Ever since I moved to California, my yearning to be close to nature has grown immensely. Even when we lived in metropolitan Los Angeles, I always found a way to be close to nature. My day usually starts with spending some time with the plants. I love to photograph the local parks just as much as I love to photograph the grand scenes of the California landscapes.
Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos and read the captions.
While I tend to the garden, I come across beautifully mottled leaves, an occasional green acorn, a knobbly branch, or even a piece of old rosewood. Since I always have a camera on me, it’s easy to pause from garden work for a few photos. I suppose I have always used photography to record the little things around me.
I have a dedicated Canson book that I use for painting flowers and leaves and such, but it’s too large to carry around all the time.
That changed when I started making my own books. Of the two books I made for nature journalling, I am keeping one for myself. I am giving the other one away along with the little artist colour paint kit ( valued at $45- ) as a thank you.
A little bit about my books – I am more than a little picky about paper. I use only very high quality artist-grade paper for my watercolour books. I hand stitch them the traditional way with special thread, then additionally use glue and other methods to secure the spine. The end papers are made with card stock and the book is finished by encasing it in a cover made with high quality book cloth.
The Giveaway has now ended.
I am thinking about taking my book to the parks around here. They are full of trees and during the months of March and April, the whole place is dotted with beautiful wild flowers. Soon afterwards, everything turns into straw from the harsh California summer, but for those few weeks, it is just wonderful to get close to the ground and find these little gems even if it means getting mud and dirt all over my clothes.
I have gotten requests for adding photo prints to my shop. I couldn’t think of a better way to start than by adding a set of sweet little wild flower photos that I have taken around here.
Purchase Dancing Shooting Stars
Shooting Stars happily dancing with each other
Little wild sweet pea flowers saying hello
Purchase Butterfly Flower Vetch
The Common Vetch posing as a butterfly
I hope you like this set. I print them on high quality photo paper with archival ink. They can also be used as cards, framed as-is in a 5″ x 7″ frame, or displayed on a small table easel. You can find these northern California wildflower photos here in my shop. Let me know which one is your favourite.
Good luck to each one of you for the giveaway. My heartfelt thanks for visiting me and leaving such wonderful, encouraging words, and also for continuing to purchase from my shop. Each sale is very special to me because it enables me to make donations to my favourite shelters and humane societies.
Don’t forget, Wandering Camera is at the end of the month, 26th of August. An Art & Photography linky party!
Until then,
-Soma
I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them.
45 thoughts on “Nature Journaling”
Michelle August 28, 2021 at 20:21
Beautiful! I have pinned your shop!
Michelle
Sharon Wagner August 24, 2021 at 13:15
I have a wandering camera too. Beautiful nature images. Thanks for your blog visit!
Luisella August 24, 2021 at 00:20
Love your drawing of the pine cone. Beautiful!
sallie rainville August 23, 2021 at 14:46
I enjoyed reading about how you make your books even though I came too late to the giveaway party! Your wildflowers photos are charming.
RachelSwirl August 21, 2021 at 06:33
Wow, such stunning shots of nature. Thank you so much for sharing and for linking up with #MySundaySnapshot.
Amy Johnson August 21, 2021 at 06:16
What beautiful nature photos!
Darren Coleshill August 21, 2021 at 04:18
Really love that first meadow photo, gorgeous
Thank you for linking up to #MySundayPhoto
Sarah MumofThree World August 20, 2021 at 22:56
Your photos are stunning. How wonderful to have your own handmade books for your nature paintings.
My Corner of the World August 19, 2021 at 22:45
There is so much beauty in the details of nature. Love your photos and drawings.
Thanks for sharing your link at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week!
Tammy A August 17, 2021 at 17:45
Gorgeous black and white photos Soma and I love the painting of the pinecone surrounded by the splatters of paint! Love the photo of the park with all of the yellow wildflowers too. Take care and enjoy your evening.
Tammy x
The Joyful Quilter August 17, 2021 at 11:55
Thanks for a chance to win that’s lovely nature journal kit, Soma!! I have been wanting to do a little painting. It would be fun to try a new-to-me technique!
Veronica Lee August 16, 2021 at 20:37
Your photos are fabulous, Soma.
Love your artwork.
Happy Tuesday!
Sylvia August 16, 2021 at 18:01
Soma, Thanks for sharing these wonderful flowers! Have a great week. Sylvia D.
image-in-ing weeklly photo linky August 16, 2021 at 16:08
Oh this is lovely! I know that whoever wins this will have something to treasure!
Thanks for sharing at , and I wish you joy.
Tammie August 16, 2021 at 13:08
PS I love your two landscapes. Flowers are lovely in them.
Tammie August 16, 2021 at 13:00
Lovely photographs and then art too.
Your journal looks lovely and such a sweet set and generous offering! Thank you for the chance to win.
Lovely to find you on IG also. That seems to be where I post the most. Though I did post today, first time in a very long time.
Lovely afternoon to you.
Sam August 16, 2021 at 12:21
Gorgeous photos you have picked x #mysundayphoto
Katherine August 16, 2021 at 06:55
Just found you and what a happy find! Your photography is lovely- beautiful as art itself but must be great inspiration for your lovely watercolors!
Karen August 16, 2021 at 04:44
beautiful art!
Angie August 15, 2021 at 19:13
Soma – being in my garden, or outside in nature, is essential to my health and mental well-being! The flower photos are so lovely; my favorite is the shooting star! Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!
Linda Calverley August 15, 2021 at 12:36
Lovely fir cone and photos. The books look great enjoy painting in the park.
Kim Carberry August 15, 2021 at 09:05
Beautiful shots. Nature is an amazing thing.
Wendy K August 15, 2021 at 06:22
Your photos are lovely and the painting of the fir one is fabulous.
Carol August 15, 2021 at 03:44
I love that first photo of the blue sky with puffy clouds – lots of things to photograh #MySundayPhoto
Connie Griffin August 14, 2021 at 17:44
Your pictures are wonderful, I do the same when I visit the parks, I like to find texture in nature and get close up pictures of them, I keep thinking I may use them in my cards but haven’t done so yet, I just have a nice collection of pictures. Not only do you take great pictures but your drawings are so lovely too, you are so sweet to do this give away, I hope someone that can really appreciate it will get it!
A ShutterBug Explores August 14, 2021 at 09:47
Wow! What a gift you are giving away ~ and lovely and divine artwork and bookmaking and awesome photography ~ so talented! Xo
Living in the moment,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Eileen August 14, 2021 at 02:30
Gorgeous art and photos. The flowers are all just beautiful. Love the first sky shot!
Take care, enjoy your day and happy weekend!
NatureFootstep August 14, 2021 at 01:20
wow, you make your own painting books. I am amazed. :)
Love your nature art. Both photography and painting. The black and whites are stunning. And so are the painted cone.
Love it!
Kim August 13, 2021 at 14:54
I can see a few of your beautifully handmade books filled with your glorious drawings and sketches, Soma. As always your post is filled with beauty; thank you. The first photo of the wildflowers, blue, blue sky, with the clouds is l. I seem to spend a lot of time watching clouds float across the sky. And….yes your photos of those sweet flowers do make lovely cards.
gillena August 13, 2021 at 10:14
Beautiful photos and art. Happy PPF
MUCH❤LOVE
Rain Frances August 13, 2021 at 10:02
Hi Soma :) Your pinecone is beautiful! I totally understand why you have your giveaway only in the US…I was the same way when I did giveaways, only in Canada, postage rates are OUTRAGEOUS. Good luck to the winner! ♥
Linda K August 13, 2021 at 09:31
That is one generous and thoughtful giveaway Soma- thank you! I have been looking and looking at the many different watercolor journals available on Amazon but it’s so hard to know which to go with. I really want to explore my watercolor art again and have a few classes to go back to but more of a loose, abstract style..
Your photos are exquisite and I do love your watercolors- that is a great looking pinecone. Happy PPF and have a lovey weekend!
riitta k August 13, 2021 at 07:25
Your first photo is gorgeous as are the macro shots of flowers. I wish you a lot of inspiration with your little books!
Dixie August 13, 2021 at 06:51
Beautiful photos and lovely art.
I love the wildflower cards.
What a great painting journal …a lovely give-a-way, Soma.
Christine August 13, 2021 at 05:22
Beautiful art and post.
Valerie-Jael August 13, 2021 at 03:57
Your art and photos are always beautiful. You will make somebody happy with your giveaway, and I understand the restrictions, postage is so enormously expensive these days. Happy days in nature and have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie
Nicole/DVArtist August 12, 2021 at 21:50
I am so impressed with the black and white photos. So clear and beautiful. A lovely giveaway for sure. Have a great Friday.
Sue August 12, 2021 at 21:33
Beautiful giveaway, someone will treasure that special book. Your photos are beautiful. Time spent in nature is the best.
Mary August 12, 2021 at 18:58
You always capture your surroundings so well. I LOVE that pine one. It’s so realistic looking. Fantastic idea to use the photos for cards! You and your camera should be inseparable.
Susan N. August 12, 2021 at 16:14
I have been a subscriber for quite a few years–before it became InkTorrents. I enjoy seeing your photos and sketches and paintings. I would love to win the little book. It is a lovely shade of green.
Terri in BC August 12, 2021 at 14:38
I wasn’t sure if I subscribed to your email, but I have you on my Blog list and check all your posts! I live in Canada but have access to an Amercian post office box if that will qualify me for your giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity.
Terri in BC August 12, 2021 at 14:39
PS: I have now subcribed!
Alison Hall August 12, 2021 at 13:11
Beautiful photos and art Soma! That’s a wonderful giveaway, sadly I’m on the other side of the Pond. I totally understand though
Alison
Emille (Jesh) August 12, 2021 at 08:35
The shooting stars are beautiful, and I like the way you have a special book to create your leaves. Have lived in California for 35+ years and moved a year ago to Texas. Naturwise California is so much more beautiful, now if there is a state like that combined with the social climate of Texas then it would be perfect:):) Happy I discovered you on Thankful Thurs.! Emille (Jesh)
Lavender Dreams August 12, 2021 at 05:23
I love your art and would be so thrilled to have one of your books! I signed up! Thank you!