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Beginner's guide

So you're getting into nature journaling

Nature journaling sits at the crossroads of art and science. You're outside, watching, drawing, writing, and noticing things you'd walk right past otherwise. The gear is simple and portable. Here's what to carry, what to leave home, and how to get started.

By Colin B. · Published June 14, 2026 · Last reviewed June 14, 2026
a man sitting in the grass reading a book

Photo by Masjid Pogung Dalangan on Unsplash

The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. Stillman & Birn Zeta Softcover Sketchbook (5.5x8.5) — Stillman & Birn Zeta: thick pages that handle watercolor without buckling, sized right for any pack.
  2. Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Set (6-pack) — Sakura Micron pens won't bleed when you add watercolor over them: the field journaler's standard.
  3. Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Field Travel Set — Winsor & Newton Cotman field kit: 12 real watercolors in a tin that fits in a coat pocket, with a built-in palette.
Budget total
$35
Typical total
$80
A decent sketchbook and a pen are all you truly need to start. Add a watercolor field kit and you're under $80 total.

We earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases — see our affiliate disclosure. Price tiers and budget totals shown above are editorial estimates; actual Amazon prices vary.

At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
SketchbooksStillman & BirnStillman & Birn Zeta Softcover Sketchbook (5.5x8.5)$$ See on Amazon →
PensSakuraSakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Set (6-pack)$ See on Amazon →
Watercolor Field KitsWinsor & NewtonWinsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Field Travel Set$$ See on Amazon →
BrushesPrinceton Artist BrushPrinceton Neptune Series 4750 Travel Brush Set$$ See on Amazon →
Observation ToolsCarsonCarson MagniGrip Magnifier with Carabiner$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Start with a pen and a cheap notebook. Seriously. The biggest mistake beginners make is building an elaborate kit before ever sitting outside and drawing a leaf. Do one session with whatever is in your desk drawer first; you'll learn more about what you actually need.

Paper quality matters more than brush quality. Cheap watercolor brushes and good paper look better than expensive brushes on paper that buckles and pills. Spend money on the sketchbook, not the brushes.

Field watercolors are not the same as student-grade pan sets. The pigment density in a quality field kit (Winsor & Newton Cotman, Schmincke Akademie) is dramatically better than what comes in a generic 24-pan set at the craft store. One good tin of 12 beats three bad tins of 24.

The gear

What you actually need

green leaves on white notebook

Photo by Margaret Jaszowska on Unsplash

Sketchbooks

Your sketchbook is the most important gear decision. Nature journaling almost always involves water media (watercolor washes, wet brush, even just a damp finger), so you need paper that can handle moisture without warping. Look for 90 lb (190 gsm) or heavier. Format matters too: most journalers prefer a 5x8 or A5 book that fits in a jacket pocket or day pack. Hardcover or lay-flat spiral bindings beat floppy softcovers for field use.

Sketchbooks — what's the difference?

A few common shapes, each making a different trade.

Spiral-bound

Lay-flat convenience, snags on bags. Best for field sessions.

Binding
Spiral
Lays flat
Yes, fully

Best for Active field sketchers, pack-in hikers

Tradeoff Spiral can bend; pages don't archive as cleanly

Hardcover bound

Cleaner, more archival, acts as its own surface.

Binding
Sewn hardcover
Lays flat
Partially

Best for Journalers who also write, slow-paced observation sessions

Tradeoff Doesn't lie completely flat; slight gutter resistance

Best starter
Stillman & Birn

Zeta Softcover Sketchbook (5.5x8.5)

$$

Our rating

The Zeta series uses 270 gsm extra-white paper that handles multiple watercolor washes without buckling. Lay-flat spiral binding means the book stays open on uneven surfaces. The 5.5x8.5 size is the sweet spot for field work: big enough to draw a bird, small enough for a daypack pocket.

What we like

  • 270 gsm paper handles heavy watercolor washes without buckling
  • Lay-flat spiral stays open on uneven ground or a knee
  • Extra-white surface makes colors pop compared to cream-toned books

What to know

  • Spiral binding can snag on bag pockets
  • Pricier than generic sketchbooks but the paper difference is real
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Leuchtturm1917

A5 Hardcover Sketchbook

$

Our rating

A German-quality hardcover at a fair price with 150 gsm paper, fine for pen-and-ink days and very light washes, and the hardcover doubles as a writing surface in the field. Good starting point if you're not sure watercolor will become a regular thing.

What we like

  • Hardcover acts as a portable writing surface, no clipboard needed
  • 150 gsm handles pen-and-ink and light washes well
  • Numbered pages and index built in for cataloging observations

What to know

  • 150 gsm buckles under heavy washes; keep layers thin
  • A5 format is slightly small for detailed bird or plant spreads
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Hahnemuhle

Watercolor Book (A5 Landscape)

$$$

Our rating

300 gsm cold-press paper in a landscape-format hardcover. This is what serious nature journalers eventually land on. The texture grabs pigment the way studio watercolor paper does, and the landscape orientation suits panoramic scenes and plant spreads. Buy it after you've filled your first two books.

What we like

  • 300 gsm cold-press handles the most ambitious washes without complaint
  • Landscape format ideal for panoramic scenes and botanical spreads
  • Hahnemuhle paper holds color saturation better than student grades

What to know

  • Expensive per page; you'll feel it when you make a mistake
  • Landscape orientation awkward for quick single-subject sketches
See on Amazon →

Pens

The cardinal rule of nature journaling pens: whatever ink you use has to be waterproof. You'll add watercolor over your pen lines, and a water-soluble ink turns your crisp drawing into muddy smears. Pigment-based fineliner pens (Sakura Micron, Staedtler Pigment Liner) are the standard. Once you're confident with fineliners, many journalers add a fountain pen with waterproof ink for smoother line variation.

Best starter
Sakura

Pigma Micron Fineliner Set (6-pack)

$

Our rating

The Micron is the nature journaling pen. Pigment-based ink is fully waterproof once dry, sizes 005 through 08 give you everything from hair-thin details to bold outlines, and they're archival so your journals last. Every nature journaling instructor you'll meet recommends these first.

What we like

  • Fully waterproof once dry: add watercolor over lines with no bleeding
  • Archival pigment ink; your journals will look the same in 20 years
  • 6 nib sizes in one pack covers every detail level you'll encounter

What to know

  • Nibs dry out if left uncapped in direct sun; cap between uses
  • Tips can splay on rough watercolor paper if you press hard
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Platinum

Carbon Desk Fountain Pen

$$

Our rating

Carbon black fountain pen ink is waterproof, and a fountain pen lets you vary line weight with pressure in a way fineliners can't. The Platinum Carbon Desk is the affordable entry into waterproof fountain pens, a quality nib at a fraction of what a Lamy or Kaweco costs. Load it with Platinum Carbon Black ink (sold separately) and it becomes your most expressive field tool.

What we like

  • Variable line weight with pressure: more expressive than fineliners
  • Carbon black ink is fully waterproof once dry
  • Refillable; cost per page is a fraction of disposable fineliners

What to know

  • Carbon ink clogs nib if pen sits unused more than a week
  • Requires separate ink purchase; initial setup has a learning curve
See on Amazon →
Watercolor paintings of autumn elements on paper

Photo by Yen Vu on Unsplash

Watercolor Field Kits

Field watercolors need to be portable, have decent pigment density, and dry in the tin without cracking. Tube paints squeezed into your own palette, half-pan sets, and compact travel tins all work. For beginners, a pre-loaded half-pan set is the most convenient start: no filling, no mixing ratios, just open and paint. Stick to 12-color sets at first; you can color-mix your way to any hue you need.

Best starter
Winsor & Newton

Cotman Watercolor Field Travel Set

$$

Our rating

The Cotman Field Plus is the go-to beginner field kit for a reason: 12 half-pan colors that cover a full nature palette (earth tones, sky blues, foliage greens), a mixing palette built into the lid, and a collapsible travel brush included. Cotman pigments are student-grade but the quality floor is high enough that your results will look good.

What we like

  • 12 colors cover the full nature palette: earth tones, greens, sky blues
  • Flip-lid mixing palette built in, no separate palette to carry
  • Compact tin fits in a coat pocket or small pack pocket

What to know

  • Included travel brush is stiff; budget for a replacement round brush
  • Student-grade pigments; some colors are less lightfast than artist grade
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Arteza

Watercolor Field Set (36 Half Pans)

$

Our rating

If you want more colors to experiment with before committing to a quality set, Arteza's field kit gives you 36 half pans at a price that makes experimentation painless. The pigments aren't as dense as Cotman, but for practice sessions and getting your color-mixing instincts calibrated, it's fine.

What we like

  • 36 colors lets you experiment with mixing before narrowing your palette
  • Lowest cost of entry for getting actual watercolors in your kit

What to know

  • Lower pigment density; colors look thin compared to Cotman
  • Tin is bulkier than 12-pan kits, harder to carry in a jacket pocket
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Schmincke

Akademie Aquarell Watercolor Set (12 Half Pans)

$$$

Our rating

Schmincke's Akademie line hits just below professional grade at a price that's still reasonable. The pigment density is noticeably richer than Cotman, colors stay vivid when dry, and German-made consistency means every pan performs. 12 well-chosen pans cover the full nature palette when you know your colors well.

What we like

  • Near-professional pigment density; colors stay vivid after drying
  • German manufacturing consistency across every pan
  • 12-pan selection forces color-mixing knowledge, builds skill

What to know

  • No built-in mixing palette lid; carry a separate folding palette for field sessions
  • Significant price step up from student-grade sets
See on Amazon →

Brushes

For field watercolor, you only need one or two brushes. A travel brush that collapses into its own handle, plus a small round for detail work. Kolinsky sable holds more water and snaps back to a point better than synthetic, but a good synthetic round works fine for field use. The key feature for field brushes: a travel case or cap so the tip doesn't get crushed in your bag.

Best starter
Princeton Artist Brush

Princeton Neptune Series 4750 Travel Brush Set

$$

Our rating

Princeton's Aqua Elite synthetics are the best in the category for field use: they hold a sharp point like sable, hold water better than most synthetics, and the handles break down into compact travel form. A size 8 round and a size 4 round handle 90% of nature journaling situations.

What we like

  • Synthetic sable holds a fine point and snaps back reliably
  • Travel form collapses to protect the tip in your pack
  • Holds more water than cheaper synthetics; fewer trips to the water cup

What to know

  • Bristles splay if dried watercolor builds up in the ferrule
  • Two-brush set covers most situations but you'll want a third for fine detail
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Da Vinci

Casaneo Travel Brush

$

Our rating

A single collapsible travel brush at a budget price. The synthetic fiber holds a decent point, the metal cap protects the tip, and the handle is compact enough for any kit. If you want to start with one brush and see how you like field watercolor, this is it.

What we like

  • Collapsible handle with protective metal cap fits any kit
  • One brush handles most field watercolor tasks at low commitment

What to know

  • Single brush limits versatility; you'll want a second size quickly
  • Synthetic fiber doesn't hold water as long as premium alternatives
Find on Amazon →
person examining a specimen with a hand lens magnifier outdoors

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Observation Tools

The best nature journalers are observers first and artists second. Two tools dramatically improve what you see and can record: a loupe for close-up insect and plant detail, and a good field guide. John Muir Laws specifically recommends a 10x loupe as standard kit. A water brush (built-in reservoir) is also worth having for sessions where you can't carry a water cup.

Best starter
Carson

MagniGrip Magnifier with Carabiner

$

Our rating

A 10x loupe reveals insect structure, leaf venation, lichen texture, and seed detail that the naked eye misses entirely. The Carson MagniGrip has an LED ring light so you can use it in shadow, and the rubber grip means you can hold it without it rattling around. John Muir Laws recommends 10x specifically; it's the right magnification before you get into microstructure.

What we like

  • 10x magnification reveals insect wing structure and seed detail
  • Built-in LED ring light works in shadow and under bark
  • Compact and light enough to carry on a key ring or lanyard

What to know

  • LED requires a button battery that dies without warning
  • 10x field of view is small; requires steady hand for a clear view
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Pentel

Aquash Water Brush (3-pack, assorted tips)

$

Our rating

A water brush is a brush with a built-in water reservoir in the handle: squeeze the barrel, water flows to the tip. For sessions where you can't carry a water cup (scrambling on rocks, trail running, birding on a hillside), a water brush means you're never stranded. The Pentel Aquash is the market standard: reliable flow, good tip variety, easy to clean.

What we like

  • Built-in water reservoir means no cup needed in the field
  • 3 tip sizes (fine, medium, flat) in one pack covers most situations
  • Market-standard reliability; flow is consistent and controllable

What to know

  • Overfilling reservoir causes pigment to run too fast; fill halfway
  • Less precise water delivery than a dip brush for controlled washes
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Heyday Books

Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling

$

Our rating

John Muir Laws wrote the book on this hobby, literally. His illustrated guide covers observational technique, how to draw birds and insects step-by-step, writing prompts that deepen your noticing, and how to build a regular practice. Most journaling instructors across the country use this as the course text. Worth more than any piece of gear.

What we like

  • Written by the field's leading teacher and used in courses nationwide
  • Covers drawing, observation, and writing practice in one volume
  • Step-by-step bird and insect drawing sequences for absolute beginners

What to know

  • Covers techniques broadly rather than deep-diving any single subject
  • Physical book stays at home; the field habits you learn go with you
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first month of nature journaling

The habit that changes how you see the outdoors. You don't need to draw well, you just need to sit down and look. Here's how the first month actually goes.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • A professional watercolor palette — Artist-grade Daniel Smith or Winsor & Newton Professional paints are wonderful. You can't tell the difference from a good student set until you've filled at least three sketchbooks.
  • A tripod or spotting scope — You're not trying to photograph. You're trying to observe. A slow, close-up session with a loupe teaches more than a perfect telephoto image.
  • Watercolor pencils — A popular beginner purchase that most journalers abandon. They feel like a bridge between drawing and painting but work less well than either. Start with pens and watercolor separately.
  • An expensive field guide library — Start with one field guide for the species group you're most curious about: birds, plants, or insects in your region. iNaturalist handles everything else for free.
  • Specialty drawing tools — Ruling pens, crow quills, and brush pens all have their uses, but for the first six months a Micron set is all the mark-making you need.
  • A camera for reference shots — Drawing from a photo teaches you to copy pixels, not observe nature. Sit with the subject. If it flies away, that's part of the practice.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Grab a Sakura Micron set and any paper you have and sit outside for 20 minutes. Draw whatever is in front of you. Don't open YouTube first. · Action
  2. Order your sketchbook and watercolor kit so they arrive by the weekend. · Buy
  3. Order the John Muir Laws guide. Read the first chapter before your next outdoor session. · Buy
  4. Pick one specific subject (a single plant, a bird you see regularly, an insect on your window) and fill an entire page with observations about it. Write and draw. · Action
  5. Create a free account on iNaturalist. Upload your observations to get species IDs and connect with local naturalists. · Action
    • iNaturalist · Free community-powered species identification tool
  6. Watch one John Muir Laws YouTube video on observation technique. His channel is the best free resource in the hobby. · Learn
FAQ

Common questions

Do I have to be able to draw to start nature journaling?

No. Nature journaling is about observation and recording; drawing is one tool among several, alongside writing, measurement, and notation. John Muir Laws's whole teaching approach starts with the assumption that you can't draw yet. The drawing skill follows the observation habit, not the other way around.

How is nature journaling different from regular journaling?

Regular journaling is about your inner life. Nature journaling is about the external world: you're documenting species, behavior, weather, habitat, and your specific observations. The tools are also different: waterproof pens, water media, and field guides rather than a diary and a ballpoint.

What's the right kind of paper for nature journaling?

Paper that can handle water without buckling: 90 lb (190 gsm) minimum for light washes, 140 lb (300 gsm) for heavy watercolor work. The Stillman & Birn Zeta (270 gsm) is the most commonly recommended beginner book because it handles both techniques without complaint.

Can I use any watercolor paints?

Almost any watercolor works for the technique itself, but pigment density matters for results. The Winsor & Newton Cotman field kit is the standard recommendation: real pigments, compact tin, built-in palette. Generic craft-store pan sets have weaker pigments and make color mixing harder to learn from.

How long should I spend in one journaling session?

20 to 45 minutes is the sweet spot for beginners. Long enough to actually observe something, short enough that it doesn't feel like a production. John Muir Laws recommends sitting with one subject for the full session rather than walking and sketching multiple things; the depth of observation is where the learning happens.

Is iNaturalist useful for nature journalers?

Extremely useful. You photograph what you see, upload it, and the community identifies the species. It fills the field-guide gap for beginners who haven't built a reference library yet, and connecting with local naturalists gives you observation leads for your area.

Going further

Where to next

Related hobbies

Browse by category

Authoritative sources

  • John Muir Laws (YouTube + Website) — The closest thing the hobby has to a central authority. Free tutorials, observation prompts, and the curriculum behind the best-selling guide. Start here.
  • iNaturalist — Free species ID tool and naturalist community. Upload photos from your journal sessions to identify what you drew and connect with local experts.
  • Nature Journal Club (Facebook group) — John Muir Laws's community group. Active daily sharing, critique, and prompts. The most supportive beginner-friendly community in the hobby.
  • Field Notes from Elsewhere (YouTube) — Practical field technique tutorials: how to draw birds quickly, how to use a loupe, how to structure observation pages. Excellent complement to the Laws approach.
  • r/naturejournaling — Active subreddit. Good for gear questions, page shares, and identifying what species you drew but couldn't name. Skip the comparison spirals.
person writing on white paper

Photo by Elle Hughes on Unsplash

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