Drawing from Nature

I got this book a year ago. I leafed through the short book and put it on the shelf without bothering to read it. It's simple drawings were beneath my dignity to consider. THEN I tried to go out and draw from nature... Mr. Arnosky grew several feet in a short time! He gives quick ideas to help get us out of the house and into nature.

Drawing from Nature A good book for beginners as well as an essential item to have on the library shelves for the accomplished. As a teacher and artist, I find this book an invaluable source of ideas as well as a refreshing reminder.

"Drawing from Nature" --by Jim Arnosky Arnosky has produced a valuable beginning drawing book. A simple flip through the pages shows many treasures that will inspire beginning students of drawing. No human figure drawings here, but rather the plants and animals and landscapes of the forest and stream are what Arnosky offers. No other beginning drawing book is quite like this. The author begins with illustrations that show how to draw WATER, including trout in a moving stream, submerged tree stumps, and even a bubble on the surface. This is followed with an assortment of water creatures. Insects on the water surface, a duck, frog, snake, crayfish, and another fish amongst lily pads. This is very wonderful illustration. Arnosky follows with a barrel serving as a water tank, illustrating dripping water from a faucet, distant hills and trees with a stream emerging with illustration of deep water and shallow water with a flock of geese nicely illustrated above. This kind of illustration repeats, showing how to draw rocks, trees (deciduous and pine) and waterfalls. Arnosky even shows how to draw small rocks and boulders, but also shows how to draw the shaped stones in arching bridges etc. There are mountains with shading to illustrate light from different directions, and yet more birds, bushes, flowers and fruits. This is an absolute encyclopedia of flora and fauna of all kinds. There are of course deer, bear, sheep, bunnies, bats and bobcats and so on. There is quite a list of grasses, mushrooms, bushes, and even vines with the tiniest of delicately creeping and grasping tendrils. The love that author Jim Arnosky feels for his subjects gradually dawns upon the reader. This man's romance with nature passes quickly into the heart and mind of the reader. We also begin to feel Arnosky's wonder and awe at the ever-present surrounding beauty. Studying Arnosky's text the sensation becomes palpable, almost a religious sensation. The final dozen pages or so are lovely color photographs of nature. DRAWING FROM NATURE is one of the most wonderful introductions to drawing plants, animals and landscapes that I've ever encountered. The author is worthy of respect as a teacher.