Walking Therein

Inspiration for the Summer Homeschool

I have told you before about the fun the girls have had learning html, making banners and designing templates. I have really enjoyed being able to learn along with them. This is the modern techno-form of art, I suppose, though I would much rather be outside. I have always loved art, and I rarely get to do anything artistic, except on the computer.

I was blessed to listen in on/attend an online audio conference with Jill Novak of Remembrance Press last week. The conference was an interview with Richard Bell, who is a nature artist and wildlife illustrator. He and Jill gave us many personal thoughts, ideas and experiences from their lives as artists.

I really enjoyed listening to them tell tales of their drawing experiences.  Jill was inspired by her Mother as a young child to draw. Jill is now inspiring and encouraging her own children to express themselves and Creation around them through art. Richard travels across the English countryside sketching as he goes(Imagine that!).

I know that Jill must be inspiring her children, because I was quite inspired by the conference myself! So much so that I got out our old, barely-used, nature journals to use with our children. I have been thinking for the past few days what we can go out and draw. About 4 years ago, when I finally understood the value of Learning Life as opposed to  dragging out the textbooks and sitting in a desk all day, the idea of keeping a nature journal escaped me. I have been reading Lindafay's blog for a year now and have seen the beautiful nature projects they have done, and I still haven't been consistent in keeping a nature journal of any kind. Shame on me! What we have been missing!

Last night, I had the privilege of speaking to Jill on the phone. We talked about our families. We talked about several different ideas about drawing and children, inspiration, and even art supplies. We talked about The Girlhood Home Companion.  I am still inspired. I am more inspired.

Today I took a few minutes to drive down the road not far from our home and snap a picture. I wanted to snap a picture of the road where it curves a bit -to make a banner, of all things! I told Hannie to get her shoes on and go to the van so she and I could spend a few moments together alone. It was literally just about 15 seconds from my house to where I wanted to go, and as I drove I thought I might take the opportunity to snap a few other shots of flowers and landscape, maybe we could identify some wildflowers. Not only is the view of the road at that point pretty, there is also a swampy area where there are fallen trees, overgrown areas and water here and there.

I have always felt like I shouldn't 'make' our children go somewhere and draw things. I have tried it a few times and I always get the same, "What do I draw?"; "Why do I have to do this?"; "Do I have to do this?". I don't really know why this is; almost all of our children absolutely love to draw. They are all very good at it, even Amanda, who will say she doesn't like to and isn't very good. I have read some of Charlotte Mason and about Nature Walks and journaling, and I felt intimidated, I suppose.

 

Well, no more of that. We have a garden, goats, horses, wildlife, overgrown grass, bunches of flowers; we even have a set of railroad tracks right across the street. There is no reason we can't go sit outside with our sketch pads and draw *something*.  God has given all of the beauty of His Creation to us. We love looking at it. I think we will be going out and enjoying it a little closer up.

 

Here is the banner I made on Paint, using a picture I snapped today, just down the road as it curves...

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9:48 AM, Monday, June 11, 2007 .. Posted by totustuus

Those pictures are beautiful! Mom had us all keep nature journals a couple years back. But, no matter *what* anybody says - drawing is DEFINITELY NOT something that I am anywhere close to being good at!! I spent hours trying to simply draw a stump. All of my other siblings enjoyed drawing nature things, but I prefer to journal about them: write poetry, a free verse descriptive paragraph, &c. I think it's a good thing to make your children do that kind of thing. If Mom had never made me write, I probably wouldn't be doing it on my own now. Even if I *didn't* like it then.
Regards,
Sylvia

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3:43 PM, Monday, June 11, 2007 .. Posted by quietcajun

I LOVE the banner you created! Beautiful!

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5:18 PM, Monday, June 11, 2007 .. Posted by Redbud

Really nice! Makes me want to get out.

Sherry
http://redbudslane.blogspot.com

Nice job with the camera

8:23 AM, Tuesday, June 12, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Enjoyed your photo shoot ;-)
Very serene and peaceful. Looking forward to reading through more of your blog and getting to know your beautiful family!

blessings
Kimmie
mama to 6
one homemade and 5 adopted (working on #7-with a Guatemalan adoption ;-)

http://overthemoonwithjoy.blogspot.com

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10:31 AM, Tuesday, June 12, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Dear Jacque,
Thank you for such a beautiful post on nature journaling. I am always amazed at how God uses this blog to touch so many people's lives. I love encouraging others to draw. It is a gift He has given to all of us, and yes, some of our children will gravitate to it more than others, but we can encourage and inspire one another to appreciate what God has created. As Richard Bell says: Drawing is Life. God spoke this universe into existence and gave us the ability to record it on paper. We are created in his image and He is a creative God. I can't wait to see what all those Dixon's record in their journals. Have fun! My mother wasn't an accomplished artist and yet she fostered great creativity in me. Mom's can do that with their kids. I want to send you Becoming God's Naturalist on CD. Send me your address.
Thank you so much for such lovely words of encouragement. I think I have met a kindred spirit.

Bless you,
Jill