painters, as well as one-off workshops and demonstrations. I am also available for private tuition or group bookings for workshops or demonstrations. I have taught for Hampshire Futures (Adult Education), Learning at the Centre (Basingstoke Discovery Centre), Hampshire Learning (Hampshire Libraries), and the Adult and Community Learning Partnership (Basingstoke College of Technology), The Hurst Leisure and Learning Centre, Adult Education programme. Held regular classes in Kingsclere and currently hold classes in Oakley.Bethany has also taught children’s classes and workshops, including a day of workshops on mark-making and drawing owls, as part of the school entrance hall commission at Merton Infant School. An altered book project, for North Hampshire Home Education Group, which led to teaching a Key Stage 3 art class and a Pre-GCSE art class for HEET, (Home Education Group). Acrylic and Egg tempera workshops for Petersfield Arts & Crafts Society, and workshops and talks for other groups like ArtCare, Brownies WI and U3a. My creativity comes from observing nature; I am always on the lookout for “magical moments”. I am equally drawn to capture the common and overlooked as I am the exotic and rare. I love learning new things, from discovering an unusual beetle in the garden to finding out about native plants or observing bird behaviour. There is always something going on in the natural world that makes me stop and wonder. As my understanding of the natural world deepens, my work evolves to reflect this learning, which I document in my Nature Journals. I enjoy vibrant colours and am fascinated by iridescent feathers, ever-changing sunsets and the huge variety of greens in a landscape. My work is often realistic, and I like to capture the details of feathers, fur and natural textures.My passion for nature, wildlife and birdwatching informs my paintings of animals, birds, and natural landscapes as well as my nature journaling practice. My work is deeply rooted in a desire to nurture a connection to nature. The natural world is my source of inspiration, relaxation and how I recharge. Each piece I create is an invitation to pause and find a moment of peace and beauty in the world around us. I also create realistic portraits, and I relish the challenge of depicting not just a likeness but also a sense of character and expression. My popular ticket cut-outs are a continuing series of playful responses to train journeys, both real and imagined. I find joy in creating art that tells a story out of everyday experiences and scenes. My work has been exhibited widely, both nationally and abroad. You can purchase my work from my website and Etsy Store. I take commissions for portraits, pet portraits, ticket cutouts and more. Details and booking information about online workshops, The Oakley Art Class, which meets on Tuesday afternoons, my monthly Nature Journaling class, private tuition and video tutorials can be found on my website.