Alex Boon combines elements of art journaling, scrap-booking, and even bullet journaling into his nature journaling practice. He also gets inspiration from the work of such artists as Edith Holden, Elaine Franks, and other British Country Diarists and nature artists.
What is the difference between “Art Journaling” and “Nature Journaling?”
First, let’s get some of these terms out of the way. One of the first things that I asked Alex was to help clarify the terminology. So let’s start with the difference between an art journal and a nature journal. According to Alex and art journal is a bound journal where you incorporate different forms of art including but not limited to drawings, collage, ink, paint, and writing. The focus is more about creative process, mark-making, and personal expression. In contrast a nature journal is focused on learning from what you see, direct experience with nature, and a record of the world around you. For Alex this means looking closer at nearby nature, repeat observations, and working from his own source material such as photos he took and field sketches.
What about Bullet Journaling, Junk Journaling Etc?
I asked Alex to define these different types of journaling but I also asked him which are most well known. Currently, Bullet Journaling is the most well known form of journaling that is talked about online. Some bullet journal YouTube channels for example have millions of followers! Alex has practiced bullet journaling as well. After that, Junk Journaling, Scrap-Booking and Art Journaling all have large followings. According to Alex these other forms of journaling could learn more from incorporating some aspects of nature journaling than vice versa. I was slightly surprised by that answer despite the fact he was preaching to the choir. Hahaha, nature journaling is the best obviously. Below, we can see an example page of Alex’s journal.
Why should nature journalers incorporate art journaling techniques?
Perhaps you are thinking this will just be one more thing on your list to learn. However, there are ways in which art journaling can facilitate and empower your nature journaling potential and creativity. Especially for beginner nature journalers.
- First of all, many of these techniques are easy to learn and take pressure off your drawing skills.
- The decorative aspects of these techniques can add to the aesthetic of your nature journal.
- For example: Do you lack confidence with nature journaling in the field? Are your sketches of moving animals very basic? If so, you can use art journaling techniques and collage to supplement your page when you get home.
- Equally important, decoupage and other junk journaling techniques can be used to insert flowers, bark, or feathers into your nature journal pages. (However, always be aware of legal and ethical implications).
- Lastly, you can use these methods to break in a new journal and overcome the fear of the blank page.
Alex’s Techniques
After seeing his beautiful pages I wanted to know more about his process. In fact, everyone commenting in the live chat was bombarding me with technical questions! (Do you want to participate in the live chat of shows like this? If so, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the bell for notifications.) In the following steps I will try to summarize my understanding of how Alex works.
First, and most importantly, Alex starts his process off with quality time in nature. All of his pages are based on direct experience of the natural world around him. He goes for long walks, explores his garden, or looks for inspiration in the forest. He uses one journal for these field experiences.In addition, Alex takes photos and even uses his GoPro camera to get footage of birds feeding. All of this material will then be used and reviewed back at the studio.
Next, Alex takes his materials and lays them out physically in front of him. Similarly to how someone would do a collage he begins to imagine how things could fit together on the page. This might be one of the secrets to his beautiful composite images. For example, let’s look at the image below.
How does he build his wonderful botanical and bird borders along the bottom of the page? Let’s look at an example:
Some of Alex’s work is only available to his Patreon supporters. You can find out more of that here: https://www.patreon.com/alexboon
Who is Alex Boon and how did he start Nature Journaling?
Here is a bit from his website:
Alex Boon is a nature artist and writer based in East Devon, UK. He draws upon his background in environmental sciences and love of nature to produce his written and visual work. His aim is to encourage the reader or viewer to engage more intimately with the commonplace and find value in nature close to home.
Alex’s nature journals began in 2016 and capture moments of time in written and visual imagery. He works mainly in inks and coloured pencils and writes artistically, viewing words as another artistic medium for description. His journals blend handwriting with landscape and nature studies to produce an original overall compositional effect.
Check out his YouTube Channel here: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheDailyNatu… He also has a nature journaling patreon! https://www.patreon.com/alexboon
Just getting started with nature journaling?
Need more tips? If so, check out this post. It will walk you through how to nature journal in 10 steps.
Need help choosing nature journaling supplies? Check out Nature Journaling Supplies: What You Need and What You Do Not
Check out my Patreon for special access: www.patreon.com/MarleyPeifer
Thanks to my current Patrons! Amber, Rina, Jose, Kirstie, Charlotte, Sara, Adam, Jessica, Clara, Maria, Cati, Christina, Laurie, Shannon, Candy, Amy, Maggi, Valerie, Deborah, Melinda, Shirley, Silvia, Alex, Stephanie, Dianne, Miriam, Marilynn, Amy, Kristin, Eddie, Bethan, Dawn, Akshay, Zeffie, Terry, Jessie, Angela, Stacy, Leslie, Margarita, Hannah, Sandra, Tina, Sandra, Julie, Aneta, Barbara, Deborah, Roberta, Sabrina, Stephanie, Loretta, Saphira, Amy, Sandy, Terri, Emma, Troy, Corina, Yvea, Jeanne, Suzanne, Helen, Mason, Tiffany, Petrina, Eli, Olga, Kate, Rebecca, Barbara, Kit, Constance, Rose, Karen, Cate, Amy, Deb, and Jan.
