Reflecting on My 2024 Country Diary Project

 

Looking back on 2024, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible experience of completing my very first country diary project. This year-long endeavor to document plants, and and the changing seasons has been one of the most rewarding creative journeys I’ve undertaken. Through watercolor and ink illustrations, I explored the beauty of nature throughout the year, and I’ve learned so much about art, observation, and the rhythms of the natural world.

Celebrating the Seasons

Each season brought its own unique charm and challenges, shaping my diary in unexpected ways:

Spring Blooms: The diary began with the tender greens and delicate blossoms of spring. Observing the first signs of life after winter was a joyful experience. Crocuses, daffodils, bluebells, anemones, and early budding trees became my subjects, and I practised capturing the softness and vibrancy of their colours.

Summer Flowers & Foliage: Summer was a time of abundance. The richness of wildflowers, lush greenery, and pollinators in action inspired me to experiment with more intricate botanical studies. I learned to work quickly so I could create more pages each month and capture more wildflowers. I also practised loosening my layouts in some cases to embrace the season’s energy and create quick botanical tangles to capture more of the countryside.

Autumn Harvest: Autumn brought warm hues, fallen leaves, and the textures of seeds and dried plants. It was a season of reflection and storytelling as I used my sketches to record nature’s transition. The process of layering washes to create depth-rich red and orange hues became a key focus.

Winter Flora: Winter was quieter but no less inspiring. Bare branches, evergreen foliage, red berries, and fungi presented new challenges and opportunities. This season reminded me to look closer and appreciate subtle details, like looking for texture of berries and creating smooth or textured surfaces depending on what I observed.

Lessons Learned

Over the year, I’ve grown not just as an artist but also as an observer of the world around me. Here are a few key lessons I’ve taken away from this project:

1. Choosing the Right Sketchbook: I experimented with various sketchbooks and learned the pros and cons of different types of watercolour paper. Some papers handled washes beautifully but were too rough for ink and fine details (Arches cold pressed 140 lb). While others were perfect for fine detail, but not suitable for layering multiple washes (Fluid brand paper by Speedball, cold pressed 140 lb). I have finally settled on Daler Rowney Aquafine cold-pressed 140 lb paper. It handles washes quite well, it is smooth to write on and takes fine detail, additional washes and lifting out well. It cannot handle quite as much water as Arches paper but the smoothness and good price point make up for that shortcoming. I also prefer to cut my own custom pages which I hole punch and keep in a lovely little 3-ring sketchbook now. This way I can add or remove pages as I wish.

2. Creating Pleasing Layouts: Designing layouts became a creative challenge that I came to love. Balancing text, illustrations, and white space taught me the importance of planning while still leaving room for spontaneity.

3. Observing Nature Carefully: Keeping a country diary heightened my awareness of nature. I noticed details I might have overlooked before—the way a fern unfurls, the pattern of veins on a leaf, or the gradual fading of summer’s greens into autumn’s golds. This deeper connection with nature enriched both my art and my understanding of the environment.

The skills and insights I’ve gained through my country diary will undoubtedly shape my future work, whether it’s exploring new techniques, teaching others, or continuing to document the natural world. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to immerse myself in this project and for everyone who followed along with my journey.

Thank you for joining me on this journey—whether you’ve been inspired to start your own country diary or simply enjoyed a glimpse into mine. Here’s to another year of creativity, learning, and celebrating the beauty of nature!

What's Next?

I’ve already started my new project for 2025. Explore the beauty and diversity of the Pacific Northwest with my new Native Plant Feature Series, showcasing a variety of wildflowers and native plants, including red-listed and rare species. Each month in 2025, I’ll introduce a new plant through engaging lessons that teach you how to paint wildflowers and native plants with clear, actionable steps in each lesson.

Join me in The Watercolor Garden as I share personal stories about these plants—where I discovered them, how I learned about their unique traits, and fascinating facts about each plant, as well as their common and Latin names. Alongside each lesson, you’ll get access to full-length video lessons, tips videos, reference materials, and creative project ideas for all skill levels.

At the end of each month, I’ll share a final wrap-up video that brings together all the research and steps I took to create that month’s featured plant. Join me in the Watercolor Garden to enjoy this inspiring monthly content and celebrate the incredible plants of the Pacific Northwest!

Happy painting,

Laura




Laura Watson
Botanical Artist & Instructor
Founder of The Watercolour Garden
www.thewatercolourgarden.com