A Trail Through Leaves: The Journal as a Path to Place

by Hannah Hinchman

"Wow! What a find this is! . . . We all have something to learn from such an exquisite resource."―Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, Colorado To artist-writer-naturalist Hannah Hinchman, the blank pages of a journal are a call to awaken the soul, to celebrate being alive in the world, to get to know both the wilderness of our inmost selves and the "unpredictable and potent" natural world. In the richly illustrated pages of this book, she unfolds a myriad of wonders ― the pattern of a bee abdomen, varieties of ice forms and sky colors, the joys of a garden ― and shows us how to capture them on the page. Hinchman's respect for the miracle of our five senses, and her passion for what they can tell us about the world, is contagious. "Start with a smell, like a crushed marigold leaf, the sea, coal smoke," she advises, and from such raw materials begin to "decant the stuff of life" into journal form, "where it remains fresh, still tasting of its source." Even for one who has no intention of journal-keeping, to delve into Hinchman's own work is to see with new eyes. A Trail Through Leaves is a true gift and inspiration, a treasure-box of ways to write, draw, and be alive to the world. * "This is an important book, brilliantly produced. Its light will linger a long, long time." ― John R. Stilgoe, professor in the history of landscape, Harvard University * "[B]oth a rich work of performance art and a personal growth tool with many handles." ― Boston Globe Full-color and black-and-white drawings throughout

Genres: Art, Writing, Nonfiction, Nature, Journaling, Memoir, Self Help

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely, lyrical look at journal keeping from Hinchman, who avoids "the deadlock of introspective obsession" (Alexandra Johnson) by observing and drawing her surroundings and keeping her writing style concrete, nearly brusque.

[Laser Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone interested in art journaling, this book is a must have! Instead of being filled with exercises (although she does offer few suggestions) this book is filled with ideas that encompass the very heart and soul of journaling, to becoming more open and aware of viewing the world around us. The book is filled with beautiful drawings and insightful ideas from the artist who has spent most of her life sketching and writing. Read this book, you won't regret it!

[Abby]

I came to this book warily, but I think I am getting over my irrational grumpiness with other people who fell in love with Wyoming (how dare you!). Also find myself surprisingly tolerant of the nature writing here, which has a spine of truly helpful method and craft. The person who recommended this to me said they got it as a college text, and I'm banking several chapters as teaching material--the one about bones was what got me.

Hinchman strictly skirts all details of her personal life as beside the point of the book, but you can see them slipping in around the descriptions--her relationships and breakups, her jobs and decisions. I can see that for her, the images are the emotional content in a very real way. The words she chooses, the thickness of pen strokes, this is how you know what inner state she brings to the scene. I've found it's often helpful to just say the thing you mean to say, but I should probably rediscover this subtlety of expression. I'm jealous, too, of her ability to slow down. I feel too impatient for drawing right now, or even for the kind of vivid noticing she tries to teach.

Read this in chunks as I've been re/discovering the sky island mountains in southern AZ. It's been an entirely worthwhile practice.

[Angela Boord · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an old friend. I bought it many years ago and dip in and out of it periodically for inspiration. This is probably the fourth time I have read it cover to cover. Not a how-to book, and unintimidating even with its beautiful illustrations, this book is more of a reflection on how keeping an illuminated journal over the course of many years has helped to ground the author and given her a sense of place. I think I appreciate this book even more now that I am about the same age as the author was when she wrote it, and since I have actually visited the Wind River Range of Wyoming that Hinchman describes so well - in words and sketches -- in the book.

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I most loved the early section of the book, lots of good insights on "why journal" as a commonbook practice.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very beautiful and fun book about journaling about nature. It is about equal parts discussion of Hinchman's experiences, excerpts from her illustrated journals, and suggested exercises or ideas for expanding and deepening one's own journaling practice. Even if you're not interested in journaling, you might like this just to look at Hinchman's drawings.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so grateful to my friend Jan for recommending this book. Hannah Hinchman is a terrific teacher, using examples, giving exercises, reflecting on her experiences. As I read this book I felt inspired and also as though I'd met my soul sister. Her way of being in the world is one I want to emulate!

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishingly beautiful. Far more than an instructional book on journal-keeping. A poem to art and science.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many small leaves to turn over in this book. I feel there would be much to take from this, and repeated readings would only make it better. I find at times though, it is a bit pretentious. It's a lot of purple prose to wade through, and at times I wanted to skip ahead. But I stuck it out and I'm glad I did.
I lived the first 9 years of my life exploring the woods surrounding my home every chance I got. So I can appreciate this book on that level. There is an undertone here to slow down, observe and appreciate that which surrounds you. Through observation we improve not just our creative skills but ourselves.
I'll read it again in the future. And maybe the rating will improve.

[Julieann Wielga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much looked forward to reading this beautiful book every night. The reason for this excitement was my belief that this book could lead me to being a deeper observer.
I am inspired by her to try even harder to give names to things I see, more specific and more specific each time.
I am inspired by her to try to try to build a palette in outdoor spaces and not just one palette.
I am inspired by her to try to view each place as a dynamic scene and try to imagine what it might have looked like in the recent and distant and past and what it might look like in the the near and far future.

[Valorie Hallinan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book. Both the art and the writing are singular. I mention this book liberally in my post at Books Can Save a Life: http://wp.me/p28JYl-4zf

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peaceful and inspiring read.

[Kasey Jueds · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many things to love about this beautiful book. For one, the illustrations, which are so alive and which pay attention to what's large and small and everything in between. Also, the personal nature of this book, which, though it's about how it keep a journal, is also about Hannah Hinchman's life and the recording/creation of that life through her own writing and drawing. I've been wanting to learn to draw and want to read this again as I start that process. There are some very practical tips, especially about supplies, and some practical-but-surprising pieces of advice, too, like how to make what Hinchman calls an "event map." So the book is really about both the outer and inner work of seeing and creating and recording--it's inspiring and luminous.

[Andria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has gorgeous illustrations and I would love to meet the author as she sounds like a very interesting character. I am not at all sure of her purpose for the book which is the reason that I gave it four stars instead of five. It seems at times a teaching text, at times a poetic look on life, an introspection, and a detailed map of nature encountered. However, it doesn't seem to be one all the way through and the last page confused me. It did not seem to be sketches that summed anything up with regards to any of those possible purposes. Maybe it was just a rambling but I think the book could have been so much more it if had been focused.

[Nanci]

A beautiful and inspiring book that shows the reader by example how to rec0rd how you perceive the natural world around you. With pencil, watercolors, and pen and ink--Hinchman talks about ways to explore how you see the world. I cannot emphasize how incredible this book is, and in fact just bought a used copy of it.

Check it out to see how a person who loves nature and art and teaches how to explore our amazing world around us.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolutely lovely book. As I began reading it, I felt like I had found someone who looks at the world in a way very similar to the way I do. Through that connection I felt intrigued by her simple yet detailed style of sketching, complemented by observations and other notes. I’ll be using some of her advice as I venture out into the world with my nature journal.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome and inspiring. A definite recommendation for anyone who likes to keep journals. It has great photos of the author's journals, as well as exercises and ideas for prompting you in your own journal keeping. very good.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not done yet. I am so happy that our library was opened after much fund-raising by locals and a group called Josephine Community Libraries Inc., a non-profit. I am so enjoying this book, suited to the place I am at in life, drawing many forms, little maps of where I am that goes beyonds words.

[Marmot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great inspiration to start your own art journal, though her wonderful examples are so nice that it can seem intimidating to try my own, knowing that my drawing and penmanship are not the best. It seems like a book to putter through, rather than read all at once.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily prompts discussion about what a journal can become. I've used portions of this book in teaching classes about memoir and personal essays.

[Rift Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My third reading of this book. This is everything a nature/art journal should be. The art is gorgeous, the prompts are invigorating, the text is thought provoking.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really nice nature sketch book sketches. Full of ideas about looking, considering, observing and documenting. Hannah Hinchman has kept journals her entire life. Inspiring for sketchbook keepers.

[Marsha]

3 books sketch journals

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. It gave me many new ideas to use with my nature journal.

[Jim Krotzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it even though I'm not an artist. I learned a new way to keep a journal. I'm going to keep this book as a reference. Many good models abound.

[Andrea McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Gorgeous book. It's going to hurt to take this one back to the library.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational journaling.
Contains beautiful simplicity.
Wonderful illustrations.
The joys of observing daily rituals, of the passage of time.

[Danielle Mann]

Lovely imagery and drawings

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drawing where you are

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Both in writing and composition.