#PerpetualJournal

https://paulaborchardt.substack.com/p/how-i-create-art-in-series

1 week ago

I love creating art in series so in today’s blog post I go behind-the-scenes of 5 of my art series to show how I create a consistent look-and-feel for each.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Substack #blog #blogging #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #biodiversity #cactus #wildflower #color #bird #hawk #lizard #reptile #GilaMonster #kiwi #NewZealand

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Tucson #SonoranDesert #biodiversity #environment #ecosystem #ecology #nature #lizard #reptile #GilaMonster

1 week ago

We saw our first Gila Monster 😍 of the season in our yard last week! They are soooo beautiful (so of course I had to paint it for my Perpetual Journal)!!! 🥰 Yes, they’re venomous, but they don’t attack humans unless really provoked.

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of a Gila Monster, Tucson, AZ, USA

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #biodiversity #environment #ecosystem #ecology #nature #tree #flower #Spring #TreeTuesday

1 week ago

One of our Ironwood trees was blooming recently but is mostly bloomed out by now. I love the pink-lavender color of these flowers and so I painted them for a recent Perpetual Journal entry!

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of an Ironwood tree in bloom with purple-pink flowers, Tucson, AZ, USA

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Substack #blog #blogging #Tucson #SonoranDesert #insect #lacewing

3 weeks ago

In my latest blog post I take a slightly tongue-in-cheek look at one of Substack’s new features: Tags. Kidding aside, I think Tags can be very useful & I’m glad Substack has added them as a feature. https://paulaborchardt.substack.com/p/lacewings-tags-and-substack-tags

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Tucson #SonoranDesert #biodiversity #environment #ecosystem #ecology #nature #insect #lacewing

3 weeks ago

Last week we had lots of Green Lacewings on our patio. They’re beneficial insects (meaning, beneficial to humans) as their larvae eat aphids and other garden pests. I love their bright green color—so I painted one for my Perpetual Journal.

Perpetual Journal watercolor, colored pencil and pen art of a Green Lacewing (1 of 25 Green Lacewings chillaxing on our patio ceiling and walls).

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #PaloVerde #biodiversity #environment #ecosystem #ecology #nature #flower #wildflower #Spring #yellow

Since the Foothills Palo Verde trees are at the peak of their bloom now in Tucson, I see yellow in every direction I look—so I painted one for my latest Perpetual Journal entry.

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of a Palo Verde tree in bloom in Tucson, AZ, USA.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #biodiversity #environment #ecosystem #ecology #nature #flower #wildflower #Spring

It’s always exciting (at least I think so! 😁) to see a new wildflower in your yard. For a recent Perpetual Journal entry I painted a Coulter Hibiscus (new to our yard) that bloomed for just 1 day!

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of a Coulter Hibiscus flower.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Tucson #SonoranDesert #biodiversity #environment #ecosystem #ecology #nature #insect #moth #moths

Moths seem to get less press than butterflies (perhaps because many butterflies are brightly colored?) but so are moths! These beautiful moths graced our patio recently so I painted them for my Perpetual Journal.

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of 2 Emerald Moths and 1 Common Angle Moth.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Tucson #SonoranDesert #biodiversity #environment #ecosystem #ecology #nature #insect #Spring

Up until a few weeks ago, lots of (harmless) Crane Flies were hanging out on our patio ceiling. As I noted here for that week’s Perpetual Journal entry, the Crane Flies’ tiny, modified hind wings act like gyroscopes! WOW!

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of a Crane Fly, showing the tiny club-like "halteres" - modified hind wings that act like gyroscopes.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #biodiversity #environment #ecosystem #ecology #nature #Ocotillo #flower #wildflower #Spring #insect #beetle

After I finished painting a blooming Ocotillo for my Perpetual Journal weekly art, an Iron Cross Blister Beetle visited our patio. With those amazing colors, I couldn’t resist adding it to my PJ page!

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of Ocotillo in bloom and Iron Cross Blister Beetle in Tucson, AZ, USA

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #Tucson #SonoranDesert #biodiversity #environment #PerpetualJournal #Spring #bird #birds #birding #BirdsOfMastodon #birdsong #hawk #CoopersHawk #goldfinch #wren #finch #dove #avian #soundscape

I always enjoy stepping outside & listening to the surround-sound Avian Chorus. This Perpetual Journal art depicts just a few of the birds we hear regularly in our yard!

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of an Avian Chorus - depicting a few of the birds heard in our yard in Tucson, AZ, including Cooper's Hawk, Lesser Goldfinch, Curve-billed Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, Cactus Wren, Phainopepla, House Finch, and Mourning Dove.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #PerpetualJournal #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #Substack #blog #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #biodiversity #Brittlebush #flower #wildflower #Spring

Here’s another of my Perpetual Journal entries—Brittlebush blooming in our yard.

I just published this & 3 other of my Brittlebush illustrations on my blog. See my blog post & subscribe to my free email newsletter: https://paulaborchardt.substack.com/

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of two varieties of Brittlebush flowers - some with yellow disc florets & others with brown disc florets.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #biodiversity #Substack #blog

I recently started an email newsletter & blog about my art, and I’d love to have you subscribe to my free email newsletter to get my art delivered right to your Inbox. You can subscribe and see my first few posts on my blog at Substack: https://paulaborchardt.substack.com/

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #PerpetualJournal #flower #wildflower #Spring #biodiversity

Here’s another of my Perpetual Journal entries: Penstemon blooming in our yard. I love the hot pink color!

(In Perpetual Journals you draw/write 1x/week & leave room on each page to draw/write that same week the next year & following years until each page is full).

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of pink Penstemon in bloom, Tucson, AZ, USA.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #PerpetualJournal #flower #wildflower #Spring #poppy

Here’s another of my Perpetual Journal entries - a poppy popping its top! I’ve seen this happen 2x & it’s SO C👀L!

(In Perpetual Journals you draw/write 1x/week & leave room on each page to draw/write that same week the next year & following years until each page is full).

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of a Mexican Poppy popping its top (calyptra), Tucson, AZ.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #Tucson #SonoranDesert #PerpetualJournal #birds #birding #BirdsOfMastodon #Bluebird

Here’s another of my Perpetual Journal entries: Western Bluebirds. It’s hard to get much done with these outside my window!

(In Perpetual Jrnls you draw/write 1x/week & leave room on each page to draw/write that same week the next year & following years until each page is full).

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of Western Bluebirds seen right outside my window, Tucson, AZ

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #Nature #PerpetualJournal #cactus #PricklyPear #Winter #Snow

Here’s my Perpetual Journal entry for last week showing the rare snow we had here in Tucson! ❄ 🌵

(In Perpetual Journals you draw/write 1x/week & leave room on each page to draw/write that same week the next year & following years until each page is full).

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of a Prickly Pear cactus with snow on top (looking like little white hats on each pad), Tucson, AZ

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #Tucson #SonoranDesert #Spring #NativePlants #PerpetualJournal #flower #wildflower #Lupine

Here’s another of my Perpetual Journal entries: Lupine (which started blooming a few weeks ago already!).

(In Perpetual Journals you draw/write 1x/week & leave room on each page to draw/write that same week the next year & following years until each page is full).

Perpetual Journal watercolor art of a lupine which started to bloom in early February in Tucson.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #PerpetualJournal #Tucson #SonoranDesert #NativePlants #Brittlebush #green

Here’s another of my Perpetual Journal entries: Brittlebush (watercolor). Tiny white hairs on the leaves reflect the hot desert sun!

(In Perpetual Jrnls you draw/write 1x/week & leave room on each page to draw/write that same week the next year & following years until each page is full).

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of Brittlebush leaves, which look green & perky in February but by June will look pale gray-green and wilty.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #Tucson #SonoranDesert #PerpetualJournal #bird #birds #birding #hawk #CoopersHawk #Accipiter

Here’s another of my Perpetual Journal entries: Cooper’s Hawk (watercolor). We regularly see these in our yard!

(In Perpetual Journals you draw/write 1x/week & leave room on each page to draw/write that same week the next year & following years until each page is full).

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of a Cooper's Hawk resting on a branch of a dead agave flower stalk.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #Tucson #SonoranDesert #PerpetualJournal #bird #birds #birding #CedarWaxwing

Here’s another of my Perpetual Journal entries: watercolor of a flock of beautiful Cedar Waxwings we saw in our yard recently!

(In Perpetual Journals you draw/write 1x/week & leave room on each page to draw/write that same week the next year & following years until each page is full).

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of a flock of Cedar Waxwings resting on an agave stalk.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #Tucson #SonoranDesert #PerpetualJournal #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #NativePlants #flower #wildflower #lupine

Here’s a recent Perpetual Journal entry - we have lots of wildflower planties coming up in our yard like this lupine!

(In Perpetual Journals you draw/write 1x/week & leave room on each page to draw/write that same week the next year & following years until each page is full).

Perpetual Journal watercolor and pen art of a little lupine growing in our yard thanks to spreading wildflower seeds last Fall and subsequent rains.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #Tucson #SonoranDesert #PerpetualJournal #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #bird #birds #birding #color #red #pine #cone #PineCone #seed #irruption

We’ve been seeing flocks of 1-2 dozen Red Crossbills in our neighbors’ pine tree in recent weeks. Here’s my Perpetual Journal art of a male Red Crossbill (females are yellow).

My Perpetual Journal art of a Red Crossbill, seen feeding in our neighbors' pine tree.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #painting #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #Tucson #SonoranDesert #PerpetualJournal #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #seed #seedpod #NativePlants

Here are 2 of my recent Perpetual Journal entries on the theme of seeds & seedpods: an empty Desert Senna seedpod, & Desert Broom seeds which float around our Tucson yard & look like snowflakes.

My Perpetual Journal art of a Desert Senna seedpod, which reminds me of a tiny canoe.

My Perpetual Journal art of Desert Broom seeds which float over the landscape and look like snowflakes.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #Tucson #SonoranDesert #PerpetualJournal #MastoArt #ArtistsOnMastodon #Lichen #fungi #fungus #color #green

5 months ago

Here’s my latest Perpetual Journal art: light gray-green lichen with a beautiful undulating edge - growing on a rock right outside my studio window here in Tucson.

I’m finding out that #LichenSubscribe is as dangerous a time suck as #Mosstodon. Thanks everyone! 🥰

My Perpetual Journal pen and watercolor art of gray-green lichen growing on a rock in my yard in Tucson.

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #PerpetualJournal #ClimateChange

A few people here have asked me about Perpetual Journals (thanks!). You can find out more about PJs at https://www.perpetualjournal.com/ and you can see all my PJ entries to date at http://paulaborchardt.com/illustration/perpetual-journal.html. PJs can be a great tool for tracking changes over time, such as those due to climate change. 🌏

#SciArt #SciArtist #art #illustration #watercolor #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #Tucson #SonoranDesert #cactus #color #red #green #PerpetualJournal #festive #Christmas #ArtAdventCalendar

Here’s my Perpetual Journal art for this week: a Mexican Fence Post cactus showing signs of environmental stress (heat?). For my Perpetual Journal I leave space on each page for adding more art these same weeks next year & following years until the pages are filled; thus it's called Perpetual.

12-21-22 Perpetual Journal art of a Mexican Fence Post cactus showing signs (red color) of environmental stress.

#SciArt #art #illustration #watercolor #sketchbook #NatureJournal #NatureJournaling #Tucson #cactus #yellow #seedpod #PerpetualJournal

Here are two more of my recent Perpetual Journal entries. I left space on each page for adding more art these same weeks next year & following years until the pages are filled - thus “Perpetual”.

11-24-22 Perpetual Journal art of a bright yellow Barrel Cactus fruit in Tucson

11-30-22 Perpetual Journal art of very dried out seedpods from a Blue Palo Verde in Tucson