August 2026 update

This month I've slowed down as my teaching has picked up, but still managed to fit in moments of time for nature journalling or painting. Once again my interests hop from one subject, style and medium to another. I suspect this activity is a reflection of my mood day by day, but also goes to show how much external factors influence our interests.

For instance, I've been very inspired by the Portrait Artist of the Year series (currently watching the UK ones) and painted two portraits so far in gouache while watching. I also had a go at nocturnal plein air painting and making coffee clay (results still to be determined once clay dries):

Nature journaling in Makuru

The wet weather came back so I didn't get to do as much plein air painting as I hoped. However the early signs of spring means there's lots of activity that I can nature journal, such as a white-cheeked honeyeater nesting in the bush by the garage. Unfortunately we found a dead chick one day on the ground and the following day the other chick was cold in the nest. The parents seemed to be dismantling it to build a new one in a different bush. It could be that the garage was too disturbing a location, or perhaps the cold weather?

There are frogs frolicking in the reeds at Herdsman Lake, ducks and swans with some chicks emerging and even a turtle hatchling. The nankeen night herons have been numerous and we've spotted a juvenile. At home the caterpillars are munching away and are getting very big. I didn't know one type had the fitting name of "woolly bear"!

There are also many flowers out in the bushland, these photos were taken at Badgerup Reserve:

Coming up

A reminder there are two nature journalling workshops this month - skulls and fossils for the Sea Monsters exhibition at the Mandurah Museum and spring wildflowers at the King's Park Everlasting Festival:

Spring Workshops

Sea Monsters Nature Journalling Workshop Wednesday 9th September, 1 - 3 PM, Mandurah Museum Explore the fascinating world of fossils, skulls, and scientific observation. As part of the Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators exhibition program, Mandurah Museum invites you to explore the fascinating world of fossils, skulls, and scientific observation through

Kim's NJ AdventuresKim Lapere

Of course the long weekend in September is also when I participate in the annual Plein Air Down Under Festival in Mandurah. So it will be a busy month - I hope to see some of you at these events. 😄 Enjoy the springtime!