Paperbark Writer

Exploring Australian nature through science and art

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Summer sale now on! Save 10 - 30% off books and homewares

Summer sale now on! Save 10 – 30% off books and homewares

For the end of December, and January only (or until stocks are sold out) we’re having a big storewide sale of books and homewares. Shop now to take advantage of these great bargains: 30 % off all mugs 20 % off organic cotton tote bags and tea-towels; magnets, Bimblebox Wonderland and Stories from the Wildworld 10 % off Take this Book for a Walk: A step-by step guide to nature journaling So…

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Bimblebox 2018 calendar on sale now

For the first time, the good folks of Bimblebox Nature Refuge have created a stunning calendar which features photos and artwork inspired by this precious wildlife haven in central Queensland. All images have been donated, and most were created during a series of Art, Nature, Science Camps held in September on Bimblebox in the last five years. Bimblebox Nature Refuge provides an excellent example…

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Springtime in the forest, and a Hunter Valley workshop

Nature journal page from the Dave’s Creek walk, Binna Burra, Lamington National Park. Rain seems to be the essence of springtime this year in Beechmont. After an early dry start, the almost continuous rain and showers have conjured up carpets of pinkish new raspy fern fronds, a flush of tender bright green leaves in the rainforest (and many blushing new reddish leaves too), baby wallabies,…

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Free Nature Journaling workshops this Sunday in Brisbane

Free Nature Journaling workshops this Sunday in Brisbane

Spring is here, and what better time to get out and do some nature journaling? This Sunday 5th November I’ll be running two free nature journaling workshops at the Springwood Girl Guide Hut, Springwood Conservation Park, on the south side of Brisbane, thanks to Logan City Council. The sessions are 9 – 11 am and 12 pm – 2 pm and are free, but you do need to book. Click here for more details and…

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Meet the rainforest neighbours

Meeting the rainforest neighbours

Nearly 3 weeks ago I planned to draw A plant a day for a week. Part meditation, part nature journaling, part learning new species. Well, life got in the way, as it does. I didn’t draw a plant every day. I didn’t always stick to my own rules. Sometimes I got frustrated when I didn’t find the time. But that’s not what it’s about – it’s no use getting annoyed if you don’t get time to draw. I find it…

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A plant a day

A plant a day

What would happen if the first thing people did every day was contemplate nature? Well I know there are certain things that might need to be done first, like visiting the bathroom, getting dressed, having a caffeine hit, etc. (What’s your morning ritual?). But what I’m getting at is, once you’ve done the essential warm-ups (or perhaps while you’re doing those warm-ups…) do you immerse yourself in…

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Upcoming events: pollinators, yoga and more!

Rainbow lorikeets feeding on Flame Tree flowers – would they be pollinators of this tree species? I’m not sure. How do nature, art and science interact with a Pollinator Festival, Yoga and an Ecology Conference? Well I’m about to find out! These are some of the events I’ll be taking part in over the next two months, so please come along and we can find out together [icon icon=icon-smile size=14px…

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Workshop - Nature journaling: a practical way to combine art and science

Workshop – Nature journaling: a practical way to combine art and science

  Date and time – Friday 1 December, 10 am – 4 pm.  Cypress Lakes Resort grounds, Hunter Valley, NSW BYO lunch, drinks and snacks, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and shoes suitable for bushwalking Fee – $50 inc GST Good ecology starts with the close observation of nature, and so does good land management. Nature journaling is the practice of drawing and writing in response to nature. This…

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Red Centre adventures, plus more nature journaling dates

On the Ormiston Pound walk. Yay, I finally made it to the Northern Territory! And the Central Australian landscapes were sublime. So much colour and beauty, at every scale: from the mountains, through to the patterns of the vegetation, and right down to the individual animals, rocks and plants. The rock wallabies were particularly delightful, basking in the sun, way up on a rocky hillside. Our…

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Upcoming nature journaling events in Brisbane and Central Australia

Nature journaling in Brisbane and Central Australia

Nature journaling along the Manorina Track, D’Aguilar National Park, near Brisbane. Neolitsea dealbata in the foreground. If you need an excuse to get out in nature, and you are near Brisbane or Alice Springs, well maybe I have an event for you! Over the next few months I’ll be leading nature journaling workshops and giving presentations at a range of venues, including Toohey Forest in Brisbane…

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'I dig you' card

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Themed Nature Studies sessions for kids

Announcing new themed Nature Studies sessions to get kids excited about nature!

I’ve just launched some new, themed Nature Studies sessions for kids: Insects and other micro critters Batty about bats I love my local birds Tiny trails, and Find my secret plant Marvelous mammals Wild Things Treasure Map Life in the mangroves Find your Tree, and Looking closely at leaves Wonderful wetland birds and beasts Nature recycles, so why can’t we? Each session includes these elements:…

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Free nature journaling workshops this weekend in Toowoomba

Nature journal entry created in the Deagon Wetlands After a sweltering summer, at last the cooler weather has arrived in Brisbane! And that means it’s perfect for getting outdoors and into nature. This Saturday 8th April I’m leading two nature journaling workshops at the lovely Redwood Park in Toowoomba, Queensland, to celebrate National Youth Week. The workshops are free, and start at 9 am and…

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Nature Journaling for Gardeners

Have you had your dose of nature lately? You know it's good for you, and it's as close by as your nearest garden...

Native violets sketched with ink, gouache and watercolour pencil. Nature journaling is another great way to enjoy gardens – either your own little green space, or the gardens of others. As I’ve written elsewhere, nature journaling is fun and relaxing, it sharpens your powers of observation, and it’s a doorway to learning new things. It gives you an ‘excuse’ to spend time in nature. And you end up…

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Drawing birds in Adelaide

Guess what I got up to last week?

A simple, portable nature journaling kit: sketchbook, watercolour pencils, ink pen and paintbrush with water tank. Last week I was in South Australia, visiting family and friends. I had also embarked on compiling some nature journals ‘on a theme’, including one on birds, and one on gardens. The garden journal I’ll show you in a future post, but today’s post is about the little journal that is…

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Nature journaling in the Noosa Botanic Gardens

This week I did a little nature journaling in the delightful Noosa Botanic Gardens, on the shores of Lake Macdonald, near Cooroy. For those of you who’d like to know more about nature journal…

First two Nature Journaling workshops in Brisbane announced!

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Nature journaling

What is nature journaling? Nature journaling is the practice of drawing or writing in response to observations of nature. This practice results in the creation of your own unique nature journal. Bo…