Keeping a journal

For a couple of years I have kept a journal in which I make drawings from photos I take on walks and visits I have made. A journal is a great way to develop drawing skills without any pressure and lets you add comments about what you have seen and done. I use it to learn about the things I photograph. I look up the insects, birds and fungi I've seen and add details so that I can learn more about them.

Bumblebee

Garden bumblebee or small bumblebee. One of the common and widespread bumblebee.

Mute Swan

Common and iconic waterbird found in the UK and parts of Europe and Asia.

Small Skipper

Skipper on Hemp Agrimony. Insects of high summer. Bright orange-brown wings.

Inky Cap

Common ink cap, tippler's bone or inky cap. Found in Europe and North America.

What materials do I use?

Pencils

There are a wide range of pencils on the market such as Derwent and Faber-Castell and many articles on which are the best pencils to use. How you decide which to purchase will depending on your budget and how you want to use them. Then pencils I use are manufactured by Castle Arts.

Premium soft touch coloured pencils

Soft touch coloured pencils have a really soft texture which brings out the richness of the colour. They are less useful for hard lines but better for shading and blending.

Tips on how to get the best out of your pencils.

Build up layers and don't push too hard.
Harden the lead of soft core pencils for 10 minutes in the freezer before sharpening.
If the pencil has broken then warm it up for a few minutes to fuse the break.

Watercolour Pencils

Watercolour pencils are versatile as they can be used dry or wet by adding water enabling you to use both painting and drawing techniques. To use wet you can use a brush dipped in water, dip the pencil in water or use it on wet paper.

How to look after your watercolour pencils.

Store in a cool, dry place to stop lead warping and damage from moisture.
They are best stored in a tin, wrap or case to protect tips
Do not get the wooden barrel too wet.

Clouded Yellow

Primarily an immigrant to the UK, originating from North Africa and Southern Europe.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Blackbird sized and striking black and white. Distinctive bouncing flight and spends most of its time clinging to tree trunks and branches.

Scorpion Fly

As its name suggests, has a curved tail that looks like a sting.

Journals

There is such a variety of journals available the choice is down to you. I bought my first journal from a National Trust site that I visited and loved the leather cover with the key on the front. For my next journal I wanted something similiar but wanted it to be bigger. I write on the one side and draw on the other.

If you want to use watercolour then I would suggest you look for journals that have paper that is suitable for watercolour.

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