Blue Mountains Nature Journal Course - Winter
Winter Season-Blue Mountains Nature Journal class. Waterbirds and shore birds are a good place to start when drawing animals. They tend to stay nearby and movement is often, but its possible to observe patterns and repetition. Identification is less important than observation. Lets take a look at behavioural patterns.
Learning to sit still in nature and observe. The first signs of wattle. We took a nature ramble in central park, Wentworth Falls. We spotted the first wattle of the season. In the studio we identified the species, enjoyed May Gibbs wattle babies illustrations, looked at the design of our page, repetition, text, including or omitting information, deciding what's important for our personal story.
Silence and Simplicity. Quiet in the bush. Winter is paring back. Its been dry. We can see the leaf litter and the bush floor so well in winter, as the bright green new growth that obscures it is not here at the moment. Seed pods lie on the floor, and seeds hibernate during winter.
In winter animals hibernate. We go underground and rest. Rejuvenation is in preparation. We go within and go underground. Underground the caverns, caves, rocks and crystals are a beauty to behold. There is a richness in the underground, a resting place for the soul.
Decomposers, decay and rotting logs. The earth is being nourished by that which has died. New growth will soon be forthcoming, and the rich compost of yesteryear will nourish it. Take a close look at the rotting logs and see already the life it supports. Take another look in spring, and notice what is different. In the dead of winter we look for the joy.
Treasure map your yard. Start where you are, no need to go far. Once you notice one little thing that brings joy and curiosity you will notice more. The signs of spring are here. How many can you find? Tiny green sprouts, territorial birds, minute flowers, neighbourhoods coming to life again. feel the magic and warmth.
Slowly slowly we come out of our winter slumber. The rain awakens us and brings life once more. Lets take the snails gently and watch them move. How are they made, what do they do? Where do they go in winter and why are they here now? Moving slowly from our hibernation towards spring.
In the mud, the rain keeps falling. The rain falls and the little things hide. At long last we have rain! What a dry winter it was. Deep down the roots are nourished. They become stronger and reach further. They must support the expansion of Spring which is now at our door.
Last class of the season, we sat longer in nature. On the edge of The National Park. We observed in silence, and enjoyed the new warmth. A habitat sketch trying to capture it all. Look at plant density, plant diversity, measure it, name those plants, know where you sit, and who has come before you. Write a poem, capture the light, take the time to hear the emerging insects, and the light breeze rustling the new gum leaves. Enjoy.
solitude
