Day One: Gnarly old tree

Haven’t been able to get out much this Second Year of the Plague, but a friend let me have use of their photos so that I could make these two entangled trees. Can’t tell where one ends and the other begins, but can there be such distinction in nature in any way that matters?

Inspired by @marleypeifer’s Inktober for Nature Journalers

One more set of drawings from #klamathtrex2019. Still working through my notes and thoughts from the amazing weekend observing #goodfire with @pyrosketchology @johnmuirlaws @lauracunningham_art @lauriewigham @marleypeifer @elizabeth_gillogly @dreamweevers @karukcrew @mid_klamath_watershed_council https://www.instagram.com/p/B40Rpn3gGtt/?igshid=1rveir5kkts6x

This is what I came for. This is what has kept me going through biting insects, bruised fingers, and sweat dripping humidity. 20.5 meters up in the canopy = 67.24 feet hanging from a huge nutmeg family tree. This tree and all the organisms that live in its layered canopy could die this year. Can you see the cut down tree next to my nature journal in the picture? I want to use nature journaling as tool for learning about communicating and conserving the wonders of the rainforest canopy. It’s urgent. This mysterious world is not only fascinating but essential to our survival. And it is being destroyed faster than we can even learn about it. That is why I have spent the last month learning the intricacies of climbing and working in this inaccessible realm…. You can support my mission by joining my patreon at patreon.com/marleypeifer #naturejournaling #naturejournal #rainforestcanopy @itecpanama #wildwonderfoundation #marleypeifer #rainforest #savetherainforest #stillmanandbirn #extremenaturejournaling #extremesketching #fieldsketching https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnx1gmBr7FS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

At what point does #naturejournaling turn into #urbansketching ? And vice versa? Where is the line between landscape painting and urban painting? Regardless having fun at the fringes in the Galapagos. #urbansketch #watercolor #stillmanandbirn #travelsketch #sketch #naturejournal #marleypeifer #stillmanandbirnalpha (at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfz35d5L5o4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Don’t forget your “me time.” Sometimes, trying to be a professional nature journaler I forget to nature journal for myself. Because I’m too busy trying to make videos about nature journaling, teaching classes about nature journaling, or even teaching other people how to teach nature journaling! Today I’m committing to nature journaling for myself every day for the next 30 days! #naturejournaling #dailyjournal #journal #stillmanandbirn #sketchdaily #travelsketch #urbansketch #galapagos #drawinganimals #marleypeifer (at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfxT0KELbRI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

When was the last time you saw an index this fun? You probably already know that I’m on a mission to make the indexes sexy again. I must admit however I shall skip them in a book and just flip through pages until I find what I need. How about you? Is it our lack of discipline or is it because the average index is a boring waste of paper at the beginning of a book that no one ever looks at? What if this part of the book could be a fun verbal visual way to see the contents of the book from a birds eye view? This is the index for my most recent nature journal. #naturejournal #sketchbook #stillmanandbirn #creative #visualcommunication #art #marleypeifer https://www.instagram.com/p/CfnPSkMtenP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I’m still not tired of seeing these lizards 250 lizards later! However, it will be awesome to see the species of lava lizards on the other islands. #naturejournaling #naturejournal #diariodenaturaleza #lizard #sketch #stillmanandbirn #watercolor #fieldsketching #marleypeifer #galapagos #biodiversity (at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CemG6h0ucIf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Ready for the weekend? #weekend #nature #friday #threedayweekend #natuurejournal #sketch #baboon #sandiegozoo #hamadryasbaboon #stillmanandbirn #marleypeifer #sketch (at San Diego Zoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeFRNyPFbj3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Want to see me flip through the pages of my most recent journal? I’m going live on YouTube tonight and gonna flip through my whole journal. Link in my bio. Or search for Marley Peifer on YouTube. #naturejournal #journalshare #pageflip #journalshare #sketch #stillmanandbirn #marleypeifer https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdt8aMmvND_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

World biodiversity day would have been the time to post this biodiversity illustration I did for @pepperwoodpreserveca however, we should be thinking about #biodiversity every day. The bright side: We can still see amazing biodiversity today. Also exposure to biodiversity makes us happier and healthier. It is also necessary for our survival and the resilience of our way of life. Awareness around biodiversity is increasing which is cool. On the bleak side: Many species that you have known all your life will go extinct before your grand kids can see them in the wild. Snow leopards, rhinos, polar bears, bluefin tuna, orangutans and countless others are at risk. Did I even mention all the plants? We are living during the greatest extinction event since the dinosaurs but the dust. According to the world wildlife fund between 200 and 2000 species go extinct every year. 23 species in the US were declared extinct during the course of 2021! On the bright side: I think nature journaling can help! I’m on a mission to use nature journaling to bring awareness and connection to biodiversity and help us protect it for future generations. I’m going to the Galapagos in 2 weeks to teach nature journaling curriculum to all the teachers on the Galapagos island so they can incorporate it into their classrooms. That is just the first step in my plans for this year. I have sacrificed a lot to pursue this mission because I’m committed to doing my part to help slow the loss of biodiversity. And if extinction is inevitable for some of these species then at least we can learn from and honor them as much as possible while they are here and have some nature journal pages documenting them for future generations. All we have for the extinct Dodo are some lame written accounts about how they tasted in stews and a few very imaginative, plagiarized and inaccurate drawings and taxidermy. If you think nature journaling can make the world a better place then become a member on my patreon. Patreon.com/marleypeifer or click the link in my bio. #biodiversityday #nature #illustration #sixthgreatextinction #extinction #endangeredspecies #pepperwoodpreserve #savebiodiversity #conservation https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd6Ll2mpma6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Day Two: Local landscapito with dark darks

This was my first time using ink, so I thought that I should make a sketch in paper that was decidedly not for ink... Next time I’ll jump directly into the proper version of the painting. 😭 I was taking too long to sign it, so my kitty did it for me. I’m I’m not complaining, though. The pawprint completes the sketch.

Inspired by @marleypeifer’s Inktober for Nature Journalers

Day Three: Messy sketch of a moving animal

Couldn’t stay still enough for me to able to tell how many fingers it had :’)

Inspired by @marleypeifer’s Inktober for Nature Journalers