Nature Sketches, Collecting Nature Inspiration to Create Products, Book of the Month, WIA entries, Updated Portfolio, Finding New Ways to Plein Air Paint, And Recent Inspiration
Mar 17, 2026
Hi All!
I want to talk about nature journaling/nature sketching. I have been doing a lot of it recently, gathering inspiration for new product ideas. I think it would be particularly fun to do nature inspired lino prints. Or maybe even screen-prints?
There are a million different ways to do plein air artwork (a.k.a. art outside), and a million different ways to paint the same scene outside! I have painted the trees in my backyard again and again and there’s always something new to see, a new way you could render it, a different technique, a different style. In fact I recommend painting the same scene again and again, it becomes harder to see it with fresh eyes so you pay closer attention, or you get experimental, which is super important.
So I have dived into nature sketching, painting, collecting leaves, moths, stems because I want to be proficient at rendering the way natural elements actually look so that when I stylize it, or create motifs, it looks recognizable and familiar and somewhat realistic. I am convinced this is how truly exceptional artists have become exceptional at what they do. Just for funsies here’s some examples:
Some of my recent nature journaling….hopefully it’ll be inspirational.
Book of The Month
The book of month is The Natural World of Winnie-The-Pooh by Kathryn Aalto. It has great photo references (and I’m all for creating a physical reference library especially with the world of ai), and artwork by E.H. Shepard.
In the Studio Lately
Oh, also I updated my portfolio, (phew) that was a lot of work! If you want to have a look here it is: https://ashleyhermanart.net/
Links and Inspiration!
- First off, I discovered new music! Ralph Vaughan Williams. He composed music from the early 1900’s to the 1950’s. Much of his music is inspired from the natural landscapes, and folk songs of England.I found his music through listening to another song (highly recommend, have listen to it for years) by Thomas Newman.
- These book covers are perfection! Particularly the Fall book! It’s an art style I didn’t know could exist and yet it’s everything I love and everything I didn’t even know I loved in one! It’s redoing the whole way I think about my style and art!
- This recipe has become a staple around here, with the added nut butter it has tons of protein!
Wow! If you made it this far thank you! See you next time!
Ashley
