Weekly Prompt No. 15: A perpetual journal may be the solution if you are short on time

Some thoughts about how to make it fit your schedule

Hiya!

To continue the theme of keeping up the nature journal habit in the midst of unpredictable events, this week’s prompt is to start a perpetual journal.

Last year I came across the Instagram of Lara Call Gastinger, a botanical illustrator, and her perpetual journal practice. She developed the technique with her husband. In a nutshell, you date the pages for a seven-day period but don’t add a year. Instead, you add your entry – one per week – taking as many years as needed to fill the journal. I think this is THE perfect entry point for new naturalists or anyone who feels their schedule is too complicated because the commitment is fluid and easy to fit around the non-negotiables we talked about last week.

“I don’t have time/supplies/talent/nature to nature journal!”

Below I outline what you’ll need to get started and the process. This is my take on it, so feel free to substitute the supplies you like best. Let’s begin!

You’ll need a few supplies

Most importantly, you’ll need a journal

I use a soft-cover journal that can take wet and dry media. Strathmore’s Series 500 Mixed Media journal is my absolute favorite (I use it for all projects), but for my perpetual journal, I’m trying out the Series 400 Toned Mixed Media journal.

There are so many journals to choose from, so like any book you use for nature journaling find one that works with your chosen media and that you enjoy.

A pencil or pen – this and your journal are all you really need

I like to use a pen when I draw in my sketchbooks. This is a new thing born out of a desire not to lug too much gear with me. I use a Micron 005 in black, but I’m looking for a more sustainable option so if you have suggestions, please put them in the comments.

If you are more comfortable with a pencil, use that. I like 0.5 mechanical pencils with an HB lead – no sharpener needed!

Extra: Watercolor or some other coloring media

I have my little pan of watercolors and a round water brush always ready to add a wash of color if I feel my sketch it needs it. Perhaps you like colored pencils instead or brush pens. Use whatever delights you the most.

Next, date the pages

The original procedure as Lara Call Gastinger invented has you dating each two-page spread for each week of the year, starting with January 1 - January 7, and that works great. However, you can date it as you like - the original one-week spread, a two-week spread, a monthly spread, etc. 

My book didn’t have enough pages, so I’m doing a page a week. Don’t be like me - check that your chosen journal has enough pages for the whole year however you choose to break down the time!

Make the time period work for you, but I wouldn’t go longer than a month per spread especially if you are trying to build a nature journaling “habit.” The other thing to remember is that the format is flexible. You can add more entries per spread or even skip weeks. Let’s say you do decide to date each spread weekly, but can only journal every other week for a while, that’s fine. Just add an entry to the weeks you can do it. When you circle back the next year, you may find that you can make an entry on a week you missed. Ultimately your book will be filled and no spread will be empty.

Now you are ready to perpetual journal!

Using the INIWIRMO framework, make your entries. Sketch your specimen or use your reference photographs, add your notes, add the date with the year (very important), record your questions, and note your sensory experience. Make use of borders and boxes to highlight notes, diagrams, and drawings.

And that’s all there is to it! I love the perpetual journal format because you can see your growth as a naturalist and nature journaler on a single spread. Soon you may “outgrow” a perpetual journal as you increase your time in the field, but this is a perfect starter setup. Enjoy!

Until next week.

xoSusannah