Explore the Lessons

Welcome

This is where we will say Hi 👋🏻 and I'll explain the course, go through the materials we'll need, and I'll show a few examples of what we are setting out to achieve.

Lesson 1 : Making a Concertina Journal (2 parts)

Part 1 - Using the downloadable collage kit we'll create a masterboard on one side for the journal cover, and use layered random watercolours to create the background for the inside of the journal.

Part 2 - We'll assemble the journal by cutting up the masterboard and attaching it together using washi, packing tape, or whatever you have on hand. (inspirational YouTube video included)

Lesson 2 : Making Camouflage Journal Pockets

We'll create journal pockets that camouflage and become part of our journal pages to hold the slide specimens, journal cards and seeds envelopes that we create.

Lesson 3 : Making Vintage Style Specimen Slides

After gathering bits of nature from around us - flowers, leaves, feathers - we'll press them and make vintage style specimen slides using, where possible, recycled materials.

Lesson 4 : Preserving Specimens in Tissue Paper

We'll also preserve our foraged bits of nature using a layered tissue paper technique. Labelling them will help us learn more about what surrounds us in our environment, and therefore creating a deeper understanding and appreciation of it, whilst developing our sense of belonging.

Lesson 5 : Saving Seeds in an Origami Pop up Envelope

After talking about how to save seeds, and the importance of seed saving, we'll create a little package for them which will be kept inside an origami pop up envelope.

Lesson 6 : Creating a template for the Journal Layout

For those of us (yes, me too) a little hesitant to jump right into our journal and create a cohesive story of our garden or environment, we'll create a template which we can then tranpose into our journal.

Lesson 7 : Sketching out the Journal

This is where we'll transfer our template into our journal - we'll be sketching with graphite, so we can erase bits if we need too! I'll be using real flowers and leaves from my garden, but don't worry, you can use photo references if you need to!

Lesson 8 : Painting in the Journal (3 parts)

Part 1 - We'll use watercolours to start painting our stories in our journal. I'll cover some simple beginner friendly watercolour techniques, and a few problem solving tips.

Part 2 - We'll continue painting in our journal, building up layers to create depth. We'll also explore gelli plate printing to add a different dimension to the way we can capture nature in our journals.

Part 3 - We'll add the finishing touches to our journals using watercolours and ink pad stamping. Plus, we'll use actual plants to stamp directly into our journals using acrylic paint.

Lesson 9 : Using Coloured Pencils we'll add highlights and accentuate areas of our journal that we want to emphasis.

Lesson 10 : Assembling the finished Journal

We'll add the journaling cards, slides, tissue specimens and seed packets to our journal pockets, and do a final flip through - and give ourselves a well deserved pat on the back!

Farewell

We'll do a recap on what we've learnt, not only about art techniques, but about new ways of seeing, noticing and engaging with nature and our natural surroundings. PLUS - I'll tell you all about the BONUS lesson!

Lesson 10 : BONUS - it's a surprise!