A guide to the pleasures and practicalities of painting outdoors covers choosing materials, adapting to weather conditions, and capturing the ever-changing light.

A guide to the pleasures and practicalities of painting outdoors covers choosing materials, adapting to weather conditions, and capturing the ever-changing light.

Made famous by the French Impressionists in the 19th century, plein-air painting is the time-honored style of painting outdoors, on-site and in one sitting. In The Guide to Painting in Nature, Cathy Johnson offers an inspiring introduction - from selecting materials to weathering the elements - to capture your outdoor moments.

Winner of the Sierra Club's 2021 Rachel Carson Award One of Chicago Tribune's Ten Best Books of 2021 Named a Top Ten Best Science Book of 2021 by Booklist and Smithsonian Magazine "At once thoughtful and thought-provoking,” Beloved Beasts tells the story of the modern conservation movement through the lives and ideas of the people who built it, making “a crucial addition to the literature of our troubled time" (Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction). In the late nineteenth century, humans came at long last to a devastating realization: their rapidly industrializing and globalizing societies were driving scores of animal species to extinction. In Beloved Beasts, acclaimed science journalist Michelle Nijhuis traces the history of the movement to protect and conserve other forms of life. From early battles to save charismatic species such as the American bison and bald eagle to today’s global effort to defend life on a larger scale, Nijhuis’s “spirited and engaging” account documents “the changes of heart that changed history” (Dan Cryer, Boston Globe). With “urgency, passion, and wit” (Michael Berry, Christian Science Monitor), she describes the vital role of scientists and activists such as Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson, reveals the origins of vital organizations like the Audubon Society and the World Wildlife Fund, explores current efforts to protect species such as the whooping crane and the black rhinoceros, and confronts the darker side of modern conservation, long shadowed by racism and colonialism. As the destruction of other species continues and the effects of climate change wreak havoc on our world, Beloved Beasts charts the ways conservation is becoming a movement for the protection of all species including our own.

Featuring simple step-by-step instructions and hundreds of illustrations, this sketching and watercolor primer reveals how creating art can enhance any outdoor experience.In this inspirational guide, Cathy Johnson, a nationally recognized artist, naturalist and teacher, offers personal anecdotes, exercises and useful tips that are perfect for every amateur artist. This book covers a wide range of subjects, including:·Tools and equipment·Mixing paints and washes·Selecting a subject to sketch or paint·Capturing the illusion of light·Sketching clouds, flowers, trees, plants and animals·Using field sketches as studies for future paintings·Understanding color and using a color wheel·A source list for art suppliesWith more than 280 of Johnson's own illustrations - both in color and black and white - this book will inspire you to appreciate every detail of the natural world.

Breathe fresh air into your watercolors! Capture the wonders of nature! From crashing waves to sculptured deserts, from grand sunsets to humble wildflowers, from backyard discoveries to exotic getaways, the natural world offers inspiration enough for a lifetime! In this book, one of today's premier nature artists shows you how to make the most of it. Within an inviting, sketchbook-style format, you'll learn how to capture nature's treasures using watercolor pencils and paint. Inside you'll find: • A chapter-by-chapter exploration of five diverse landscape themes: forests, water, meadows, mountains and deserts. • 37 step-by-step demonstrations from two of Johnson's most beloved books, Creating Nature in Watercolor and Watercolor Pencil Magic. • Johnson's favorite tips for capturing a variety of textures and subjects, including plants, trees, water, wildlife, rock formations, seasonal variations and more. • A wealth of expert advice on gathering reference materials, assembling your own field kit, painting people in nature, and much more. Embark on a creative adventure as you experiment with new techniques, discover fresh subjects, and hone your powers of observation. Your resulting paintings and sketches will transport you to cherished moments and places worth remembering.

Grab your pen and seize the day! Make art a part of your everyday life, and everyday life a part of your art. Vast opportunities and great joy await you as you learn sketching "on the spot"--be it in your own backyard, amid the bustle of a busy market, on a hike or wherever you happen to find yourself. Cathy Johnson leads you on this thrilling expedition as you explore ways to turn everyday sights and experiences into a cache of visual memories. She and other artists have opened their sketchbooks to share their favorite subjects, ranging from nature's paraphernalia to aging buildings, crashing waves and beloved pets. You will travel the world through sketches and stories, through deserts and deep woods, cities and small towns. Along the way, you'll pick up helpful tips and clever, on-location improvisations for making your sketching sessions pleasurable, safe and productive. • Chapters focus on sketching subjects close to home, on travels, in nature, in urban settings and from everyday life. • 10+ artists share favorite sketches, tips and techniques. • 15+ demos reveal on-the-spot sketches as they come together. • Includes expert advice on getting the best results from a range of mediums, including graphite, ink, colored pencil, watercolor and gouache. The Artist's Sketchbook is pure delight, full of passion and possibility, ideas and inspirations. You'll learn ways to be prepared, simplify, still your inner critic, embrace the here and now, and in doing so, discover wonders you never thought to look for.

In straightforward text complemented by step-by-step illustrations, dozens of exercises lead the hand and mind through creating accurate reproductions of plants and animals as well as landscapes, skies, and more. Laws provides clear, practical advice for every step of the process for artists at every level, from the basics of choosing supplies to advanced techniques.

Step-by-step guide to creating 83 different textures using watercolors.

This lavishly illustrated sketching and watercolor primer reveals how creating art can enhance any wilderness experience. Featuring simple, step-by-step instructions and 280 examples of the author's own work, "Sketching in Nature" covers tools and equipment; choosing a subject; understanding color and using a color wheel; depicting clouds and weather patterns; and more. 55 color illustrations.