Drawing Is A Great Way To Slow Down & Appreciate The World Around Us

I was a student of Dr Betty Edwards' in 1979 at Cal State Long Beach. I learned her techniques for drawing, which is laid out in her book, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain." (I pursued a technical career--far removed from "art").  When I started to draw again after retirement in 2018, and discovered JML Nature Journaling in 2019, I tapped into what I learned from Betty in 1979.  I recently connected with her via email (she is now 92), and wanted to share this blog post. She touched 1000's of people's lives.

Drawing Is A Great Way To Slow Down & Appreciate The World Around Us

Oro Vista Park/Big Tujunga Wash Plant tour. Sponsor: CNPS, LASMM Chapter.

The Shadow Hills Nature Journal Club meetup at 11:30am has been cancelled due to personal family issues.  

We still encourage your attendance to the tour  sponsored by California Native Plant Society (CNPS), Los Angeles Santa Monica Mountains (LASMM) Chapter.

More information on Shadow Hills NJC's Calendar entry.

May 18, 2024, 9:30am. Big Tujunga Wash Plant Tour

This outing led by Roger Klemm will tour the xeric portion of Big Tujunga Wash where groundwater is deeper than tree roots, located between wetter, wooded areas about 4 miles apart, upstream and downstream.  We will view dry wash vegetation in flood channels north of the Sunland-Tujunga community, managed since 2011 by the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority.  We hope to see vigorously blooming native shrubs after a wet winter.

Meet near picnic tables in Oro Vista Park, at the corner of Oro Vista Avenue and Grove Street.  From the I-210 freeway exit at Sunland Blvd., go 3/4 mile east to Oro Vista Ave., then 3/4 miles north to the park.  Bring water, hat, walking shoes and appropriate clothing.  

This event is listed on CNPS website for, "Los Angeles Santa Monica Mountain (LASMM)" Chapter: https://chapters.cnps.org/lasmm/events/

Contact Bill Neill. CNPS, LASMM, at bgneill@earthlink.net for more information about CNP's event.

Shadow Hills Nature Journal Club Meetup

Shadow Hills Nature Journal Club will meet after the native plant tour at the picnic tables at approx. 11:30-12:30pm However, please bring a light weight very portable stool in the event all the picnic tables are all claimed.  The group will start with some drawing warm up exercises... and return to the garden to  observe, record, draw, connect more deeply with nature.

Artist paints daily nature journal for over a year

 BBC Article

An artist from the Scottish Borders has been keeping a daily art journal for the last 16 months.

Pete Carthy started documenting nature as a New Year's resolution in January 2023 as "something positive to do every day."

He credits it with giving him greater connection to nature because he is "constantly" looking for the picture to recreate.

The art journalist, who lives in West Linton, usually takes a photograph on his phone before sitting down to paint the scene later that day.

Pete has been taking several classes, including a botanical illustration course, and has grown an online community who support his work.

He said: "One day is not like the next day, whether it's the cloud, the light, seasons.

"It's always different, it's never the same."

Follow Pete's journey via FB HERE (more about Pete) or HERE (daily pictures).