Hello again nature journalers! In the previous post, we talked about some helpful hints for nature journaling including some amazing resources in the nature journaling community. Today, I’m going to dive in and show you a few of my favorite tools for creating my entries in my nature journal. So without further ado, here are a few of my personal favorites and why.
Graphite Pencils
When I first learned to draw with more detail in high school, I used a graphite pencil set similar to the one shown above. I still do a lot of work in graphite, especially when blocking out a drawing (though I’m using a non-photo blue pencil more these days than previously). I tend to carry an HB graphite pencil with my kit, though in my micro kit I use a mechanical pencil with 0.5 lead. Occasionally I will swap other pencils in or a bring a couple options with me. You don’t have to get fancy though to nature journal. I have also taught lessons where I used a basic Ticonderoga and it worked just as well for what I was doing. I currently prefer Staedtler pencils and often bring a separate eraser in case I need to fix something.
Pens
Most of the ink work I do is with Micron pens. I use them a lot for lettering, adding detail, and emphasizing outlines. I most often use the 005, though the 02 and 03 are also commonly used. I recently discovered that these pens are also available in colors and have bought a basic set in light gray, dark gray, and sepia, so I am looking forward to trying those out soon.
While I don’t use colored ink as often as pencil, I do find it adds a nice pop. My current favorite are my Stabilo pens as they have a very fine point and come in so many colors. But I also have some fudenosuke pens, pentel inkjoys, and others that I use for other work. I also have several white pens (pictured above) that I use the add back detail like white spots in eyes or on wings. I like having a variety of point sizes in these as well so I can choose the one that best fits my drawing.
Colored Pencils
A lot of the color work I do in my nature journal is colored pencil. Mostly because I am impatient with letting paint layers dry (working on it). My current set is the Polychromos 60 set by Faber Castell. I find they layer really well and I can slowly build up the color. They also blend pretty decently. In the past, I have also used Prismacolors, but didn’t find the color worked as well for me – this could totally be user error though. I would love to continue to explore different colored pencil types, though the storage aspect is a bit tough.
Paints
More recently, I have started to try watercolors. I started with a pocket set by Koi that included a waterbrush. I am still working on technique to build the color and am limited by my brush choice. But during late 2023, I discovered the paintstones made by Beam Paints, which are made from more natural and eco-friendly sources. I used them for a project during the holidays and the pigment was really nice and strong without having to use much. One of my goals for 2024 is to try painting more.
Papers
Confession – I have A LOT of journals, but I really only use three of them. The smallest is a little Moleskine blank that I carry in my purse with a mechanical pencil. It doesn’t take up much space and allows me to capture an entry quickly anywhere. Most of my nature journaling in my mini journal, though I have a second one with sketch paper (pictured). I mostly use mixed media paper so I can use wet media if I want, though it is still not a regular part of my practice. I do have a larger size journal, but that one never goes out in the field. My current large journal is actual more of a personal textbook for the Oregon Master Naturalist program I am attending. It is nice to get some pencil miles in, while learning new things about Oregon ecology.
Carrying Gear In The Field
I like having options for when I journal out in the field. The purple STM pouch is the one I use most often and allows me to carry a variety of pens and pencils. Currently it has a lot of greens and browns, but I add a few other colors in seasonally. You can see the inside of it in the image at the top of the post. The larger yellow one I am more likely to use when traveling if I want to have more options available as it can hold a lot more tools.
For measurement tools, I have a few different ones. I started with the Naturalist reference page created by John Muir Laws, which I keep in a pocket in the front of my main journal (more below). It has a lot of wonderful tools in a handy small format. I also carry a magnified/ruler combo and small frame tool on a lanyard tucked in the front pocket of my pouch. I have set of these that I bring to journaling workshops. I do have a digital thermometer and wind gauge that I occasionally bring, but they are a lot more bulky.
I created a couple mini-zines for references as well. The first one covered all the basics of Nature Journaling. My more recent one is a Sketchnoter’s Visual Library for Nature Journaling. This resource was created for a class I was teaching. Note- it is a double-sided resource so be aware when printing. Both are available on this site.
I love making little pockets. This one was created using a small folded card and some washi tape. I cut one corner off to make it easier to access resources and then taped around the edges. This is where my zines and reference pages hang out when not in use. As I mentioned above, it is in the inside cover of my main journal.
To carry all of these tools (plus other gear), I often use a backpack or hip pack. Most of the time, I carry my kit, a camera, and all of my normal items (wallet, phone, glasses) in a Fjallraven Mini. I do have some larger daypacks that I use if I want to carry more gear. If I’m trying to travel light, I have a couple Cotopaxi hip packs that I use. These are more if I am journaling under more interesting field conditions, like in the wetlands where I might not carry my normal journal, but my micro kit.
Conclusion
As I have mentioned before, you don’t need fancy tools to nature journal. But if you want to add a little flair to your practice, the items I mentioned above are the ones that I regularly use. Please feel free to ask me any questions you might have about any of the tools I mentioned or anything else about nature journaling!
Until next time, happy journaling!
Fernheart Designs 