Nature Journaling Prompt: Microlandscape
On a chilly winter day, Marketing Manager Nakaia Macomber-Millman ventured out in search of a miniature scene to record, inspired by our December collaboration with Wild Wonder Foundation.
By Nakaia Macomber-Millman
December 17th prompt: Microlandscape. Find a small patch (one square foot) of ground, and create a detailed map of everything within it. What is the micro terrain and the micro climate of this tiny landscape? What species (flora and fauna) inhabit it? Note which way the shadow falls on the “hills,” and document the natural vegetation colors. Add lines, labels, and anything other details you’d like to your landscape map.
Microlandscape by Nakaia Macomber-Millman
I’m always noticing tiny plants and crawly critters, especially in the garden, so this prompt urged me to do the same, but with a sketchbook in hand. As I set out on a cold winter morning, I kept my sights low, in search of floral diversity in texture and color.
This prompt invites you into stillness. Squatting low and staring intently, letting your eyes blur at the ground as you try to look everywhere all at once. When you stare long enough, the movement of the tiniest soil gnats and pill bugs become detectable, and spiders emerge from blades of grass, disappearing a moment later, camouflaged by the forest floor.
A Little Landscape
A stump covered in turkey tail fungus caught my eye and I stopped. I observed this shaded, moist micro-climate in the forest. Two tiny sprouts poked up and fungus grew abundantly.
The rest of the ground was scattered with grey twigs, orange needles, and warm brown cones from the towering pines above.
My Sketches
Color Blocks: I sketched a map from above with shapes outlining the six dominant colors of the landscape.
Topography: As if charting a mountain and valley, I drew topographical lines, following the general shape of the sloping stump, and taking some creative liberties of course.
Values: I challenged myself to discern a range of values from what appeared a fairly flat scene with very few lights or darks in the extreme.
Below those studies, I did some zoom-in sketches to highlight the flora and fungi I observed, and to accompany the full-page sketch of my microlandscape on the right.
Supplies
Inspired by the “one square foot” prompt, I chose to sketch in a square-format 100% Cotton Watercolor Book and, although my microlandscape was closer to two square feet, the ratio was forgiving and the smooth pages were perfect.
A pencil
Copic Multiliner SP Pen (0.35 nib)
Demi Palette filled with my favorite Pacific Northwest, outdoorsy Daniel Smith pigments. This dark blue palette used to contain the fluorescent pigments of the Rainglow Palette, a limited-edition collaboration with paintmaker Case for Making in 2024.
Row 1: Hansa Yellow Light, Yellow Ochre, New Gamboge, Quinacridone Rose.
Row 1: Green Gold, Phthalo Green (Blue Shade), Cobalt Teal Blue, Cobalt Blue.
Row 1: Titanium White Gouache, Buff Titanium, Indigo, and Payne’s Grey.
I used a pencil to roughly sketch the big shapes and a few details, capturing proportions of log to bare ground, grass blade length to scattered fir needle. Did I mention it was cold! With sketches and a reference photo at the ready, I went inside to finish the sketch by the fire, taking small trips outside every now and again revisit the stump to capture shape and color on location.
Thank you for following along, and I’m excited to sketch more of natures fine details—in the summer!
—Nakaia Macomber-Millman
To read more about last December’s month of nature journaling prompts, and to see the full list of prompts, click here. Be sure to tag your art with #NatureJournaling2026 and #ArtToolkitFridayPrompt; we love to see what you create!