All materials you will need to use in class will be included - a 'take-home journal' will be provided. Please bring enthusiasm and patience, wear comfortable clothing and bring your lunch. 

Nature journaling has been used by all kinds of nature  lovers including gardeners, scientists, naturalists, botanical artists and  poets - but you don’t have to be any of those things!

While many of us understand the benefit of journaling as a way of practicing mindfulness and gratitude, a nature journal is a brilliant way to slow down and connect with our creativity and the natural life around us.

Working from the beautiful Te Atamira, the course will begin with a walk through the neighbourhood where we will collect the weekend's subjects.  Looking at different styles and approaches to recording your observations, we will try a range of different mediums including drawing, pen work, watercolour pallet paint and aquarelle coloured pencil.

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About the teacher:

Dr Tabatha Forbes has a Doctorate in Fine Arts from Elam School of Fine Arts, The University of Auckland. As a multi-disciplinary artist, she has devoted her arts career to working as a practicing artist, arts administrator, writer, and tutor for over thirty years.  

After growing up in Auckland, Tabatha completed her Doctorate studies in Rarotonga where she lived with her family for 6 years. She returned to NZ in 2016 moving to her husband’s hometown of New Plymouth. She lives with her family live in Oaonui, South Taranaki, and has a gallery and studio ‘Forbes &  Flay’ in main street Opunake.

With her doctoral thesis focused on what connects and disconnects us from nature, Tabatha has passion for connecting people with nature specifically through the timeless practices of botanical art and  nature journaling. She runs courses all over NZ but these will be her first workshops in Queenstown!

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