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Welcome to your Studio Insiders' newsletter
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Hi Insiders!
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I've started a Nature Journal. Will you join me?
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Until now I have been slightly intimidated by the idea of a nature journal. I didn't think I would be able to create layouts that I would be happy with. But I suddenly realised that I was falling into that familiar trap of trying to create in someone else's style, and that all I needed to do was create my nature journal in MY way, and then wait to see what emerged.
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We CAN Do It, Together!
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Having started the journal, I then realised that I wanted it to have a custom cover. It should look special on my desk, immediately recognisable, friendly and inviting so that I feel drawn to picking it up and adding to it. And I remembered how I was taught to cover my books in primary school 60 years ago!
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In this video I show you how I covered my journal simply and quickly with brown paper, which I decorated with ink and watercolor. The beauty of this system is that it protects your journal's "real" cover while you fill the journal, and when you're finished you can either take it off or create a new display cover - for example, one that represents the contents of the finished journal.
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DIY Journals Anyone?
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If you have a perfectionist streak lurking in you, creating a nature journal in a bound sketchbook might be a little bit terrifying. How can you guarantee that you won't want to remove pages as you work on this long-term project, which will take you in you-know-not-which directions? How can you keep up your creativity and enjoyment if you're afraid of "spoiling" a page?
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The Answer is Simple!
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If this describes you, I would like to suggest that you paint on separate sheets of paper instead of directly into a journal. Then you can select the pages you want to use and make them up into a journal afterwards.
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You can achieve a very professional look easily with either wire or spiral binding. All you need is a binding machine, some binding spines, and some card for the covers.
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Here are some suggested binding machines...
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...and you'll find more suggested binding materials in the new List on our Amazon Storefront.
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I know this suggestion won't be for everyone, but I've been using a simple comb-binding machine for years to make notebooks and sketchbooks and have found it to be a very convenient solution. The trouble is that you can't fold a comb binding back on itself, so I'm seriously considering upgrading to a machine that can do wire and spiral binding. Not only would it pay for itself by removing the need to buy expensive sketchbooks, but it would also mean that I could use paper I already own - even mixing it up and putting multiple types of paper in the same sketchbook. And I'd love to be able to make my own calendars.
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ps. Links to Amazon are affiliate links, which means that we will receive a small commission if you choose to buy, at no extra cost to you.
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This Week* on YouTube
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Mother's Day is just around the corner...
...and a watercolor gift or card is guaranteed to surprise and delight. But what to paint?
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Last week we put together a new compilation video to answer that question for you! Eleven card, bookmark and gift ideas - a selection of flowers, birds and animals ranging in style from traditional to modern to whimsical, using all sorts of techniques from wet in wet to line and wash to dip pen and ink.
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Which ones will you paint for the moms in your life?
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I've also been exploring some more new materials...
...including Viviva Colors (relatively) new metallic pan set, and half a dozen very exciting colors from the professional watercolor range by Japanese company Holbein (particularly Jaune Brilliant and Lavender).
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Don't forget that when ordering direct from Viviva Colors, you can get 10% off using the code DIANEANTONE
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And my exciting Nature Journaling adventure...
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...all started as I took you for a walk around my little smallholding and explained why I think that nature journaling has become genuinely important, and then I showed you how I created the cover for my first nature journal.
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Most Popular...
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My review of Kuretake's new granulating colors has been our most popular video since our last newsletter, and many of you now have your own set of these very unusual and fun paints!
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If you're thinking about buying them but aren't sure if you'll enjoy them, or if you've already bought them and aren't sure how to use them, make sure you've also watched my Mixing Peach and Painting Roses video, which starts with a run down of many more ways of using the Kuretake granulating colors. And soon, I'm planning to show you how you can use them for landscape painting! (They are surprisingly good at creating very interesting skies and tree lines.)
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To Inspire You...
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Do you remember the Garden Congregation YouTube channel, started by the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral during the lockdowns in 2020? After a long hiatus they're now back in action, posting not only wonderful and inspirational videos of prayers and sermons, but also beautiful (and very frequent) community posts full of stories and photographs of their travels around England and Wales.
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Scroll down a bit in the Community tab and you'll find lots of stunning photos of bluebell woods and spring woodland flowers, as well as English and Welsh landscapes of rolling hills, stone walls, narrow country lanes and ancient trees. You're sure to find something wonderful to inspire your next painting!
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And we'll leave you with the wise words of William Wordsworth, lover of the natural world...
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The Tables Turned
Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books;
Or surely you'll grow double:
Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;
Why all this toil and trouble?
The sun above the mountain's head,
A freshening lustre mellow
Through all the long green fields has spread,
His first sweet evening yellow.
Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife:
Come, hear the woodland linnet,
How sweet his music! on my life,
There's more of wisdom in it.
And hark! how blithe the throstle sings!
He, too, is no mean preacher:
Come forth into the light of things,
Let Nature be your teacher.
She has a world of ready wealth,
Our minds and hearts to bless—
Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,
Truth breathed by cheerfulness.
One impulse from a vernal wood
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and of good,
Than all the sages can.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;
Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:—
We murder to dissect.
Enough of Science and of Art;
Close up those barren leaves;
Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives.
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Thanks for reading, and we hope you enjoyed this edition of the Insiders' Newsletter.
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