Art Vlog 2 ✿ Undercliffs Nature Journaling Project 2023/24

[@heather9328]

Really enjoyed this video with your artwork, the variety of scenery and the wonderful spring birdsong. You are so right, May in the UK is THE best month. Oh and your white throat drawing was 👌❤

[@AlexBoonArt]

Glad you enjoyed it, and thank you 😊

[@rhodaschaffer1082]

This was wonderful. And the bird is fabulous!

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you 😊

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Took my breath away when you walked into the sea!!! BRRRRRRilliant video, going to share it with my people in my video today. Merry Christmas!!

[@AlexBoonArt]

Hi Diane, aww thank you that's very kind. I wonder if you wouldn't mind sharing my most recent vlog instead on the Holloways? My video making skills are much better now, and that one includes a November sea dip too 🥶😄 Your channel looks super interesting, you've got a new subscriber in me! Merry Christmas to you as well 😊

[@SnakeArtist]

Great video, the Ammonites were really cool to see on the adventure

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you, I really never got over how cool they are, even though I see them very often 😄

[@SnakeArtist]

@@AlexBoonArt If I ever get to that side of the planet, i would want to see those. I wonder if there are smaller one that you could do a pencil rubbing of in your journal.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Yes, I've done rubbings in older journals. Easy to do, and to find smaller loose ones to keep too 🙂

[@vbiosfera]

Amazing! Both your walk and your art!

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@waynemaffit5931]

Aloha Alex, What a beautiful day for an awesome adventure. Mahalo for sharing. Can't wait till the next installment. Aloha, W.

[@AlexBoonArt]

You're welcome, next one of these will be in the autumn. Studio tour on the channel next time 😁

[@snowpony001]

This was such an interesting and enjoyable vlog! Love watching you draw and your commentary on what you’re doing and why

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@sarahlucas1999]

Great vlog, Alex. May is my favourite month too, I just love all the wildflowers. I also think your white throat is my favourite picture in your current journal too, I may even go as far as saying it's one my favourite pieces you've done ever! 🙊😀

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you, Sarah. I miss the wildflowers of May already, it's all distinctly green-brown and late-summer-ish now. I'm quite looking forward to seeing how that page looks as the other observations are filled in around the whitethroat. I hope I don't ruin it 🙈🤣

[@sarahlucas1999]

@@AlexBoonArt I can't imagine you spoiling it 😊

[@pibarrante6901]

Wow. 😊

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thanks 🙂

[@maramakesjournals2319]

Oh, wow! The bird is superior. The walk was spectacular; you showed us so many cool things, I wouldn’t know which to pick out. Though ,I must say, that huge ammonite is awesome; the architecture of natural. I looked for photos online and saw some ammonites taller than the people standing next to them. My, my! Your video is quite wonderful. I feel I was on the adventure with you. I imagined how hard that walk must have been on your ankles, and enjoyed imagining my feet dunked in a cool rock pool. Thanks for the experience.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you for such a nice comment, I am really glad you enjoyed the video 😊 Ammonites are amazing, can only imagine how awe-inspiring they would have been floating around all those milions of years ago.

[@maramakesjournals2319]

@@AlexBoonArt Yes! Bumping into each other. 💜

[@ggamedev]

Thanks for another great video. 👍 I don't currently live in the UK, but I grew up on the south coast (New Forest area) and used to swim there all the time. I have heard so much bad press recently about raw sewage being pumped directly into the sea; have you seen any evidence of this yourself, or of its effects? Or is it a case of media scaremongering?

[@AlexBoonArt]

You're welcome. Yeah, I am afraid that this is true and yes, it does happen around here. Basically, we are pretty much forced to avoid any time after rain now. There is a Surfers Against Sewage map that helps you to track the water quality alerts so I usually check that before going out. For once, the media are kind of on point. It is a shameful tragedy that the government and profiteering water companies are ultimately squarely responsible for. The general decline of water quality in rivers (outside of sewage, the other sources of pollution have increased too) is also disgraceful, rivers that were pretty much cleaned up 10 years ago are now unswimmable, just as public interest in wild swimming is booming. As you can tell, I am pretty into this issue and really want change soon.

[@ggamedev]

@@AlexBoonArt Documenting the flora and fauna as you and others are doing can only help the situation. People 'on the ground' (or...yeah, 'in the water'), who see and record what is happening and the changes that occur over time, provide a wealth of data that the 'scientific establishment' simply cannot cover in as much detail. (Or with the same passion.) Its easy to walk along a coastal path, or through the woods, and think; 'I remember there being more of [a particular type of plant], or [a certain kind of butterfly] back when I was a kid, I guess its nothing, these things change, or this is a poor year for them, etc. But when presented with the notes and observations of natural historians, documented over time, the bulk of whom historically were unpaid (I think the term 'amateur' undermines their attention to detail and professionalism), a more accurate picture of what is happening to our countryside can be formed. From the decline of certain species of plant-life, which we can observe are directly responsible for the subsequent decline of various animal life that rely on them for food or habitat, to the cultivated abundance of species which are neither native, potentially detrimental to the established wildlife, or in some cases have even been genetically modified and released into the wild without any real idea of the long term effects, etc. (I'm looking at you, fields of nasty, stinky rapeseed as far as the eye can see...) Anyway, I am rambling a little 😄 The point I am making is that what you do is not only a marvellous way to spend your time, and enjoy outdoor spaces in a positive manner, but it also helps to inspire others to engage in the same, or similar activities, or at the very least to enjoy viewing those things from your perspective, and want to support protecting them. Keep the videos coming, and thank you for taking the time to produce them. I for one realise how much work goes into making them. 👍

[@AlexBoonArt]

@@ggamedev Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. It's very important that we document this time, it is a time of rapid change and like you say, people need to know what is being lost. You're right, the vlog videos like these take SO much work, and it is frustrating when they underperform in terms of numbers like this one has. I just want this message to reach as many people as I can, so have to keep on trying different avenues - videos, social media, posters, talks, trying to get a book published... I'm in for the long haul so whatever it takes 😄 Really appreciate the encouragement, thank you so much ☺

[@kolton8834]

💖 promo sm

[@paulettew1525]

Hi Alex, How long did it take to walk from Lyme to Seaton along the beach?

[@AlexBoonArt]

That day, it took me pretty much all day as I was journaling and filming. I think I left Lyme about 11.00 and got back in Seaton by 7.30. Can be done faster if you're just walking though. Main thing is to get past the tidal pinch points at Pinhay while tide good and low 🙂