4Real Forums: Nature Drawing and Painting Resources

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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science

Topic: Nature Drawing and Painting Resources

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MarilynW
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Posted: June 25 2012 at 7:46am \| IP Logged

Please would you share your favorite nature drawing and painting resources. Our summer art focus is on sketching and watercolor journals. I do have the Watercolor Journal dvd which we will be watching. For inspiration I do have Diary of an Edwardian Lady. But I am hoping to find some "how to" resources as well as suggestions for supplies - for children 3 and up as well as for me.(I am not naturally artistic)

Thank you.

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MarilynW
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Posted: June 25 2012 at 7:47am \| IP Logged

Please move this to the Fine Arts section if it should belong there?

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Marilyn
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JennGM
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Posted: June 25 2012 at 9:21am \| IP Logged

MarilynW wrote:

Hi Marilyn!

I love the Watercolor Journal. It is super helpful. Another DVD which covers dry brush technique is Eve Anderson's Nature Study DVD. That inspired my boys quite a bit. I kind of kept to the recommendations for watercolors and paintbrush and sketchbook from this page, also. I bought locally, but just followed their lead.

I have checked out several books that give tips on watercolor and sketching -- Claire Walker Leslie and Jim Arnosky are two of our favorites. But basically I keep bringing books home that will inspire, but not discourage.

It really helps if I do sketching and painting. Mine isn't great, but doing alongside is a real booster.

I also enjoyed spending time looking through the Charlotte Mason Digital Archives at students' nature journal. They are quite varied and helpful to see the various skills and approaches.

We aren't artistic, either, and our journals aren't very full, but what I think is key is to not intimidate and think it has to look like Edith Holden's work. It's the child's, and practice is to help the child observe and record what he sees. It is a type of art form, but I have a tendency of perfectionism which is not good in encouraging nature journals!

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Marcia
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Posted: June 25 2012 at 9:27am \| IP Logged

I second the Eve Anderson videos...both the nature walk and the watercolor!

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MarilynW
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Posted: June 25 2012 at 9:34am \| IP Logged

JennGM wrote:

but I have a tendency of perfectionism which is not good in encouraging nature journals!

Me too Jenn. I feel intimated and try to get everything in order, when I should just get started. I am going to be drawing and painting with the children. Thanks for the suggestions.

Are there any particular art supplies/notebooks you recommend - or will these be recommended on the DVDs? Then of course - I just need to get started instead of waiting for the "perfect" supplies!!!

My resident artist (oldest dd who is a talented artist) is away a lot this summer - so I am trying to step into her shoes, and struggling to just get started...

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JennGM
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Posted: June 25 2012 at 10:12am \| IP Logged

HarmonyArtMom, Barb, has a wonderful squidoo Nature Journal page

Kacky just asked about Nature Journals here. I do like the Canson. There are solid recommendations there.

Prang 16 color watercolors with a finer brush is what we use. But I have been eyeing Sakura Koi Field Sketch Paints. We do have some waterbrushes and LOVE them.

We also use colored pencils, and have a variety. Mary favorite are Koh-i-Noor woodless pencils, but they break very easily, so not very portable. Prismacolor are also wonderful.

But, we're not the artist family. I try to buy minimal supplies, but enough to inspire some new creativity.

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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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Posted: July 17 2012 at 8:53am \| IP Logged

There are some great visuals on Martha Stewart's site for scrapbooking, including ideas for Nature Journals, and Seashore Scrapbooks.

Not all of the ideas have instructions, but great inspiration!

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Jennifer G. Miller
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MarilynW
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Posted: July 17 2012 at 9:09am \| IP Logged

Thanks Jenn.

I spent a lot of time visiting Harmony Art Mom's site - a real treasure trove and one of my favorite online places.

I am ordering some supplies soon - will review once I have them.

I did order the Eve Anderson dvd which is very good.

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Kimct
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Posted: July 19 2012 at 8:50pm \| IP Logged

This maybe isn't really helpful, but I love this post on this blog about using the Watercolor dvd.

Is this blog from someone on these boards?

http://ponderedinmyheart.typepad.com/pondered_in_my_heart/20 10/06/watercolor-year.html

CrunchyMom
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Posted: July 20 2012 at 7:45am \| IP Logged

MarilynW wrote:

I did order the Eve Anderson dvd which is very good.

How do you order from that site? Do you have to phone it in?

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JennGM
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Posted: July 20 2012 at 8:08am \| IP Logged

CrunchyMom wrote:

MarilynW wrote:

I did order the Eve Anderson dvd which is very good.

How do you order from that site? Do you have to phone it in?

If you log in there is a message that the site cannot process credit cards right now, and you need to either phone or email them.

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Jennifer G. Miller
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Mackfam
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Posted: July 20 2012 at 8:26am \| IP Logged

CrunchyMom wrote:

[QUOTE=MarilynW]

I did order the Eve Anderson dvd which is very good.

I highly recommend this DVD, not only for the excellent lesson in dry brush technique watercoloring, but also just for the wonderful example of a directed nature walk that Ms. Anderson offers on the DVD. The entire set of Eve Anderson DVDs are a gold mine in my opinion!

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MarilynW
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Posted: July 20 2012 at 8:42am \| IP Logged

CrunchyMom wrote:

[How do you order from that site? Do you have to phone it in?

I did call it in. They were really efficient - I had the DVD in a couple of days, and the postage was really low. Very pleasant customer service too.

I now wish I had ordered the two other dvds too - I may go back and do so.

My kids (4 and up) watched the dvd with me and really liked it. I enjoyed the commentary by the principal at the start and end of the dvd too - about Christ being the center of a CM education.

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Marilyn
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MarilynW
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Posted: July 20 2012 at 8:44am \| IP Logged

Just wanted to say too - how Eve Anderson makes everything simple and doable. The nature walk is in a very small space. The nature painting is very simple. I often am daunted because I over-complicate the walk and the art!

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