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Doodling Diagrams @ the Nature Journal Club

  • On 10 Dec, 2019
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The Nature Journal Club of San Francisco hosts many wonderful workshops! I love going to the sessions, because they open me up to the wonders of nature and I get to be with other sketches and expand my techniques for visual observation.

I went to a workshop on Doodling Diagrams with Amy Schleser and it was super cool! I loved how Amy showed a technique, demonstrated how it worked and then showed a video on a loop so we could practice and put our skills to use immediately. And she gave me an orange when she arrived. Not all presenters come prepared to give someone an orange.

Amy covered so many fantastic techniques. I was so inspired by the info that I summarized my raw notes into a cheat sheet that I carry with me in my sketchbook.

If you have a chance to attend one of Amy’s workshops, I highly recommend it! (Or, you can watch the video of the workshop.)

My summarized notes from the session

My raw notes from the session

Reflection

I learned that many of the techniques I use in my product design and graphic facilitation practices are great ways to capture and communicate information about the natural world. And I learned new tricks to put to use (pathlines and comparison multiples are my faves!)

I was surprised by how much action I miss when only concentrating on drawing “the thing” in static mode. But the world is dynamic and motion is life! Having tools in my toolkit to remember to capture the aliveness of the world will help me create more lively and accurate observational notes.

Next time I’d like to connect more with other journalers at the session. I get shy in groups, but I got to sit next to Amy Tan, and I’m kicking myself for not being more social. I need to remember that we’re all learning together, and that sharing is caring. 😉

Also, next time I’d like to remember my scarf, which I left in the workshop room. I miss it.

References & Resources

Event Summary:

Doodling Diagrams with Amy Schleser
December 10, 2019 @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Get ready to doodle some diagrams! This workshop will show you how to make simple drawings of how animals move and more. We’ll watch as animals eat, walk, waddle, hop, pounce (etc.), and figure out how to translate that motion into a simple sketch. We’ll also decode crazy creatures’ limbs, map out where animals wander, break down how things work, create “mystery chain” diagrams, and more. There’s no need for any knowledge of science or math to try this out–nor to fall in love with it!
Bonus: These are great ways to journal about animals that may be moving too fast or are too far away for detailed, realistic drawings. Ever yelled at a critter: “why won’t you just sit still for a minute!?” (I have!) After this workshop
 you might just enjoy drawing things that move!

This workshop is being taught by guest artist Amy Schleser, who creates science explanations for kids as her day job and formerly developed science exhibitions for museums. Check out her work online on Instagram (science.art.amy) or at www.amyschleser.com