Sketching magnificent eucalypts

Environmental psychology doctor Kathleen Bagot at the Melton Botanic Garden. (Damjan Janevski). 475273_01

There are about 900 species of eucalypts in Australia, and an upcoming workshop at the Melton Botanic Garden will give you the opportunity to sketch and appreciate just some of these incredible trees.

Friends of Melton Botanic Garden and environmental psychology doctor Kathleen Bagot are partnering to host a two-hour nature sketching and journaling workshop this month, providing sketching skills and an opportunity to practise mindfulness in an outdoor setting with like-minded nature enthusiasts.

The event coincides with Botanic Gardens Week.

The workshop starts with a guided nature-based mindfulness practice, followed by a warm up with some different sketching techniques and discussion of template options.

There will then be a discussion about eucalypts, and the session will end with a chance to share your thoughts and sketching pages with other attendees.

All supplies will be provided to participants new to nature sketching or journaling, and no experience or art skills are required.

Experienced sketchers are welcome to bring their own favourite journal and supplies, or use those provided.

Ms Bagot said the event is aimed at being accessible and inclusive to all who would like to attend.

“You don’t have to be an artist or a scientist to do nature journaling … it really is about slowing down [and] noticing what’s in nature,” Ms Bagot said.

She said that a previous workshop held on March 23 for National Eucalypt Day sold out.

The workshop will be held from 10am–noon on Sunday, May 25 at the Melton Botanic Garden.

Tickets can be purchased online.

Details: events.humanitix.com/nature-sketching-eucalypts-in-melton-botanic-garden-25-may