Perpetual Journaling with Lara Gastinger
In this demo session, botanical illustrator Lara Gastinger invites you to join her in capturing years of observations in your sketchbook.
By The Art Toolkit Team
This is a recording from our live demo, Perpetual Journaling with Lara Gastinger, on June 17th, 2026.
In this live demo, Lara shares her practice of perpetual journaling.
A perpetual journal is an approach to nature journaling that builds year after year on the same pages. In this demo, Lara introduces basic skills for starting and maintaining your own perpetual journal. Learn how to set up your sketchbook pages and discover the observational techniques that Lara uses to sketch flora and fauna.
Highlights from the Demo
In the demo, Lara reminded us about the importance of nature journaling in today’s world. It is a practice that allows us to nurture curiosity and cultivate wonder. No matter where you are, you can make discoveries and make an impact.
You can start a perpetual journal today, with any journal you have. Lara uses a handmade 9" x 6" journal with 140lb paper, which she orders from Wondercabin (use Lara’s code, friends20, for a discount).
Lara emphasizes loose experimentation over perfection, and the slow incremental buildup of sketches. Watch a time lapse of Lara’s sketches on her pages at minute 6:22 of the demo!
It’s a surprise to Lara how the pages build up; she says that if you allow the process to happen, the pages will create themselves. Lara limits herself to one drawing in her perpetual journal per week. As with weightlifting or exercising, consistency is key.
Connect with seasonal changes, and learn about the plants around you. Perpetual journaling is also a mindfulness practice through which you will see your drawing skills improve.
You can adapt your perpetual journal pages to your unique needs and seasonal distribution. You can create different journals for different purposes, for example, one that you fill up while camping.
Follow Along and Sketch
Lara sketched the ostrich fern frond and fiddlehead below. We loved learning the difference between the pinnae (leaflets) and pinnules (divisions of leaflets). This reference photo can also be downloaded here.
Recommended Supplies
For this demo, Lara recommends having:
Sketching tools: A waterproof fineliner like the Copic Multiliner SP Pen or Lara’s favorite, a Micron pen (size 005, sepia).
Paper: Smooth watercolor paper, or hot press 140lb paper.
Brushes: Water brush or a small paint brush with clean water.
Paints: Bring your palette and favorite paints! Lara’s palette includes Prussian Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Lemon Yellow, Indian Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Scarlet Red, Neutral Tint, Sepia, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Moonglow.
About Lara
Lara Call Gastinger is an artist and botanical illustrator from Charlottesville, Virginia. Her art appears in Peterson Field Guide to Mushrooms of North America and the American Society of Botanical Artists’ Botanical Art Techniques, and she was the chief illustrator of Flora of Virginia, a botanical reference.
Lara teaches online and in person and is excited to publish her book, A Perpetual Journal Practice: Building a Connection with Nature Through Art on June 23rd, 2026. Order it via our Books pape (available soon) for a free custom-designed bookmark signed by Lara!
Learn more about Lara on her website, Instagram, and Patreon.
Lara Call Gastinger
Website | Social Media
Thank you to those who joined us live, and we encourage you to explore past demos on our Demos page!
