Top 6 'Nature-Journaling' Illustrative Styles to create for beginners to document their outdoor adventures this season - Goh Ling Yong
The scent of damp earth after a spring shower, the intricate pattern on a dragonfly's wing, the fiery gradient of a sunset—how many times have you wished you could bottle up those moments? We take photos, of course, but sometimes a snapshot doesn't quite capture the feeling of being there. It doesn't record the questions you had, the cool breeze you felt, or the sense of wonder that washed over you.
This is where nature journaling comes in. It's a beautiful, meditative practice of documenting your outdoor adventures through sketches, notes, and observations. But I hear you already: "I can't even draw a straight line!" That single thought stops so many potential journalers before they even begin. It’s the myth that you need to be a seasoned artist to put pencil to paper.
Let's debunk that myth right now. Nature journaling is not about creating a masterpiece for a gallery; it's about the act of seeing. It's a tool for curiosity, a way to deepen your connection with the natural world. And the best part? There are dozens of illustrative styles that are perfect for beginners—styles that prioritize observation over artistic perfection. So, grab a notebook and your favourite pen, and let's explore six accessible styles to get you started this season.
1. The Classic Contour: Simple Line Drawings
Forget shading, perspective, and all the complicated stuff for a moment. Let's go back to basics with contour drawing. This style is all about the outline. Think of it as tracing the edges of your subject with your eyes and letting your hand follow along on the page.
The goal here isn't a photorealistic replica; it's to train your hand-eye coordination and force you to really look at the shapes and curves of an object. You'll start noticing the subtle bump on a stem, the jagged edge of a maple leaf, or the smooth curve of a river stone. It’s a wonderfully mindful exercise that grounds you in the present moment.
Tips for Success:
- Start Simple: Pick a subject that isn't too complex, like a single feather, a blade of grass, or a shell.
- Use a Fineliner: Grab a pen like a Sakura Pigma Micron. The permanent ink removes the temptation to erase, forcing you to commit to your lines and embrace the "wobbles" and imperfections. This is about the process, not a perfect product.
- Try a "Blind Contour" Exercise: This is a fun, no-pressure warm-up. Look only at your subject—not your paper—and draw its outline in one continuous line. The result will look wonderfully weird, but it's one of the best ways to sharpen your observation skills.
2. The Expressive Sketch: Capturing Movement and Energy
Sometimes, what you want to capture isn't the detail of a subject, but its essence, its energy. Is that bird flitting quickly between branches? Is the wind whipping through the tall grasses? This is where the expressive, gestural sketch shines.
This style uses fast, loose, and continuous lines to capture the feeling of movement. It’s less about accuracy and more about emotion and dynamism. These sketches are often done in a matter of seconds, not minutes, making them perfect for subjects that won't sit still or for capturing the overall mood of a landscape.
Tips for Success:
- Loosen Your Grip: Hold your pencil further back from the tip. This encourages you to use your whole arm to draw, not just your wrist, resulting in more fluid, energetic lines.
- Set a Timer: Challenge yourself to capture a subject in 60, 30, or even 15 seconds. This forces you to focus on the most important lines and the overall gesture, rather than getting bogged down in tiny details.
- Choose the Right Tools: A soft graphite pencil (like a 4B or 6B), a charcoal stick, or even a brush pen works beautifully for this style. They allow for a wide range of expressive marks, from light whispers to bold, dramatic strokes.
3. The Color Story: Blocking and Swatching
Feeling intimidated by drawing altogether? Then don't draw! This style is a fantastic entry point for beginners because it focuses entirely on color. The world around us is a symphony of hues, and this method helps you learn to see them.
Instead of drawing an object, you simply document its colors. This can be done by painting small squares, circles, or abstract blocks of color directly onto your page. You're creating a visual color palette of your surroundings, which can be just as evocative as a detailed drawing. Imagine a page filled with the dozen different greens you saw on a forest walk, or the spectrum of purples, oranges, and pinks from a single sunset.
Tips for Success:
- Create Swatch Boxes: Draw a series of small squares on your page. In each box, mix a color you see in the landscape using watercolors, gouache, or colored pencils.
- Add Notes: Next to each color swatch, write a short note about where you saw it. For example: "Murky pond water," "Sunlit moss," "Underside of a mushroom cap." This turns your page into a beautiful and informative color library.
- Don't Just Look, See: Challenge yourself to find the unexpected colors. The blue in a shadow, the purple on a "black" beetle's shell, the pink in a grey rock. This practice will fundamentally change the way you see color in the world.
4. The Magnifying Glass: Detailed Vignettes and Spot Illustrations
A sprawling landscape can be overwhelming. Where do you even start? The "magnifying glass" approach solves this by asking you to zoom in and focus on one small, captivating detail.
Instead of drawing the whole tree, you draw a single leaf. Instead of the entire shoreline, you document one fascinating shell. A vignette or spot illustration is a small, detailed drawing of a single element, often framed by white space on the page. This makes the task manageable and allows you to appreciate the incredible complexity found in the tiniest parts of nature. As my friend and renowned nature artist Goh Ling Yong often demonstrates, focusing on a small subject can lead to the most profound discoveries.
Tips for Success:
- Frame Your Subject: Lightly draw a circle, square, or an organic "window" on your page. Then, fill that space with your detailed observation. This creates a clear focal point and makes your page look intentionally designed.
- Get Close: If you can, physically get closer to your subject. Pick up the pinecone, turn the leaf over, and study its texture and structure. A small magnifying glass can be a fantastic tool for this.
- Annotate Extensively: Surround your detailed drawing with notes. What does it feel like? What does it smell like? Where did you find it? Add arrows pointing to specific features. This combination of a detailed image and text tells a rich story.
5. The Scientific Observer: Diagrams and Annotations
Channel your inner botanist or geologist with this straightforward, information-rich style. This approach borrows from the look of scientific field guides, prioritizing clarity and data over artistic expression. It’s perfect for those who love to learn, identify, and understand how things work.
The core of this style is a clear, simple drawing of your subject, surrounded by labels, measurements, and notes. The drawing serves as a visual anchor for the information you're collecting. It’s less about a "pretty picture" and more about creating a useful, personal reference document.
Tips for Success:
- Isolate the Subject: Draw your chosen plant, insect, or rock on a blank part of the page, removed from its background. This helps you focus on its specific characteristics.
- Use Lines and Arrows: Draw neat lines from your illustration to the margins of the page to add your labels. Label the parts of a flower (petal, stamen, sepal), the life cycle of an insect, or the different layers in a rock.
- Add Data: Don't just label what you see; record data. Measure the length of a leaf, count the petals on a flower, note the date, time, weather, and location. This turns your journal into a valuable scientific record of your personal discoveries.
6. The Graphic Designer: Stylized and Simplified Shapes
If realism feels daunting, why not abandon it completely? This modern, fun approach is about breaking down your subjects into their most basic geometric shapes. It's about capturing the idea of a thing, not a perfect copy.
Think like a graphic designer creating an icon. A mountain becomes a series of triangles. A bird becomes a couple of ovals and a triangle for the beak. A pine tree is just a collection of stacked, jagged shapes. This style removes the pressure of getting every detail right and allows you to focus on composition and form.
Tips for Success:
- "Block Out" Your Subject: Before you draw, squint your eyes at your subject until it becomes a blurry collection of shapes. Try to see the simple circle, square, or triangle that forms its foundation. Sketch that first.
- Play with Flat Color or Pattern: Once you have your basic shapes, you can fill them with a flat wash of watercolor, a solid block of colored pencil, or even fun patterns like dots or stripes. This is a great way to incorporate color without worrying about realistic shading.
- Create a Composition: Because this style is so simple, you can easily arrange multiple elements on a page to create a pleasing layout. Try drawing a whole collection of simplified leaves or a pattern of stylized waves.
Your Adventure Awaits
The blank page doesn't have to be intimidating. It's an invitation—an opportunity to see the world around you with fresh, curious eyes. Nature journaling isn't about talent; it's about attention. It's a practice that anyone, at any skill level, can begin today.
So, on your next walk in the park, hike in the woods, or even just a visit to your own backyard, choose one of these styles and give it a try. Maybe you'll capture the expressive gesture of a windswept tree or the vibrant color palette of a wildflower. The goal isn't to create a perfect drawing, but to create a memory and deepen your connection to the natural world.
Which of these styles are you most excited to try first? Let us know in the comments below, or better yet, share your first nature journaling entry with our community on Instagram. Tag us so we can celebrate your first step into this wonderful practice! Happy journaling
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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