Botanical Sketchbook Tour ✿ Perpetual Nature Journal in Derwent Inktense

[@illustratedjournal]

Absolutely astounding work Alex! Your nature journal is mesmerizing. I'd never heard of a perpetual nature journal. Thanks for sharing your work.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting 😊 Definitely check out Lara Gastinger if you want more advice on giving this perpetual style a try 🙂

[@snowpony001]

Thanks so much for sharing your lovely sketchbook. I love seeing your work and hearing your thought process and technique.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching 😊

[@lizgorley]

Alex, everything you doing your nature journals inspires me! Thank you so very much! 💚

[@AlexBoonArt]

You're welcome, thanks for watching 😊

[@yoopermary]

This is a truly beautiful sketchbook. If it were to be published I'm sure it would sell. Like samcollage below, I was surprised to see many familiar plants from here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you found the sketchbook beautiful and you recognised some of the plants 😊

[@amyvetter1830]

Also local plants in southern Oregon, I wonder if they originally came from Europe.

[@debbiebruce6920]

You are such an inspiration! Your paintings are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing.

[@AlexBoonArt]

You're welcome, thanks for watching 😊

[@InfiniteText]

Amazing work Alex. I'm following your ribbon maps on instagram and it's just so inspiring! This is such a visual representation of that line "little by little one travels far"

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you! Really glad to hear you're enjoying the map progress, there will be a video about them too... eventually 😄

[@AlisonHazelArt]

I love perpetual journals and this is such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@AlexBoonArt]

You're welcome 😊

[@sunltcloud]

Thanks for the inspiration Alex. Your perpetual botanical sketchbook is wonderful. I am not one for looking back, usually, and regretting things I never got around to, but this makes me wish that I had gotten into Nature Journaling a bit earlier in my life. The word “perpetual” is of great joy and anticipation for younger enthusiasts who don’t face the little inconveniences that old age has to offer. But I am determined to “stick with it” and learn what I can before macular degeneration takes another step forward. I loved all the color in your journal, especially the details of GREEN. 💚 I have always loved the color green!

[@AlexBoonArt]

Oh there are so many regrets to be had - I wish I had been brave enough to share and get into KZbin in 2018/19. There are many more - but like you say, looking back is unhelpful. We can't go back and change anything, we can only do what we are doing now and work towards something. I get what you are saying about the "perpetual" style, but anybody could die tomorrow, we all live on that precipice. It is one of those things about being alive - nothing is "perpetual" really! You are doing so great with what you share with us in the community, you have much to be proud of 😊

[@KitKatToeBeans]

Autophagy can help your eyes.

[@louannramirez4278]

I am so glad your channel showed up on my feed! I am absolutely in love with this idea. Thank you so much for sharing Your work is stunning. Oh yes I subscribed.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you so much for your lovely comment and subscribing 😊

[@Susancshell]

I absolutely love all your drawings!

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you so much 😀

[@garyweybright3227]

I just stumbled onto your work and find it absolutely stunning in the detail, color, and composition! It’s hard to even put into words how amazing I find this. ❤🎉❤Claudia SJI

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thanks for such a lovely comment, glad you enjoyed watching 😊

[@carolgrentzel1430]

Beautiful, delicate renderings that reflect your love and respect for your subjects. Thank you for sharing! ❤

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you so much 😊

[@pirrmoments]

Hi Alex, thank you so much for sharing your wonderful sketches and thoughts behind it. It's very inspiring. ❤ Greetings from Switzerland!

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you so much for your comment, always glad to provide inspiration 😊🙏

[@Cynthia.B]

Wonderful work and so detailed - I absolutely love it! A perpetual journal sounds like the way to go. I like how you explained how to plan and organize the journal by dividing up the pages for different periods of time. I actually really liked your Mar 1-6 page picture of the "Traveller's Joy" (the background rust color and all). Funny, but August is my LEAST favorite time of year to be outdoors, as it's the HOTTEST month where I live! So nice to see your whole journal here close up. Thank you for sharing!

[@AlexBoonArt]

It's funny because it is detailed ... but not. If you look at the botanical illustrators like Lara Gastinger, who inspired this, my work is not detailed at all. Even a bit sloppy! But it is a reflection of how my style has worked out, somewhere inbetween the botanical style and a more relaxed artistic style. I'm glad you liked my first traveller's joy, I hate it and think it is the worst sketch in the book 😆 Glad to have had a better second go. I'm a sucker for hot weather, but that is only here in the UK by the sea where it doesn't actually get that hot. I probably would baulk at your hotter climate 😄 Thanks for the lovely comment.

[@amyvetter1830]

I really like the idea of a perpetual journal, with additional sketches through the year. I have often wondered if it was time for my crocus to bloom, or if they are late. I have also pressed flowers into my sketch book and tape them in later when they have dried. If I am drawing life size I also note that. Your journal is amazing!! I have learned a lot just listening to you describe everything. I also need to get some books so I can ID better.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you, I wish you all the best with your nature journaling 😀

[@jessicathompson1456]

This is fantastic and I liked learning that you will leave (and accept) mistakes and learning curves. I have considered getting a separate small journal for each month to use perpetually and I might do it at some point. Right now I am just glad to do any sketching, in any book, and am learning to take down more notes and references and information that I will wish I had at a later date. But it’s coming, the day I will dive in and get the books and get them labeled and start the drawings. Thanks for this inspiring video and for encouraging us as always to get started on what we’ve always wanted to do.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed the video. Sounds like you have a great journaling habit already 😊

[@stankarelsen2394]

You"re very talented and one of the best, Alex. Thank you.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thanks for such a lovely comment Stan 😊

[@pippikrumeluss5167]

Wonderful perpetual journal! I was thinking of starting one for quite a while, following Lara for a long time, but I always felt intimidated by it. Your journal really inspires me to start, as you took a different approach on it and not used so much fineliner linework as Lara does. I am more a watercolour painter, so I feel really inspired to start one, but use watercolour most of the time.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you, yes I really like Lara's style but that level of detail is just not for me. I hope you enjoy making your own version that is more suited to your style too 😊

[@TheDabshear]

Stunning! Thank you for sharing your beautiful artwork!

[@LynnePriceStudio]

I just found your channel today. How beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for posting.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you so much 😊

[@themacroqueen289]

Hey Alex - many thanks for sharing your work. I follow Lara on Insta and love her work as well. I found yours to be inspiring and am so grateful that YT brought you to my attention. I look forward to checking out your other videos.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you, welcome to my channel 😊😊

[@diamondslashranch]

So beautiful, absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

[@AlexBoonArt]

You're welcome, thanks for watching 😊

[@JennNinjakittenCootware]

This brings some good memories when I was learning scientific illustration on the side when going for my zoology Bachelor's. You do amazing work. I might have to get those Inktense pencils out and use them for this

[@AlexBoonArt]

Brilliant thing to do 😊 Enjoy!

[@lulabelle33]

Absolutely wonderful record and beautiful project recording your local flora/ vegetation

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you 😊

[@paolabucchi5455]

Hi! Your art is so inspiring. Simply beautiful renderings. I found your channel today.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you, welcome to the channel 😊

[@-.-4]

First time here. Beautiful work! I subscribed 😊

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you! 😊

[@PaintedTurtle001]

Your sketches are master class! Very nice!

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you, glad you like them! 😊

[@nicolahensel1064]

This was so inspiring thanks Alex. I'm going to try this.

[@AlexBoonArt]

You're welcome, have fun 😀

[@PeachesandMoss]

This was really wonderful to watch. I’m starting a nature journal this year. Gave me lots of ideas. Thank you 🙏

[@AlexBoonArt]

Glad it was helpful 😊

[@samcollage7682]

Such a lovely sketchbook. I enjoyed trying to identify the plants. I was surprised and pleased to recognize a lot of plants that I also have in my garden here in Minnesota, USA.

[@AlexBoonArt]

It's great to hear that you could relate to the plants in the sketchbook! Thank you for the lovely comment 😊

[@gardener3017]

Thank you so much. Absolutely beautiful. Inspiring.

[@AlexBoonArt]

You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it 🙂

I have a "collection" of my watercolour botanicals, and I thought I couldn't paint, but then, I realized 'they were artistic', that's why I said, mine is not as good as yours!!! But, hey, even in permanships, everybody is different!!! I love the way you have placed your "items" on your skechbook!!! They are 'stunning'!!!TFS

[@AlexBoonArt]

Absolutely - and a great way to think. We all see the world through our own lens and it is OK for there to be variation between different people 🙂 Thank you 😊

[@rosehill1595]

Love your journal - well done!

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thanks 🙂

[@suzannemarshall7458]

Wonderful pages Enjoyed it!

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@carolynberlin124]

Beautiful journal! Love this idea.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you so much! 🙂

[@lyndean2291]

Beautiful.

[@lunamartinez3285]

Gorgeous work, very inspiring! I might try this myself, thank you!

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you! Go for it, I hope you enjoy it 😊

[@drea7295]

I love this idea , lovely book . beautifully done thank you

[@AlexBoonArt]

Thank you so much 😊

[@tj21bem]

Thank you!!

[@MedaHalmaciu]

Very inspiring. Thank you. I think I am going to make myself one soon.

[@AlexBoonArt]

Go for it, I hope you enjoy it 😊

[@Gypsisoul1111]

It is gorgeous work! Is it mainly the intense pans?

[@heikesiegl2640]

at the beginning he Said that He Set himself some rules. One of them was He was mostly going to use Ink /inktense

[@AlexBoonArt]

I would say it is 50/50. The first few years I was using pencils all the time, but I use the pans a lot more now just because it is much quicker for a sketch 😊

[@sarahlucas1999]

Beautiful work Alex. I'm wondering what you'll do when you have filled up and entire spread where you can't fit anymore in on one month but have lots of space left on another. Will you start a completely new book and forget about those missing spaces in the months that still have blank pages?

[@AlexBoonArt]

Hmm, I am not sure how I will tackle it. Haven't thought about it too much - will figure out an approach when I get there 😄 I don't think I will forget the missing spaces though, I want to try my best to fill them. Thanks for the lovely comment 😊

[@MrHamburgerHelper]

I just love your work, Alex! Subbed and will find you on insta :)

[@AlexBoonArt]

Awesome! Thank you 😊