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August in Arkansas is hot, hazy and full of subtle changes. While the days are still long and the humidity hangs in the air, you’ll start to notice hints that summer is winding down—golden grasses, seed pods, and the steady hum of cicadas.
Whether you’re exploring creeks, enjoying a backyard sunset or soaking up the last of summer break, there’s still plenty of inspiration waiting outdoors.
I’ve created 25 nature journaling prompts to help you tune into these late-summer moments. Below, you’ll find some creative ideas for how to use the prompts in your own art journal. If you’re just getting started with nature journaling, you can read my original article here.
This month’s list includes 25 prompts to help guide your journaling. If you enjoy a daily practice, you can work through them in order and take weekends off. Prefer something more flexible? Just choose a few that catch your eye. And if you’re brand new to nature journaling and not sure where to begin, don’t worry. Grab a piece of paper, and we’ll walk through a few of the prompts together.
All summer, I have been fascinated by the reflective light on the surface of our pool water. In my house, spending time outdoors in the pool is an essential daily activity. It’s typically how we start and finish most summer days. The image of that glittery water has been dancing through my mind all season, and it was time to capture it on paper before the cool fall nights begin to limit our pool time.
#12 Sketch a Shell
Did you make a trip to the beach this summer? We didn’t, but a friend did and brought us back a handful of seashells they collected on the Gulf. It was so fun to explore the different shapes and sizes and dream about taking a trip to the beach! No seashells? No problem! Sketch a turtle shell from your favorite Arkansas turtle species or sketch a fossil found in the Ozarks or along the banks of the Buffalo National River.
#24 Favorite Summer Memory
I don’t know about you, but our summer has been busy! I wasn’t sure George would ever settle on a favorite, but he finally did and I love the results!
Nature journals can be very personal, but if you’d like to share some of your pages with us on Instagram, you can use #onlyinarknature and tag @onlyinark. If you share a post, we may feature it in an upcoming article. Check back soon for the September nature prompts. Until then, Happy Journaling!
Julie Kohl works from home as a writer and teaches art part-time at a local private school. A former Yankee who was "converted" to the south by her husband, Julie has grasped on to rural life in a sleepy, blink-your-eyes-and-you'll-miss-it town in central Arkansas where they raise chickens, farm hay and bake bread. Julie loves adventure and sharing it with her husband and son. They frequent the trails, campgrounds and parks of Arkansas, always on the hunt for new adventures and new stories to share. Learn more on her blog
Seek Adventures Media.
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