hjkhike-blog

[hjkhike-blog]

Final Journal

Well, here we are! My journal has finally been completed. Below are pictures of the field journal from my three day hike in Cumberland Falls, Kentucky. 

Day One:

Day Two:

Day Three:

[hjkhike-blog]

Journal Page Updates

As I assemble my field journal, I have noticed that I alternate between different layouts of my pages. This is perfectly okay to do, since different parts of the journal might focus on different aspects of what an artist is trying to convey. 

Each day of the hike begins with a page life that on the left. I begin with the headline of the name of the trail, followed by the date, the number of miles hiked, and the temperature. Next, I add small updates throughout the day of my hike of the times, approximate amount of miles hiked so far, and a few notes or thoughts from that time. I also include some rendering to the side, or as in the case of my entry for day two, a rendering in the background with my text to the side. Above, you see a quick pastel rendering of the waterfall I visited during the midday break. 

Each new day also has an entry that is like the one to the right, where I outline the observations made from the day as a kind of index. Then, I add a couple of photos taken from that particular day as a way to include another glimpse into the day. 

This is the next kind of page layout that my journal has. These entries possess renderings that have been sized smaller in order to include either other renderings or text and photos. To the left is a layout that follows the former, where I have scaled down the sized of the Appalachian Arrowhead in order to include an image from the point of observation as well as information about the plant. To the right, I have scaled down the renderings of the wild plants and flowers observed on the hike in order to fit others on the same page. Below them include their common name as well as their species’ name. 

The third kind of page layout that appears in my journal is a rendering that is fully scaled to the size of the page, like this Cherokee rose. I have done this where the object I am drawing has either a lot of detail that requires more space for me to work or if there is more context to provide, like with the Cherokee rose. Not pictured is the page that is next to this where I included a poem about the legend of the Cherokee rose. This allows me to convey to the reader the symbolic significance of the rose right next to its rendering.

I alternate between these three page layouts in order to create an aesthetically pleasing journal. While some of my reflections (not pictured) go on for a couple of pages, I wanted to give insight into how I chose to balance the textual, photographic, and artistic aspects of a nature/field journal.

[hjkhike-blog]

Art Update

Below is the process of creating a rendering of a blue jay, as observed on my hike.

This is another example of a mixed media post with watercolor and colored pencil. 

These are the base colored pencils for the blue jay. After my sketch is complete, I will go in and alternate between these colors in a light layer. The alternation will help me determine where the bird’s color changes along its body. 

This is an example of my color-test page for my watercolors. I used a page of my journal so that I could see how the paint would interact with the texture and shade of the journal paper, since the colors could change if I were to use just a random sheet of say, notebook paper. As you can see, having this test-page allows me not only to see how I can mix different colors to achieve the best hue, but also to see how those hues will interact with one another. 

This is the final product:

I alternated between layers of watercolor and colored pencil, sometimes adding only a thing layer of water in order to blend the colors together. For the beak, I used colored pencil on top of watercolor in order to achieve a harder appearance than the softer feathers of the body. For the head, careful brushing of the paint allows me to create defined feathers that have a softer appearance, since those feathers are naturally finer. As I moved down the body, adding layers of colored pencil helped me define the feathers on the wing, as well as the area where the wing end and the tail begins, since there is a fair amount of natural shadow there. 

[hjkhike-blog]

Art Update

This is a page on the Appalachian Arrowhead that will be included in my journal.

I began with a sketch of the flowered portion of the plant, as well as a leaf from the plant. Since this will be a relatively small rendering, I have structured the page in a way that will combine the artistic rendering of the plant with information about it, as well as a picture of the location from which I observed the Arrowhead plant. 

If you want to create a page that is not dominated by a rendering of your subject, then it is helpful to sketch out the desired size of your rendering by drawing a box. Adding that box will help you keep the size of the rendering to scale, ensuring that you are able to add other features like text or photographs if that is the effect you desire. 

For this rendering, I used a combination of colored pencil and watercolor. The watercolor serves as my base for the leaf, while the colored pencil is the base for the stem and the flowers. Once the leaf’s base was complete, I added another layer of watercolor to define the different shades and features of the Arrowhead’s leaf, and then with colored pencil, refined those definitions by making the edges cleaner and sharper. For the stem and flowers, I colored in the stem with alternating shades of green colored pencil and blended them together with a cream pencil. For the darker parts of the stem as well as its outline, I used watercolor. As for the petals on the flower, there is only watercolor present since that was the best way to achieve the color of the Arrowhead’s petals. 

[hjkhike-blog]

Mixing Art Media

While different categories of the art media discussed in my earlier post have their own individual aspects that can help make a rendering unique, I have found that the best way to complete a rendering of something like a bird or flower with precision is through mixing those different kinds of media together. 

Mixing media can be either formal or informal. For an informal way of mixing media, and example can be one where the artist uses a mixture of graphite and a colored medium in order to produce quick field sketches or studies (Rawlins, 2006). In a formal mixture of media an artist might use watercolor as a way of underpainting for a colored pencil rendering. Below, I will discuss different examples of mixing art media that I have used and will continue to use as I complete my field journal. 

Watercolor and Colored Pencil:

The combination of these two mediums is the mixture I most often use. This mixture is best for “finished” drawings, or those that have been produced after many hours of work. 

This is the rendering I have been working on for a red-spotted purple butterfly from my first day of hiking:

After completing my finalized sketch of the butterfly, I went over it with light colored pencil. You can also use the watercolor as an underpainting for the drawing, but since the detail in the butterfly seemed to be better worked with watercolor, I decided to use the colored pencil as my base.

Once I was done with the colored pencil base, I went over the colored areas with a thin layer of water in order to obscure the lines left behind by the colored pencil. This also helped me prepare for the first layer of watercolor, since I want it to be lighter and more diluted, so I can add more layers as needed. 

It is important to keep a scrap of paper to test your shades out as you need them (I test both my watercolors and my colored pencils). This helps me determine which colors to add where as I build my layers. Always begin with the lighter color of watercolor and build the darker hues on as you need them.

After allowing the watercolor layer(s) to set and dry, I break out the colored pencils to lightly trace the definitions in the butterfly’s wings. Doing so allows me to see if the colored pencil alone can add the definition I need, or if I need to use a small amount of watercolor to continue bringing the rendering to life. 

Once I have achieved the look I desire (and for me, this usually takes many layers and quite a few hours to accomplish), I can go back to the rendering after it dries and add a white gouache for highlight or perhaps a darker blue for shade with my colored pencils. I might even go over each of the watercolored areas with a corresponding colored pencil in order to enhance the overall vibrance of the final rendering.

Here is the final product of mixing watercolor and colored pencil:

Oil Pastel and Colored Pencil:

When mixing these two mediums together, it is important to note that the oil pastel can be used in a dry or wet form, however, it should always be in a powdered state. This state makes it easier to brush on and erase with ease, providing a foundation for building up the colored pencil medium (Rawlins, 2006). 

Pastels can be used to create a background similar to a watercolor underpainting. It can also be used on top of the colored pencil layer to help add contrast and a stronger hue to say, objects in the foreground of a landscape. For this example, I will use my rendering of a landscape image that is primarily comprised of pastel and colored pencil:

In my preliminary sketch, I want to focus my colored pencil on the areas most in the foreground, in this case, the girl drinking water and the log. Notice that beyond these two things there is not a whole lot of definition, since things that are further away require less detail. Once I complete the colored pencil portion of my foreground objects, I will add a light layer of colored pencil to the background as a reference so I know where to add my stronger layers later on. 

As you can see, I have finished my colored pencil rendering of the foreground objects, and I added a layer of colored pencil for the background. I have now begun to add my first layers of oil pastel in its powdered form, and have also gone over those layers in the back with water to create a richer base. 

I have now gone in and started to build my oil pastel layers, particularly in the foreground as this is where there is the most definition. As I move past my focal points, however, I begin to add a little bit of water atop the layers of oil pastel to create a more natural but unfocused look to indicate where the background begins. 

In the final version of this rendering, I have continued to build layers of colored pencil and oil pastel. In the foreground, I have gone over the areas with colored pencil in order to add more definition to the grass and the log. As the image moves away, however, I have blended the oil pastel layers together to create more distance to the background, while still keeping some definition there in order to indicate the shift from the ground to the brush at the very back. 

[hjkhike-blog]

The Hike: Day Three

 Well, this is it: the final day. 

As it was the last day, we pushed ourselves to make it our longest hike and at 11.01 miles, we succeeded. It was hot and humid, and we both are covered head to toe in mosquito bites, but I feel very accomplished. Accomplished for hiking for three days in the southern summer heat, accomplished for achieving my aims of increased observational abilities, and accomplished for reconnecting with my home. It has been a fantastic three days.

Observations

Waterfall:

Perhaps the best part of the day was taking a break for lunch at an off-trail waterfall, about 4 miles into the hike. I made an effort to bring with me my color pastels in case I saw something worth sitting down among the bugs and dirt in order to create a live rendering, and I am so glad that I did. I have not brought any art supplies other than my journal and a graphite pencil with me since the first day, as I tried then to use colored pencils to work on my rendering of the cardinal bird. This had been incredibly difficult for numerous reasons, as the pencils kept getting lost, there was a lack of a smooth surface to draw on, and the heat and humidity kept making sweat drip into my eyes. As today was a little bit cooler than the first day and since my pastels have a sturdier case, I thought I would try them out. I will post an image of the oil pastel rendering in the art tag later, for now, I want to talk about the observations I made and the reflections of my time out on the Moonbow Trail.

This waterfall was about .02 miles off trail, so we were not concerned with getting lost. It was relatively easy terrain to navigate, and the rocks around it were perfect for sitting and taking a break to munch on our protein bars. The waterfall did, however, prove to be a bit of a challenge to sketch, as I am a bit more inexperienced with drawing landscapes compared with specific things like animals or plants. I am, however, relatively pleased with the final outcome.

Appalachian Arrowhead:

I was actually the most excited to find one of these in a nearby pond (pictured below):

Why was I so excited? This plant happens to be known as the Katniss plant, AKA, the plant that Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games is named after. As a huge Hunger Games fan (books and movies), I had a momentary fangirl moment. 

The Appalachian Arrowhead is a perennial herb that is also an emergent aquatic, meaning that it lives for more than two years (perennial) and that it grows in swamps and along the edge of lakes and ponds. Along the stem of the plant grows white flowers and large, arrow-shaped leaves, hence its name. The plant also has an underwater tuber (potato) that is edible. The Appalachian Arrowhead is found largely in the southeastern United States, from Louisiana to Florida (source).

Eastern Columbine:

This flower, a member of the buttercup family, is known for its distinct red-yellow-pinkish flowers. It is a branching perennial with bell-shaped flowers with backwards-pointing tubes. These tubes contain a sweet nectar that attracts insects and hummingbirds alike. In Native American culture, some rubbed crushed seeds from the flower on the hands of men to act as a love potion of sorts (source). 

Shooting Star:

The shooting star is a small wildflower member of the primrose family with petals that alternate from pale lilac to vivid purple. They are found in wetlands and semi-arid prairies, and are particularly fond of growing among woodland plants around oak trees. The common shooting star blooms from May through the end of June. Their petals grow backwards and up, giving the flower a unique look among other wildflowers (source). 

Trillium Sessile 

This plant has a thick rhizome (underground stem) that grows a plant with three broad leaves topped with deep maroon petals. The trillium sessile can grow anywhere from 4-12 inches and is distinguishable by its lack of stalk and closed appearance. It is found throughout the southeast, with greater prominence in the deep southern region of the United States (source). 

Christmas Fern

The Christmas fern is a plant found in both dry and most woodlands, and grows in a fountain-like clump. Its rich evergreen color resembles the green of Christmas trees, hence its name (source). 

Snowy White Trillium

This flower native to North American woodlands is one of the most popular of the spring wildflowers. After pollination, the flower’s petals turn from white to shades of pale pink. Its name (”trillium”) refers to the unusual three-petal feature of the flower. As with many others of the trillium species, the snowy white trillium has medicinal qualities. Its roots can be used to soothe a number of stomach problems, and its oils can be used to soothe skin ailments (source). 

Reflection

My hike in Cumberland Falls has come to an end, but I feel incredibly happy to have had the opportunity to explore part of my state that I have not been able to visit in a very long time. This project has provided me with the ability to work on my observational skills and has given me an outlet to practice art in a way that I otherwise am not able to do due to my studies. 

I am particularly excited to continue to work on my artistic renderings of the animals, plants, and landscapes that I have had the chance to observe, as well as communicate in my journal my personal reflections about my time in Appalachia. I have learned throughout this summer that it is okay to split what goes into my journal and what goes onto this blog; journals are reflections of the minds and thoughts of those who write in them, so it makes sense for my journal to be the best reflection of what I believe a field journal should be. This blog has served as a means through which I can share my process of creating that journal for others, as to hopefully give inspiration to those who may want to do something similar in the future. 

I have decided not to dive into the more intimate and personal aspects of my reflection, as I have come to realize over the course of these three days that those are better reserved for my journal. I look forward to continue sharing my progress with completing my field journal, and I am so happy to be able to share my hiking experiences on this blog.

[hjkhike-blog]

The Hike: Day Two

Today was a hike to remember.

Though shorter than yesterday’s ten-mile hike, today’s 7.8 miles yielded perhaps the best day of the hike. Two main activities were the central focus of the day: horseback riding and seeing the lunar rainbow.

I am disappointed that I do not have any photos from horseback riding, as the trail we were on (not the main Moonbow Trail) was incredibly hilly and narrow. Additionally, it was often difficult to hold my head up out of fear of decapitation from one of the many, low-hanging tree branches that were encountered. It was, however, an amazing time nonetheless. Observations

Today’s observations were balanced between the study of plant life and the study of animal life.

Eastern Box Turtle:

Eastern box turtles are mid-sized turtles with distinctive yellow-orange spots on their shells. The male turtles are identifiable by orange-red eyes, like the one seen above. Eastern box turtles are characterized by their exceptionally slow movements, as well as their slow metabolic rates. They are found throughout the eastern and southeastern United States (source).

Black Walnut Tree:

Black walnut trees are know for two characteristics: its wood, which has an attractive color and is incredibly durable in the art of furniture making, and its nuts, which have a distinct and sharp flavor. The roots of the black walnut trees are known to extend for more than fifty feet from the trunk, though roots such as these tend to exude a natural herbicide known as juglone, which prevents many other plants from growing within the the area of the tree. The tree’s fruit ripens around the autumn (source).

Maidenhair Fern:

The leaves of the maidenhair fern possess a unique and delicate fan pattern that differs from other native ferns. It is a favorite among florists to add as an accent in arrangements due to the uniquely bright and delicate foliage of the plant. The maidenhair fern has also had use in the medicinal world, particularly among native people, for respiratory problems (source).

Blue Jay:

The blue jays are known not only for their beautiful blue feathers but also for their loud and abrasive personalities. Incredibly intelligent and adaptable, blue jays are known to be territorial and good mimickers, with some even able to imitate hawk calls. The blue jays also have a unique social system with tight familial bonds, and they generally travel in groups. Their most ferocious adversary is the mockingbird, another abrasive and territorial bird found in the same region (source).

Lunar rainbow

Today’s hike included the best part of the entire trip; the journey to the Cumberland Falls River to see a lunar rainbow.

Lunar Rainbow

Lunar rainbows (also known as “moonbows”) are a rather rare natural phenomenon. They are produced by moonlight, as opposed to the traditional rainbow produced by sunlight. Moonbows are also fainter than solar rainbows since the amount of light reflected from the surface of the moon is smaller than the light reflected from the sun. Aside from this, lunar rainbows have the same formation as the solar rainbow, forming from the water droplets of a rain shower or waterfall.

Seeing the lunar rainbow was an experience unlike any other I have had on the hike thus far. The opportunities to see them vary across the world at a handful of national landmarks and parks. We began hiking to the waterfall at the Cumberland River at around 11 p.m., with a small group of hikers and sightseers. The excitement in the air was palpable, and the buildup to seeing the moonbow was well worth the wait.

*The Cumberland River during the daytime*

As with any rainbow, we had to stand at a certain position in order to truly see it, and once we found that stance it was truly a sight to behold. The landscape before us was transformed into something straight out of a fantasy tale, or perhaps a glimpse at another planet far, far away. The moonbow had a silvery, ethereal glow that lit up the water beneath it, and the accompanying lightning bugs that flitted in and out of the shadows from the woods looked light stars that had come down from the sky. It was truly an amazing sight.

Reflection

As the second day of the hike has ended, I have found myself moving towards the accomplishment of my learning goals for the project. I am learning how to enhance my observation skills so that I may translate those observations into entries for a scientific field journal and for this blog. I have also learned how to more effectively observe the environment around me; prior to the start of the hike, I found it difficult to fully plan out which plants, animals, and other features of the Appalachian woods for which I wanted to observe and create entries in my journal. Since being on the trail, however, I have learned that it is better to focus my attention on the things that stand out to me- like the blue jay that flitted around the area Nicole and I hiked through, cawing at us and watching us with curiosity, or the turtle that just happened to be on our path. When I do this, I find myself able to give these things my fullest attention, which then enables me to record them via photograph or quick sketch, as well as prompts me to think more in depth about their role in this region of Kentucky.

Additionally, getting to do an activity that is so very Kentucky-centric (horseback riding) as well as seeing a natural occurrence that can only be viewed in few other places around the world in addition to my home, allowed me to deepen the connection I began to feel yesterday after seeing the Cherokee rose. Furthermore, having the chance to share these experiences with my best friend who is unfamiliar to this area allows our bond of friendship to strengthen. It is easy to forget while I am away from home that there are things that are so unique to the state, and that these things help contribute to my identity as an individual.

Today was an absolute success, and I have most definitely made lifelong memories on this hike. I look forward to tomorrow, my final day, and I look forward to reflecting upon what I have learned over the course of the summer and this hike.

[hjkhike-blog]

The Hike: Day One

It is hot.

At barely 9 AM this morning, it was 80 degrees and the humidity was going to be at 80%. By 11, it was at the high of the day of 88 degrees. The air was thick and muggy, the kind that makes every little bug and particle of dust seem suspended in the air because absolutely nothing can cut through it.  The hike got off to a strong start, with Nicole and I averaging about 11 minutes (walking) per mile. By around lunchtime, however, we had drastically slowed down to about 20 minutes a mile, due to the never ending steep hills, constant water breaks, and copious amounts of picture-taking.  

Nicole in particular is struggling with hiking in the middle of the summer in the South, but she’s being quite the trooper. I’ve promised a fun activity for tomorrow to make up for the long and sweaty hike of today. 

Above is a kind of structure we came across while on the Moonbow Trail. We’re not entirely sure what its purpose is, but it looked interesting and we had fun theorizing about what it could be. 

Among the many sights of today, I saw cardinals, bluejays (my favorite bird), an interesting blue butterfly that I’ll have to look up once I have better service, and several kinds of plants I look forward to identifying. One of these plants was the Cherokee Rose, which is a flower found along the Kentucky portion of the historic Trail of Tears, where thousands of Native Americans were marched away from their land and many died. 

The Cherokee Nation has significance to me. I have very close relation to different native tribes, as I have one grandparent on both my maternal and paternal sides that are Native American. I have grown up knowing the trials and suffering of my ancestors, especially along the Trail of Tears. For my journal, I plan to create an entry about the Cherokee rose and to write a little about its symbolism. 

Unfortunately, all of the samples of plant life (including the Cherokee rose) that I had intended on taking were soiled by a sunscreen explosion in my backpack. This explosion also slightly stained a sketch of a bluejay that I had intended to save for later, so I hope that I can salvage that. 

Today, I made the effort to truly practice my observation skills. In the past, I have been known for being rather oblivious to my surroundings, taking the things I see at face value and not really taking the time to study them or to ask questions. I practiced this particularly at a pond we came across:

Usually, I would just look around and continue on my way, but this time I made sure to sit and truly observe. One of the first things I was able to notice were the tadpoles that would leap into the safety of the pond every time I shifted or walked around the edge of the water. Though I could not make out the actual tadpoles while they were leaping into the water, I could hear the splashes which caused me to look for signs of other amphibian life. 

Next, I focused on looking out across the pond where I took sight of a family of turtles, vaguely seen on the log in the middle of the water. I noticed that the smaller turtles were still swimming and coming up onto the log with the larger ones, and I figured they too had been on the shore only to move when they sensed movement from a larger figure (myself and Nicole). From there, I studied how they sunned themselves and remained still, potentially because I was a perceived threat in the form of a predator. 

As I continued to observe the scene, I took notice of beautiful dragonflies that were flitting about the water, another sight I would not have noticed if I were not making the conscious effort to observe what was before me. I will include sketches of these dragonflies in the journal, as well as the turtles I saw. 

After one day of hiking, I think I can safely say that I am learning how to be more observant. I took notice of the life that was around me and studied how they interacted with one another in their natural habitat, as well as how they responded to an outsider (me) in their environment. 

In terms of my project goals, I feel as though I am on the path to meet my goal of learning how to observe in a way that will allow me to transfer my experiences into my journal and to an objective reader. I am optimistic that by the end of this three day hike, I will have learned observational skills that can be effectively translated by my blogging and journaling. 

Now, I am off to get a much needed rest, and I will be up bright and early tomorrow morning for day two of my hiking journey! 

[hjkhike-blog]

Designing a field journal

Designing the layout of a field journal is both the most exciting and perhaps most daunting feature of my project. I am someone who is often overwhelmed by the different paths one single idea can take, and I frequently find myself jumping from one route to the next. Since there are many different approaches to creating a field journal, I am going to go over some of the techniques I use to help me visualize what I want my final product to look like. 

The Journal

I finally found the perfect journal for me to use! Here is what it looks like on the outside:

And on the inside:

You can get it here from Barnes & Noble for $19.95.

The paper is neither thin nor thick, so I think it’s nicely in between the two, and it should hold up well with multiple art medias. It was recommended to me by a friend who uses it for a similar purpose like a field journal. 

Designing the inside

This part can be scary. It takes a certain amount of planning to achieve the best balance between written text/observations, art, and pictures/other mementos from the place that is being observed. One thing I struggle with in particular is with my drawings, as I tend to use up an entire page rather than scaling the sketch to fit alongside other text and images. This issue, coupled with my intense dislike of planning anything ahead, often leads to frustration and confusion over what exactly my end goal is. 

To overcome this obstacle, I have found it design a journal entry ahead of time by first making a list. This is how I get an idea for what I want each journal entry to look like:

Doing this allows me to organize the many different possibilities that come to mind when considering how to design an entry for my field journal. 

Next, I sketch it out in the actual journal with pencil. I will add color, pictures, and black ink later, but by beginning with pencil I can see how the layout in my head will translate on page. 

This is the final version of the journal entry. Granted, I haven’t yet added a picture from the day, which is why there is no ink yet. If I need to move around some text to accommodate the picture, then I can. But this layout is otherwise final. 

On the next two pages (which are side by side) I focus one page on text while the other is the beginning of detailed renditions of the various wildlife and plant life observed while out on the Moonbow trail: 

I have found that alternating between pages that are set up with text, sketches, juxtaposed with pages that focus on one of those things sets up a nice, balanced journal that is easy to manage. At the end of the day, a field journal is still your journal, so it is allowed to take on the form you think is best to convey what its purpose is. 

[hjkhike-blog]

Before the Hike: Roadtrip Home

While I know the majority of this section of my blog is meant to focus on my hike in Cumberland Falls, I feel as though I would not truly be doing myself justice if I neglected to talk about Kentucky as my home rather than just a means for completing a project. While I am indeed about to embark on what I hope will be a fulfilling journey, I cannot truly connect with the region without first stopping by home and giving some insight into what helped me choose to hike in the Appalachian region of my state. As I post in the hike tag, I will include information and reflections about my home in Louisville, in addition to the hike in Cumberland Falls. 

Today, I packed up my car with my best friend/college roommate, Nicole, and began the two day drive home to Kentucky. The drive can take anywhere between 12 and 15 hours to complete (though my Freshman year, it took 18 due to some horrible traffic and weather), and it’s honestly horrible to try and do in one day. I typically stop in Pittsburgh after driving from Philadelphia, spend the night, and continue the rest of the drive the following day. I suggested doing the drive in one shot, but at my mother’s begging, I followed routine and booked a hotel in Pittsburgh. 

Aww, look how cute we are!  This trip is special for me in several ways. First, this will be the first time any of my friends from college have come to my home. That might seem like a trivial sort of thing, but there’s more to it that just being excited over showing my best friend where I live. Since I am so far away during the school year, I cannot go home unless there’s a significant school break, or God forbid, an emergency. 

 I am someone who loves the fact that I was able to go out on my own and attend school in a far away place, but I also miss out on many things when I’m not home, and cannot easily run to get a home cooked meal or a hug from my mom whenever I want. My college friends, on the other hand, can, as they all live at most a couple of hours away from campus. I am lucky to have been invited over for weekend getaways to my friends’ houses and enjoy food that isn’t out of a box, but I have always longed to extend that same hospitality to my friends. This trip home provides me with an opportunity to do so. 

Our first day of driving is (finally) over, and I am currently with my roommate in our hotel room, enjoying a well deserved glass of wine. Tomorrow we will wake up, enjoy breakfast at a local diner that I frequent every time I come through Pittsburgh (Eggs N’At: get the banana chocolate chip pancakes, they’re actually heaven), and continue my drive home. 

[hjkhike-blog]

Art Media in Nature Journals

One of the best parts about keeping a nature or field journal is getting to dabble in different art medias. Different media can be used to capture different parts of the life and nature you are observing, and can capture the vibrancies unique to your environment. One art media can be used on its own or often, it can be mixed with other media in order to produce a rendering that truly captures the essence of the scenery, wildlife, or plant life that you are observing. Below, I will touch upon the most common art media used in field journals and give examples of them in action. I will then discuss how each of these media can be mixed to achieve a variety of effects. Colored Pencils

Contrary to popular belief, colored pencils are not reserved for just young kids in elementary school. Colored pencils have been around for decades, and have been embraced by a wide range or professional artists, including scientific illustrators (Rawlins, 1996).

Colored pencils have pigment, binder, filler, and wax (Rawlins, 1996). They can be both water-soluble and water-resistant. When creating the desired drawing, colored pencils need only a few other materials: a pencil sharpener, a drawing surface, and eraser are all the only other materials that are absolutely essential in creating an effective drawing, Additional materials such as colorless blenders, watercolors, or felt tip makers can also be used to enhance the effect of the colored pencils.

To see more of the guidelines for using colored pencils, as well as examples of the techniques used when creating a colored pencil rendering, click the link below, which will redirect you to another page on this blog.

Colored Pencils

Watercolors

Watercolor paint is comprised of two main ingredients: pigment and a binder called gum arabic. Watercolor also has a wetting agent added to it which allows that signature flow of color (art-is-fun). The binder allows you to thin the watercolor paint with water, which helps the artist give add a translucent wash without interfering with the paint’s ability to adhere to paper.

Watercolor is incredibly versatile, and you can use it to portray anything from broad landscapes to detailed animals. Watercolors can be used with many types of paintbrushes, but the best are those made specifically for painting with watercolors, as those hold their shape better even after extensive use. The specific type of paintbrush an artists uses depends on personal preference, but in a separate post that focuses on the techniques for using watercolors, I will show which brushes I prefer to use.

To read more about the techniques for using watercolors and to see some examples, click the link below.

Watercolors

Oil Pastels

The first oil pastels were made in 1925 and they began to become popular throughout the 1930s (Sloan, Empty Easel). Oil pastels tend to be messier than colored pencils or watercolors, but the amount of pigment in each pastel provides unique and vibrant colors for a given pastel rendering.

The hardness of each pastel has a different purpose. Firmer pastels are better for base layers along with finer details. Firm pastels also allow the artist to exert more control. Softer pastels are typically used after a surface has been fully saturated over heavier layers of the firm oil pastels (Sloan, Empty Easel).

Oil pastels are relatively versatile, as they can be used either wet or dry, and on most surfaces. When using wet oil pastels, it is better to first gather a level of pastel dust and using a paintbrush to mix the water in with the dust.

To learn more about the techniques for using oil pastels and to see examples, follow the link below.

Oil Pastels

[hjkhike-blog]

Oil Pastels

The guidelines, techniques, and examples of using oil pastels for an art journal. For reference, I will be including color studies of various oil pastels.

In practice, there are general guidelines when creating an oil pastel rendering:

-Start with your preliminary sketch, as you would with any other art media. Gather the colors you think might be necessary to achieve the result you desire, and remember to include white, black, and brown to use as potential blenders.

-If using oil pastels in their dry form, keep your strokes light. Oil pastels create heavily saturated hues, so you do not want to begin with harder strokes that could make it difficult to blend with other colors. 

-Depending on the effect you wish to achieve, you may fluctuate between using both dry and wet oil pastels. Both forms can be mixed with other media, so the decision as to which one to use really depends on the rendering itself.

-Underpainting can be used to help eliminate white flecks from paper (left behind by dry oil pastels, like colored pencils). Underpainting is done by adding a wash or flat color under different areas of the sketch that will then help create richer color as it is built upon (source).

-Blending oil pastels can be done either on paper or in a palette, depending on which type you are using. Blending helps create smooth gradients and it helps create a truly life-like rendering.

-It is important, when creating layers, to alternate between thinner and thicker strokes. This will help create layers of broken color that can either work well by themselves or be blended into smooth transitions with a lighter color (source).

-Like other art media, rather than turning directly to black or white in order to add definition to a rendering, use other shades of the same color to create more natural shadows and highlights. If you do use black and white, make it the base color, preferably on a palette or scrap of paper to see how the color turns out. Then, by adding the shade of blue or red or other hue atop the white or black, you can achieve a lighter or darker shade. 

-Avoid having too many layers of one color, as this will cause the pastel on the paper to begin to flake. If you find yourself already in this position, it is possible to fix it by using something like an X-acto knife to gently scrape off the top layer. 

[hjkhike-blog]

Watercolors

The guidelines, techniques, and examples of using watercolors for an art journal. For reference, I will be including color studies of various water colors.

In practice, there are general guidelines when creating a watercolor rendering: 

-Create a preliminary sketch with pencil. Use light pressure to make the covering/erasing of lines after the final version is complete easier.

-Gather your brushes and your watercolor palette. Begin by applying lighter colors first, as it will be easier to build on the darker colors later.

-Apply the paint in light strokes, and depending on how opaque/translucent of a color you desire for your rendering, add more water to the paint by dampening the brush and gently mix the water into the paint that is already on the sketch. This will allow you to spread the color with more fluidity so that it is easier to transition into another hue or color.

*Before water added

*After water added

-Avoid putting too many wet layers atop one another, as this could lead to too much product on the paper and cause it to pill or change the texture of the paper.

-Rather than adding merely black or white paint to lighten or darken a shade, mix one color with other like hues (lighter blue with darker blues) and remember to consider adding complementary or neutral colors as you’re mixing your paint. This is far more effective for achieving specific color than just relying upon black or white. 

-If you notice that your colors have a streaky or blocky appearance after they’ve dried, use a water-dipped brush to help spread water across the sketch. This will help the colors blend together rather than remaining separate and awkward. 

-If you’ve noticed that there is perhaps too much water in a spot on the rendering, take a dry paper towel and lightly dab at that spot only. Do not wipe at it, as this could damage other areas of the watercolor rendering. Dabbing it will absorb the color as well, allowing you to fix any mistakes you may have made. 

-If you’re wanting to add definition via shadow or highlight, do not use black and white paint; rather, use darker and lighter variations of your base colors. This will create a more natural effect on the painting. 

[hjkhike-blog]

Colored Pencils

The guidelines, techniques, and examples of using colored pencils for an art journal. For reference, I’ve included a color study for a colored pencil rendition of a red cardinal that is a part of my journal:

In practice, there are general guidelines when creating a colored pencil rendering: -Create a preliminary sketch. Below are rough outlines of a cardinal’s breast and beak.

-Next, gather the colors you think you might need (including blenders) and begin with the base color of the subject you’re rendering. Below is a color chart that I assembled of all the colors I could possibly use in the rendering.

-Apply the colored pencil in small, closely-spaced strokes in order to build up the color. Doing so will help prevent an overly-textured look.

-Apply lighter colors over darker ones and vary the direction of the strokes of each layer that is applied.

-Remember to create hues with other colors rather than focusing on one color to build them up-- e.g., create shades of violet by combining reds and blues, greens with blues and yellows, etc.

-Use complements to neutralize colors and create shadows rather than using a darker shade of the dominant color.

-Burnishing (or “glazing”) is done by applying layers of several colors, usually by alternating a dark color with cream, white, or another light and opaque color. If a dark color is used as the base, the light color, when applied evenly with short strokes in many directions, will blend with the dark color creating a tint. A second layer will heighten the intensity of the hue. Below is an example of the breast and beak after several layers of color and glazing, as well as shadowing:

-For the rendition of the beak and breast, I’ve used a variety of reds and oranges from the color chart pictured above and neutral colors like light brown and peach. I have also used a variation of violet and blue in order to make distinctions between the lighter and darker feathers. I’ve also used the glazing method to create richer hues and to blend the colors all together to create a more natural color.

-Remember the order of the colors used should you need to rework a given section.

-Do not overwork the drawing. If the top layer of colored pencil begins to flake off, there is too much buildup. If you need to adjust the amount of pigment on the surface, use an eraser or carefully scrape away the layer with an X-acto blade.

-Outer edges and inner contour of the drawing can be sharpened by using harder pencils.

[hjkhike-blog]

How to Choose a Journal

 When it comes to choosing a journal for field work (and art), the process can be incredibly difficult. There are so many options to consider, from the binding of the journal to the type of paper that is used. Below, I will discuss some things for you to consider when it comes to choosing the right journal for you!  Homemade journals

I once took a class where the main focus was the creation of a scientific journal. In this class, we were given the materials and instructions to make our own journals. While the process was fun, I ultimately disliked the appearance of my final product. When making your own, you have to bind your own leaflets together, and then bind them to the spine and covers of the journal; while some may enjoy this process (and while it IS cool to see add your own touches to the physical journal itself), that process was not for me. If creating your own journal seems like a good option for you, then below I will include a link to a step-by-step guide for doing so.  https://snapguide.com/guides/make-your-own-journalbook/

Pre-made Journals

If you decide like me to choose a journal that has already been prepared, there are still many things to consider. The most important factors to consider in choosing a field journal are binding materials and paper quality.  Binding Materials

When I think of journals I think of the writer’s section at Barnes and Noble. That section has a glorious wall of every kind of journal one could possibly imagine, yet my eye has always been drawn to the overly ornate and large journals (which always come with a hefty price tag). For example, this is my normal, day-to-day journal that I use:

Pretty elaborate, right? (Fun fact, I’ve had this journal since 2014 and I’ve barely gotten halfway through it).

This journal, of course, is not ideal for taking outdoors to record the kind of observations found in scientific journals. Mainly, it is too bulky, the cover does not stay open easily, and the inside paper is lined and cannot sustain art media beyond typical colored pencils or graphite.  Now, since I’m particularly drawn towards the idea of old time explorers and their lovingly abused and weathered journals, I tend to gravitate towards journals with a soft leather binding. Soft leather means the kind of floppy covers that are easy to fold back when writing or sketching in a journal; soft covers are good to use outdoors, where you’re not likely to have any surface to rest your journal on other than yourself (or a flat rock, if you’re lucky).  Another important feature in a journal’s binding to look for is the materials used to bind the leaflets to the cover of the journal. Stitching is preferable, since other materials like glue might not weather the elements outdoors OR heavier art medias like paint. 

Good example:

Bad example:

Paper Quality

Paper quality is the most important journal feature to consider when picking a suitable field journal. Before you start looking for your journal, you should think about the art media you intend on using. Is your art going to consist mostly of watercolors or colored pencils? Oil pastels, paints, or graphite pencil? Or, are you going to dabble in all of these options? 

If you want to stick to dry media (colored pencils, graphite, crayons, etc), then a thinner paper will work just fine. If, however, you want to use both dry and wet media (watercolor, oil paints/pastels, etc.) then you will want to try and find a journal with a mixed media paper, or even paper made specifically for withstanding multiple layers of a given media. 

It is generally easy to tell what the paper quality is of a particular journal you are looking at, so just give it a feel- is it thicker or thinner? If you were to make a mark on it with something stronger than a pencil, would it bleed through to the other side? Would it change the texture of the paper? Do you want lined paper or unlined? Keeping these questions in mind while shopping for your field journal will help you pick the best fit for you. 

[hjkhike-blog]

The Appalachian Region

 The Appalachian region of Kentucky lies in the eastern portion of the state. Eastern Kentucky’s history epitomizes the problems that have long plagued greater Appalachia: poverty, unemployment, lack of education, and the nefarious coal industry (PBS). Eastern Kentucky has been known since 1810 as the “poor man’s country,” a reputation that still holds true today. 

Economic inequality 

Since the early 19th century, there has been a substantial wealth gap throughout the eastern region of the state. This economic inequality was at its apex during the Civil War, due to Kentucky’s status as a “neutral state.” Its neutral status embodied the notion of a war that pitted brother against brother, where families were divided between support for the Union and support for the Confederacy. These tensions among kin did not dissipate after the end of the war, however; Kentucky continued to be plagued by chronic internecine conflict, a conflict perhaps best exemplified by the infamous Hatfield v. McCoy feud in the latter half of the 1800’s (frontline).

Despite eastern Kentucky’s abundance of natural resources, companies profited off of the land rather than the people. Big companies sought to use up the vast amounts of lumber and minerals to further advance their prospects in the age of the American Industrial Revolution, leaving many families no choice but to turn to the deadly coal mines for work. The coal companies exploited those who worked for them, forcing workers to endure hazardous conditions, work long hours, and turn over nearly every cent to the local foremen.

The coal industry suffered a significant blow when the Great Depression struck the United States. While it faced some improvement due to the Second World War, the coal mining industry never completely recovered. By the time the 1960s arrived, the coal industry was all but dead. Jobs left and did not return, and with the exit of jobs came a mass exodus of the bright and wealthy people who had been living off of the coal industry’s success in eastern Kentucky.  Thus, Appalachia was in a state of rapid decline; those who remained never completed secondary education, and they lacked basic, transferrable skills that may have helped them receive employment elsewhere. While illiteracy rose, so did the birthright, creating a population that would be trapped in the abandoned coal towns of Appalachia living off of government assistance.

Appalachia today

Though Appalachia has advanced at some level, it remains a largely depressed region. In eastern kentucky in particular, the absence of any economic stimulation coupled with high teen pregancy rates and a growing opioid crisis has left the area in ruins. Eastern Kentucky is largely dependent on government welfare, and the cycle of poverty makes it all but impossible to leave and seek success elsewhere.

Climate

The overall climate in the Appalachian region is warm and temperate, with a great deal of rainfall throughout the year (fed.us).

Vegetation

The Appalachian region is dominated by oak forests, which contain a dozen species each in the white oak and black oak groups. Chestnut was once abundant, but a blight has eliminated it as a canopy tree. Above this zone lies the northeastern hardwood forest, composed of birch, beech, maple, elm, red oak, and basswood, with an admixture of hemlock and white pine (fed.us).

       -Plants: The Appalachian trail contains an abundance of plant life, from the edible to the poisonous. One might come across a bounty of blackberry and huckleberry bushes, water lilies, pokeweed, and even wild grapes! One should however avoid coming in contact with poisonous plants such as trumpet creepers, wild parsnips, and wood-nettles (skyaboveus.org). 

Wildlife

The wildlife you might encounter in the Appalachian Mountains includes a wide variety of mammals (moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, beaver, chipmunks, rabbits, squirrels, foxes), birds (hawks, woodpeckers, warblers), and reptiles and amphibians (frogs, salamanders, turtles, rattlesnakes, copperheads) (Klappenbach).

Cumberland County 

The Moonbow trail, located in the Cumberland Falls state park, is where my hike and observations will take place. Cumberland Falls is located in Cumberland County, Kentucky, in the southeastern portion of the state (Turner et al).

The Cumberland Gap was named after the Duke of Cumberland, Prince William Augustus. The key river of the area, the Cumberland River, was named by Thomas Walker, and explorer, in 1750; many areas throughout the American colonies were named after him (KYkinfollk). 

The original name of the forest in the Cumberland Gap was the Cumberland National Forest, and was officially proclaimed as a national forest by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937. In 1966, however, its name was officially changed to the Daniel Boone National Forest, after the famed pioneer responsible for the exploration and settlement of Kentucky. (KYkinfolk) 

The Cumberland Gap is home to some of the most breathtaking sites in the southern region of the United States. Its central feature, Cumberland Falls, is often referred to either as “the Little Niagra,” or “the Niagra of the South.” Cumberland Falls is known for having a beautiful, elusive lunar rainbow appear on clear nights where a full moon is present (KYparks).

[hjkhike-blog]

The Purpose of a Nature Journal

 Overview

Journals have been used for centuries to help individuals record anything they desire, including one’s daily thoughts and activities; their hopes and dreams; and have been used to explore new ideas and environments, as well as preserve treasured memories. (Johnson, 61). Personally, I have kept the same journal for three years, and it acts as a tool for me to write, draw, or plan for whatever I want. The process of journaling is cathartic, and there are many different kinds of journals with that serve their own unique purpose.

Of the many types of journals that you can keep, the nature, or “field” journal, is a favorite for those wishing to learn more about the environment around them. A nature journal is more than just a journal for recording scientific facts, it can serve as a way to record live observations from a given area at either that exact moment or over the course of many moments, even seasons. (Matsumoto). Nature journals provide a way for individuals to sketch the various wildlife and foliage that surrounds them, as well as allow them to offer their personal reflections and observations while they explore their chosen area. Nature journals act as a great tool for preserving what cannot otherwise be re-examined like a drawing can, such as smells or sounds that are distinct to that particular area. As Karen Matsumoto put, “a nature journal that includes drawings and narrative, as well as a record of a person’s thoughts or feelings, can help to tie together science and art, and provide opportunities for creativity and reflection” (Matsumoto).

 Art Media

There are many different kinds of art media that can be used while keeping a nature journal. Some of the basics include:

 -Pencil

      -Colored

      -Charcoal

      -Graphite

-Pens

      -Technical

      -Water-soluble

      -Ballpoint

      -Gel

-Paint

     -Watercolor

      -Oil

Different art media can be mixed together to create a more vibrant illustration. For example, an artist can use a watercolor to “underpaint” for a colored pencil sketch (Rawlins, 2006). Graphite can be used both for sketches of live subjects with quickness and accuracy, or for adding dimension by creating contours in more labor-intensive illustrations (Rawlins, 2006). 

Nature journals through history

Journals have been used for centuries as ways to preserve thoughts, ideas, memories, and observations. Field journals in particular were a favorite for explorers traveling to unknown and exciting lands as they were discovered throughout the Age of Exploration (britannica). In contemporary times, the most prominent examples of field journals can be linked to legendary explorers like Lewis and Clark or Charles Darwin.

Field journals, however, were not just limited to those who made an indelible mark upon history. Explorers like the great Anna Maria Sibylla Merian, a trailblazing Dutch naturalist illustrator, who ventured to Surinam in the New World in 1699 (Polk et. al, 171). Upon her arrival in 1701, she spent her time roaming the native rainforests, collecting and painting insects. Her extraordinary work, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, was published in 1705 and included sixty colored plates and Merian’s detailed commentary (Polk et al, 172).

Another fantastic example of an explorer whose field journal had a profound impact upon the world was that which belonged to Sir Hans Sloane of Great Britain. His voyage in 1687 to Jamaica resulted in the transport of around 700 species of plants back to England, along with other specimen and illustrations done by Reverend Garret Moore and Everhardus Kickius (Rice, p. 14). It was from Sloane’s time in Jamaica where he discovered that chocolate, which had until then been used for medicinal purposes on the island, was delicious when mixed with milk. Sloane brought this recipe back to England where it received a patent. In the 19th century, the recipe was adopted by Cadbury, the renowned maker and milk chocolate enjoyed by millions across the globe (Rice, 15). Had it not been for Sloane’s voyage and documentation of the plants and specimen native to Jamaica, contemporary society might not enjoy a staple of the Easter season, the Cadbury Creme Egg!

Though there is no longer the need for grand voyages to unexplored lands, nature journals still provide a way for an individual to juxtapose their renditions of the natural world with their own reflections. Today, the nature journal can be a useful tool for one to combine interests in science and in art, and preserve that natural sense of wonder for the world that the great explorers of old once recorded.