We’re all well aware of patterns in nature,
But how often do you ever stop and really pay close attention to those patterns?
And do you know the names of the patterns?
These are the questions I was pondering as I was sketching in my nature journal recently.
And as I was researching and pondering patterns, I grew more and more fascinated.
Studying nature gives you a new appreciation for its marvels and intelligence.
Learning new details about nature really makes it come alive!
Want to join me in my nature appreciation? Grab your sketchbook.
Nature Patterns Journaling Practice
Before I started my journal page, I did some quick research on different patterns in nature. I gathered a list of shapes and patterns that occur naturally in the wild. Then, I came up with examples of these patterns and started to collect some specimens.
The examples that weren’t readily available, or journal-able (can’t paste a seashell in a sketchbook), I drew.
Here’s what my journal page looks like:
I encourage you to try this same process.
First, find some neat examples of patterns in nature to include in your spread.
Then, either include real-life examples or draw examples of the different shapes and patterns in your journal.
Otherwise, you can combine real-life examples and illustrations too, like I did.
Shapes and Patterns in Nature Scavenger Hunt
If you have kids, you can include them in this activity too. I put together a two-page pattern scavenger hunt that your children can hunt for [you’ll find the sheets on our Tear Sheets page too].
Grab the printable here! (and don’t forget to Pin this!)
You can have them just check off the patterns as they find them or have your kids draw their examples in their journals too.
Here’s a brief description of all the nature patterns in the scavenger hunt:
- Spiral: a line that curves in on itself. Examples: seashells, seahorse.
- Concentric circles: a series of circles of varying sizes inside of circles, with a common center. Examples: water ripples, tree rings
- Fractals: a pattern that repeats on a smaller and smaller scale. Examples: fern leaves, trees, snowflakes.
- Lines of convergence: lines that all meet at the same point. Examples: pine needle bunches, plantain veins.
- Tesselation: repeated shapes (often irregular) that cover a surface without gaps or overlap, like that of a mosaic. Examples: turtle shell, dry cracked earth.
- Dendrites: branching pattern. Examples: plant roots, tree branches, split ends, veins.
- Heart: you know the shape. Examples: wood sorrel, bleeding heart plant.
- Honeycomb: a repeating pattern of hexagons. Examples: bee hive.
- Waves: an undulating pattern of peaks and swells. Examples: ocean waves, sand dunes.
- Meanders: a winding path. Examples: movement of a snake, riverways.
- Strata: parallel layers of material. Examples: sedimentary rock, earth’s layers.
- Obelisk: a tapering stone pillar. Examples: crystals, stalagmites.
- Stripes: repeating bands of color. Examples: caterpillars, zebra fur.
- Symmetry: a pattern that repeats itself on the opposite side of an axis, like a mirror reflection. Examples: butterfly wings, spiderweb, feather, leaf.
- Crescent: partial-moon shape. Example: uh…the moon, fingernails, gulfs.
Can you come up with any other nature patterns? There are 2 open slots at the bottom of the second sheet for your own examples.
Are you as fascinated by this stuff as I am?
Show me your nature patterns and journal pages on Instagram. Tag @forestbathingcentral with your examples.