Art Meets Natural History | Panel | Blrhubba

Practitioners of Nature journaling are a blend of artist and naturalist. The practice is fundamentally about slowing down, paying attention, and recording what we see, hear, and feel in the natural world around us. This panel discussion brings together experienced nature journalists to talk about their journeys, methods, and motivations. Moderated by Sangeetha Kadur , the session will explore how nature journaling can be practiced in cities, parks, lakesides, and everyday urban spaces.

If you are curious about nature journaling, (or if you already keep a field journal), this session offers ideas and insights that will help you build a fruitful nature journaling practice.

MODERATOR

Sangeetha Kadur

Sangeetha Kadur is a wildlife artist whose work celebrates India’s rich natural heritage. With nearly two decades of experience, she has illustrated for leading publications and collaborated with conservation organisations on several art–ecology projects. She co-founded Greenscraps, a platform that promotes nature journaling across India, encouraging people to slow down and engage deeply with the natural world. Expanding her impact as a curator, she designs immersive exhibits and visual panels that connect science, art, and conservation.

PANELISTS

Shilpashree 

Shilpashree is a Bangalore-based visual artist and a Fine Arts graduate from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. Deeply inspired by the ecological surroundings of Bangalore, her work expresses a profound reverence for nature through intricate portrayals of flora and fauna. Her artistic practice is rooted in a desire to celebrate the natural world while drawing attention to its delicate balance and fragility. This thematic continuity runs through all her creations, reflecting both aesthetic sensitivity and environmental awareness. she conducts nature journaling workshops, using art as a medium to cultivate creativity and a deeper connection with the environment.

Kavita Arvind

Kavita Arvind’s practice bridges art, illustration, and design education. Driven by a curiosity about how creativity works and how it can be nurtured, she creates original artworks, illustrates for leading publishers, and facilitates illustration and nature journaling workshops through her studio, Chidiya Udd. Her work spans children’s illustration, nature journaling, and character design, often rooted in storytelling, inclusion, and social impact. An Associate Professor at Srishti Institute, she also mentors learners of all ages through exploration and hands-on making.

Sikha Hariharan

Sikha Hariharan is a wildlife biologist pursuing a PhD on how human disturbance influences the movement of lion-tailed macaques in Silent Valley National Park. Alongside her work in the field, she enjoys portraying biodiversity through watercolours, pen sketches, and digital media. A late bloomer among nature journalers, she turned to journaling to reconnect with natural history during long stretches of deskwork. Over time, it has become a grounding practice and a powerful learning tool, deepened by her growing interest in botanical illustration.