Session Materials

For the session:
  • Your favorite mark-making tools:
    • Pen or pencil
    • Recommended: a pen with a flexible tip, like a marker or a firm brush pen. My favorite pen is the Fudenosuke Brush Pen from Tombow. But any flexible-tip pen can work.
  • Sketchbook / nature journal
  • Blank paper (about 5 sheets, plain printer paper is fine)
    • or printed templates (optional, see below)
  • 1-2 natural objects to draw <-IMPORTANT
    • Have something that has interesting textures, and that you can safely touch.
  • Optional:
    • Colored pencils
    • Watercolors + brush
    • Any other materials you like to use when journaling

Session Presentation Decks & Downloads

Presentation decks and downloadable template packets are listed in the Presentation Decks section.
Materials are available both for the live session version and the re-recorded version.

Additional downloads

Attributes Reference Sheet
A list of attributes for each sense. This cheat sheet helps you unpack a sense into more specific observations.
• Cheat Sheet for attributes of senses [download, pdf]

Word Lists for Sensory Vocabulary
Word lists of vivid and potent words to expand your sensory vocabulary. Organized by sense.
• Word Lists for senses [download, pdf]

Online Gallery

About the facilitator:
Hi, I'm Kate. I'm a visual journaler, sketchnoter, and recovering tech entrepreneur with a rambunctious and sketchnivorous visual practice; I believe that looking closely and drawing the natural word makes for a life of curiosity and wonder.

I teach at the California College of the Arts, host the East Bay Sketchers Meetup group, and have illustrated a couple of books. I have a BA in studio art from Wellesley College, and once daily journaled the first 100 days of the growth of an avocado pit. You can find me on twitter and instagram at @katerutter.