A Perpetual Journal Practice Building a Connection with Nature through Art

by Gastinger, Lara Call

• ISBN13: 9781643264905
• ISBN10: 1643264907
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2026-06-23
• Publisher: Timber Press

Summary

Accept this invitation to connect with nature and yourself and create a perpetual art journal layered with observations of nature through the inevitable passage of time.

Botanical artist Lara Call Gastinger has made it her mission to teach artists and nature lovers worldwide how to keep a nature-focused perpetual art journal, holding sold out workshops and classes in person, as well as going live on Instagram every Monday morning to inspire and guide the efforts of her devoted followers and practicing artists of all skill levels. Now through this gorgeous, encouraging book, with a thoughtful foreword by trusted and beloved author and ecologist Doug Tallamy, Lara guides readers, nature lovers, and artists through this rich and mindful practice, further illuminated by a breathtaking, up-close-and-personal look into 52 of her own full-page journal spreads, lovingly built over many years.

From how to number each page spread in a fresh, blank journal, to tips on bringing those blank pages to life, to soothing the concerns of those who are unsure they can connect in such a way with their natural environments or their own power of expression, A Perpetual Journal Practice is a powerful book for naturalists seeking a deepened and more personal understanding of nature, artists seeking to improve their skills, and those seeking to heal and grow in all the green spaces.

Author Biography

Lara Call Gastinger is an artist and botanical illustrator from Charlottesville, Virginia and was the chief illustrator of the Flora of Virginia, a botanical reference. She has an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in plant ecology from Virginia Tech. She has been awarded two gold medals (2007, 2018) at the Royal Horticultural Society Botanical Art shows in London and her work is in the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation at Carnegie Mellon. Her artwork appears in the Peterson's Field Guide to Mushrooms and American Society of Botanical Artists Botanical Art Techniques Handbook. She teaches online and in person and has travelled to Japan, Romania, and France to lead workshops. She is a lecturer in the University of Virginia Department of Landscape Architecture where she teaches a class about plant identification and drawing. Gastinger is renowned on Instagram for teaching her perpetual journal process.