How often do you nature journal something smaller than your pinky? Are you biased towards bigger subjects?
Today’s Prompt: Smaller than your pinky
I can’t remember who on the Nature Journal Club Facebook page recommended this prompt. This is a funny prompt regardless. In fact it could be just funny enough to break you out of a creative rut. Scale is really important in nature and art. Unfortunately, we often get locked into one scale. For example, if I flip through my nature journal pages I might see that all my drawings are the same size! That’s not ideal. We also tend to have a size bias when we look at nature. Let’s use today’s prompt to help us appreciate the micro.
Some nature journaling ideas for today’s prompt
- Look for bugs outside. Some good places to find them are under potted plants in your garden, trapped in windowsills, at porch lights at night or in the morning.
- If you don’t want to look for your own bugs check out one of these awesome YouTube videos nature journaling bugs under a microscope!
- Don’t like bugs? No worries. Try a study of baby plants, seedlings, seeds, or micro flowers. There is a lot of cool stuff in the plant kingdom that is smaller than your pinky.
- Try mushrooms. You know what I mean.
- Look at a small part of something bigger. You can use a small microscope or magnifying glass to zoom in. This can be extremely addictive! Make sure you take breaks every once in a while to look up and relax your eyes.
Want to get microscopic?!
As the Marcel Proust quote goes “”The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Well, looking through a microscope gives you new eyes. Suddenly that little bit of dirty water in the tray under your potted plant is a Serengeti of life. Don’t believe me? Check out this video below.
But what if I’m completely new to nature journaling?
Regardless of your experience, we got you right here. Below are links to some super resources for beginner nature journalers.
Are you just getting started with Nature Journaling?
Here are tips and motivation for beginners.
Where is the 30 day challenge?
If you missed the beginning you can still jump in now. Here is the complete guide.
If you want a PDF for printing: 30 Day Challenge Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference
