Early in March Jim Arnosky, sketchbook in hand, set out to discover the arrival of spring in his Vermont countryside. He had imagined many times just what he would find, and was fascinated to discover that the beginnings of spring were very different from his winter bound expectations.The weather was cold and raw. Most of his sketching was done with gloved hands. The first signal he perceived of resurging wildlife was the call of wood frogs. Early spring wildflowers thrived, but they were in difficult, Hard-to-reach places. Everything as in barely perceptible motions. On March 31 he commented, "I am slowly beginning to be surrounded by the things I want to draw."This book is the fulfillment of one spring season spent sketching by the artist, and naturalist. At the very heart of this remarkable work is his sharing of the keen pleasure that can be had sketching outdoors in spring and bringing it all back home.

Includes drawings of plants, animals, landscapes, and other aspects of nature in each season, with comments from the artist on how and why he drew them.

The Art of Urban Sketching is both a comprehensive guide and a showcase of location drawings by artists around the world who draw the cities where they live and travel. Authored by the founder of the nonprofit organization Urban Sketchers (www.urbansketchers.org), this beautiful, 320-page volume explains urban sketching within the context of a long historical tradition and how it is being practiced today. With profiles of leading practitioners and discussions of the benefits of working in this art form, this inspiring book shows how one can participate and experience this creative outlet through modern-day social networks and online activity. You'll find more than 600 beautiful, contemporary illustrations, as well as artists' profiles and extended captions where these urban sketchers share their stories, how they work, sketching tips, and the tools behind each drawing. With sketches and observations from more than 50 cities in more than 30 countries, TheArt of UrbanSketching offers a visually arresting, storytelling take on urban life from different cultures and artistic styles, as well as insight into various drawing techniques and mediums.

A facility with pencil drawings is a valuable asset for painters in oil and watercolors, and a high-quality pencil sketch ranks as the artistic equal of the best painting. This guide offers beginners step-by-step demonstrations of how to depict clouds, trees, buildings, and other outdoor scenes.Famed for his landscape paintings, author Leonard Richmond provides pencil studies that demonstrate each stage of picture-making, from rough sketch to completed work. Students who copy and memorize the simpler studies can advance to the more complicated pictures, attaining skills that will assist them in drawing directly from life or nature. Using a variety of pencil techniques, Richmond shows how to re-create stormy and tranquil skies, foliage, driftwood and rocks along the seashore, and other outdoor scenery. Students will savor the rich diversity of these illustrative landscapes, which include scenes from England's Cornish coast, a homestead in New Mexico, a Vermont meadow, and the French countryside.

Encourage tinkering, curiosity, and creative thinking in children of all ages with these 55 hands-on activities that explore art, science, and more The creator of the highly popular creativity site for kids, Tinkerlab.com, now delivers dozens of engaging, kid-tested, and easy-to-implement projects that will help parents and teachers bring out the natural tinkerer in every kid—even babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. The creative experiments shared in this book foster curiosity, promote creative and critical thinking, and encourage tinkering—mindsets that are important to children growing up in a world that values independent thinking. In addition to offering a host of activities that parents and teachers can put to use right away, this book also includes a buffet of recipes (magic potions, different kinds of play dough, silly putty, and homemade butter) and a detailed list of materials to include in the art pantry.

Noted artist, author and educator shows how to draw every major outdoor subject — land, greenery, skies, building, people, cities, and more — in all the major drawing media: pencils, pen and ink, brush and ink, felt pens, charcoal, Rembrandt to Wyeth. Over 100 illustrations.

Nineteenth-century landscape and outdoor drawings and sketches by the Hudson River School artists and others.

Learn to draw and paint more than 100 of your favorite everyday items! Step-by-step projects and creative inspiration make it fun and easy. The Inspired Artist series invites art hobbyists and casual art enthusiasts to have fun learning basic art concepts, relaxing into the creative process to make art in a playful, contemporary style. With Draw Every Little Thing, the first book in this new series, you can learn to draw and paint your favorite everyday items. From learning to draw and paint plants, flowers, and bicycles to the neighborhood café and the contents of the kitchen cabinet, this contemporary drawing book demonstrates just how easy it is to render the world around you with little more than a pencil, paper, and paint. Following a brief introduction to the joys of simplistic drawing and painting, this aesthetically pleasing book familiarizes you with a range of drawing tools and materials, including graphite pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, and gouache, before offering a quick overview of basic color theory. Each subsequent chapter is then devoted to a specific theme—kitchenalia, hobbies, neighborhood haunts, and much more—and packed with simple step-by-step drawing projects. This accessible book encourages you to jump around so you can draw what immediately inspires you. Interactive prompts, creative exercises, and inspiring ideas make the process fun and engaging. Easy techniques and helpful instructions show you how to develop your own personal style, as well as add color to your drawings using gouache and colored pencil. Crafty projects round out the book, allowing you to use your newfound drawing and painting skills. Filled to the brim with whimsical artwork and loads of creative ideas, Draw Every Little Thing encourages artists of all skill levels to draw any time inspiration strikes.