I remember using my first diary not to write about teen angst in... but to sketch in. Nature art is now my full time career and my mom encouraged my regular sketching habit. Start the sketching habit yourself and encourage your family to do so while they are home hanging around wondering what to do. Here are my tips,
http://www.gardenandhearth.com/Sketc...re-Journal.htm Winter is a fine time to venture out. Less stuff to look at and thus less for newcomers to journaling to be distracted by. You can even begin from the warmth of indoors looking out a window at a tree and scribbling its form. Date the page, add the temperature, and details like whos in the house, what are the smells from the kitchen....etc. Share your attempts here.
Cynthia, artist and teacher.
PS I just joined and if theres a way to post some of my sketchs I will do so later.

Very inspirational. Thanks for sharing

__________________
I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

My children were just talking about trying this. Our backyard ends with a wetland preserve. Nature is right out our back window, sometimes looking at you through the kitchen window.