Tag: Nature Journaling

Nature, Writing, and the Friends Literary Society of Waterford, Virginia

Nature, Writing, and the Friends Literary Society of Waterford, Virginia

Amos and Mary Janney, Quakers from Bucks County, Pennsylvania , moved south to the Catoctin Valley of Virginia about 1733. The community grew as more Quakers followed the Janneys to build mills, plant farmlands, and build houses and shops. The area, then part of Fairfax […]

Buttercups and Cannon: Day 11-Creating a Special Journal

Buttercups and Cannon: Day 11-Creating a Special Journal

Thursday, May 11, 2017 Today I am working on a journal that will be a record of my time here at the battlefield. For this project, I started with an old book I found in an antique store.  It was falling apart, but had good […]

Final Thoughts on my Manassas National Battlefield Artist-in-Residence Experience

Final Thoughts on my Manassas National Battlefield Artist-in-Residence Experience

As I reflect on my two weeks at the park, I remember the people, landscape, history, and animals that came together to make the experience so meaningful.

Each day the park introduced me to something or someone new – the golden field of buttercups at Hazel Plain, the singing meadowlark on Henry Hill, the knowledgeable and kind rangers who helped me, and the interesting German couple whom I met at the Visitor Center – to name just a few. I learned more about the beautiful and serene landscape on Henry Hill that has so many stories to tell about what happened here. Through diaries, letters, and war documents I learned about people who lived through the war and its consequences including the Robinson and Thornberry families whose farms saw troops of both sides marching through and soldier and writer Samuel Fiske who under the pen name Dunn Brown, wrote poignantly about his experiences.

I led two public programs while here, the first on a rainy May 6 had only a handful of visitors, but was interesting and fun nonetheless. At the second program on nature journaling on May 9, we welcomed 35 visitors of all ages to sketch and write at the Stone Bridge on a lovely sunny day.

For any artist the gift of two weeks of uninterrupted creative time is a gift, but to have that time in such a lovely and historic landscape is a luxury that few experience. I have loved learning the sounds and sights of the park. Through hiking, painting, and researching, I got to know more about the character of this important place.

I appreciate this unique opportunity and would like to thank those who made it possible and also memorable – park rangers Kaitlyn, Courtney, and Bryan at headquarters and Ray and Jim at the Visitor Center.

Buttercups and Cannon: Day 8-Mixed Media Day

Buttercups and Cannon: Day 8-Mixed Media Day

Monday, May 8, 2017 Mixed media day!  I was excited to begin work on a fun new project that combines history and nature with images and words from the battlefield.  I’ve been thinking about this idea for a while and was anxious to get all of […]

Buttercups and Cannon: View from the Terrace with Fellow Artist-in-Residence Cynthia Rusnak

Buttercups and Cannon: View from the Terrace with Fellow Artist-in-Residence Cynthia Rusnak

During my Artist-in-Residence time at the Manassas National Battlefield Park, I had every intention of writing and posting on this blog each day.  But, that didn’t happen and though I missed some of those daily deadlines due to a creative struggle between writing and painting/drawing, […]

Buttercups and Cannon:  Day 9-Nature Journaling at the Stone Bridge

Buttercups and Cannon: Day 9-Nature Journaling at the Stone Bridge

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

After a brief introduction to supplies on hand (including my favorite watercolor pencils) we dispersed a bit to find our own spot to reflect and record our impressions.  The history of this place provides an interesting background for our journaling.  Soldiers, cannon, and horses crossed this stream on July 21, 1861 on their way to what is now known as Henry Hill, where the main battle of the day was to take place.

All of the trees in this area were cut down to provide better sight lines and to use in constructing makeshift roadblocks.  The shade would have felt good on that hot, humid July day so long ago.  Today, oak and hickory trees abound.

This Stone Bridge replaced the one blown up by Union troops as they retreated.  How peaceful and verdant this spot is today.

Our journaling session yielded  many lovely sketches of the bridge, the water, and the trees.  Thank you to all of those who attended, including park rangers Kaitlyn Shermer and Courtney James who helped with set up.

 

Buttercups and Cannon: Day One- High on a Hill

Buttercups and Cannon: Day One- High on a Hill

May 1, 2017  The first time I looked at the clock this morning, the numbers glowed 4:30 a.m.  Though I was eager to begin the day as Artist-in-Residence at Manassas National Battlefield Park, Civil War spirits might have been the only ones there at that […]

Words from the Woods – Time to Leave

Words from the Woods – Time to Leave

Sunday, September 20 Wow, that two weeks went by quickly.  Today I leave Cabin 16 and Catoctin Mountain Park.     This morning as I reflect on the last two weeks here, I remember the people, creatures, and landscape that made the experience so meaningful. […]

Words from the Woods – A Golden Morning

Words from the Woods – A Golden Morning

Saturday, September 19, 2015

I hear so many different birds this morning – Maybe they flew in for the weekend.

This is my favorite time to sit outside at the picnic table.  The light is soft and the Catoctin Mountains slowly awaken.

Sunlight glints off finely woven webs

Strung between branches, they glow like tiny laser beams.

Acorns hit the ground as squirrels start to work

Woodpeckers knock about looking for breakfast.

This morning a breeze brushes across this mountain.  It sounds like the very beginning of a gentle rain, but this rain brings a quiet shower of gold as the tulip tree leaves fall.

Today is my last full day here and  I want to appreciate each moment.  It has been a luxury to be surrounded by my art supplies AND the beauty of the forest and be able to make the most of each without a busy schedule to interrupt me.  For this incredible opportunity, I am very grateful.

My time here has been a perfect mix of my favorite things – nature, drawing, writing, and introducing others to the joys of nature journaling.

Later –

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Much later, actually, about 1am.  I have finished binding my altered book nature journal – the final step in this fun project.  I did a cross-stitch binding that I saw on YouTube to sew the signatures (groups of pages) into the cover.

 

I used many different papers, collected here and there, and added my favorite ephemera to give it some personality.  Here are some of the pages:

My last post from Cabin 16 will be tomorrow.

 

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Words from the Woods – “I’ll Tell You How the Sun Rose a Ribbon at a Time”  Emily Dickinson

Words from the Woods – “I’ll Tell You How the Sun Rose a Ribbon at a Time” Emily Dickinson

Friday, September 18, 2015 Good morning Catoctin! Joining me at sunrise today are the usual suspects – bluejays, cardinals, woodpeckers and a few songbirds I have not heard here before.  I love waking up with these wonderful creatures in this lovely neighborhood. Today I am […]