The Sierra Club Guide to Painting in Nature

Here's a great book for painting out of doors. The author, Cathy Johnson, includes information for beginners in a simple, concise manner with an introduction to various media, their use, strengths, and limitations. Suggestions for initial supplies is a very helpful feature. Simple and clear colored pictures illustrate techniques. Included is an excellent bibliography as well as a list of organized painting trips, both domestic and foreign.The author's wide range of ideas for subject matter in landscape, trees, flowers, birds, butterflies, turtles, frogs and all kinds of small furry fauna is an inspiration to both beginners and experienced painters to get out their brushes and CREATE! Her ideas of simplifying distant landscapes or of taking a close view of a single flower, rock, or tree root will bring fresh ideas to try.Having worked in the art discipline of a liberal arts college library for many years and currently painting and continuing to study books on painting, I recommend "Painting in Nature" with great enthusiasm.