Logging My Observations - My Perpetual Journal

A few years ago I was struck by an idea a fellow artist started sharing! The idea of keeping a perpetual nature journal! “Perpetual”, as in on-going. It is essentially a sketchbook with dated pages (calendar days only - not years) in which I re-visit, on the date each year, to add another entry to. This method of keeping a sketchbook is an opportunity to collect data, observations and curiosities with what I find…

Lara Call-Gastinger is the artist I speak of and her talents are incredible. Interestingly, we both share a love for drawing plants in their dormant “dead” phase - which sounds odd, but the curled and dried characteristics of plants this time of year, offers much more brain work and enjoyment to capture details, character, in my opinion!

I reflect on this now because it was the week or two before Christmas that I had discovered Lara, and this specific approach to keeping a journal! So it’s a nice walk down memory lane for me! This journal is many things to me. It’s my calm spot, it’s brain exercise, it’s motivation to get outside, it’s practice, and it’s evolved into a never-ending library of inspiration for jewelry pieces!

So, I thought I’d share some of the pages from my perpetual journal with you…because it’s been awhile! Oh, and be sure to check out her work here, and follow her on IG @laragastinger.