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.
Perpetual Journaling with Lara Gastinger
Wednesday, June 17th, 2026
Join us online on Wednesday, June 17th at noon Pacific for our live demo, Perpetual Journaling with Lara Gastinger.
A perpetual journal is an approach to nature journaling that builds year after year on the same pages. In this demo, Lara will introduce basic skills for starting and maintaining your own perpetual journal! Learn how to set up your sketchbook and discover the observational techniques that Lara uses to sketch on-location. Lara will be drawing and painting a fern fiddlehead and frond, and we invite you to follow along with pen and watercolor.
We hope to see you there!
What to Bring
For this demo, Lara recommends bringing:
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.
Take a peek at the reference photo Lara shared for this demo!
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. She 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.
Learn more about Lara on her website, Instagram, and via her Patreon.
We hope to see you there!