Sketching nature outdoors is challenging, but fun for all ages. Even if you live in a city there will be a park or nature reserve where you may spend some time studying nature. When sketching birds, flowers and the creatures you see, record the location, date, the weather, even the impact of humans on the environment. To start you will need a small sketch book and a 2B pencil. You can add ink with a .03 pen. Make written color notes or preferably use a small watercolor set to record the colors or add colour to your sketches. Soon your sketch-book will become a treasured Nature Journal.

Persevere. You don't have to be an artist and sketching really improves with practice. There is a charm to sketches. They often capture character in ways that a labored drawing does not.

Sketching nature is something children as young as seven can enjoy. Urban living means we are often disconnected from the natural world, to our loss. Sketching and writing about flora and fauna enhances observation and fosters a sense of connection and respect for nature. Keeping a Nature Journal in a Sketch Book (a Visual Diary) will inspire curiosity and learning at all ages.

Click Here for Tips & Techniques for Sketching Birds