When you see a stream, do you notice more than the water? Water is just one part of an aquatic ecosystem. Aquatic means occurring in water. An ecosystem includes all living things and how they relate to each other and their environment.

Cleo, 10 years old, made this watercolor illustration of an aquatic ecosystem. Watercolors are made when you mix water with a pigment (something that imparts color) and brush it onto paper.

First Cleo noted the details of the rocks and dirt holding the sides of the stream in place. She saw large goldfish and turtles swimming in the fresh water.

"I also saw dragonflies and an insect that seemed to 'skate' on top of the water with its long legs," she says. This insect is called a water strider.

Using a soft pencil to draw the lines and basic shapes of all she saw, Cleo also included a bird looking for food and water and plants growing along the sides of the stream. She learned that "the plants like a lot of water and have funny names like pickerel weed, cattails and horsetails."

Later, she added color. Cleo said, "I was able to make beautiful new colors by combining water and two or three of the colors in my paint set." She used special heavy, bright white watercolor paper and a variety of brushes to experiment with very wet and drier-looking images.

We encourage you to follow Cleo's example. Do research on a plant or animal and send us a drawing. Be sure to tell us what you learned and how you drew it. We will publish some of your art in future columns. To see previous "Drawing From Nature" lessons and the drawings in color, go to www.botgard.ucla.edu/kids.html and nrs.ucop.edu/Reserves/stunt/newsforkids.html. Check this column on May 21 for the next subject. Maybe it will be yours!

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This Learning Link was written by Carol Felixson, UCLA Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve and UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden. Both sites offer ideas for drawing from nature.

Copyright 2003 Los Angeles Times