Customer Reviews

Doug Lindstrand's Alaska Sketchbook: An Artist's Guide to the People and Wildlife of America's Last Frontier

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Doug Lindstrand's Alaska Sketchbook: An Artist's Guide To The People And Wildlife Of America's Last Frontier is a compendium of hundreds of field sketches, studio drawings and photographs celebrating Alaskan frontiersmen, birds, and animals. The text includes a kind of diary kept by Lindstrand as a journal of his wanderings and contacts with the people and wildlife of this northern clime in which he has been photographing and sketching for the last 30 years. Doug Lindstrand's Alaska Sketchbook is a very welcome and much appreciated contribution to both Art Studies and Natural History collections.

I received thia boook straight from Alaska when I was living in Florida in 1984. It was a much sought after and unexpected Christmas present from my parents. I had seen his work through my drawing instructor whose husband had picked it up while on business in Alaska and at the time I thought that was the only way to get a copy. Then friend's of my parents went on vaccation and bought the book for them. It contains many useful references and text about the animals, the area, drawings and sketches. It is excellent for people who have the basic drawing techniques down and those who need refrence photos in abundance.There are even a few drawings in colored pencil. Photos are both in color and black and white. This is not a basic instructional manual though. However, that said, there is no skimping on reference information. My copy is the size of a coffe table book. It is a hardback and was $50 at the time and worth every penny. Those were the days when a really good hardback cost maybe $12. The work in the book has stood the test of time and is still vital and inspiring. I don't know the dimmensions of this newer, paperback edition but I have looked at the current prices and they aren't out of line in retrospect. After all, my copy is 25 years old. Doug's style is strictly his own. But, he captures the spirit and life of the people and animals he draws and that would be a welcome lesson for any artist. It is in capturing that essence, that life, more than the exact reality, that our work speaks to us all. And that is it's purpose; to teach us to see and to hear what's under the surface. There is also another book he wrote that I would love to find. It is on the flowers and landscape of Alaska. I saw it once about 1989 and have never seen another copy. It too was lovely and also just as large. Enjoy his work when you find it. You won't be sorry.

My mother brought this book (5th Edition, 1982)to my sister from an Alaska trip. I promptly "borrowed" it and she has forgotten I have it. It is one of my favorite books. I use it for painting references when I'm stumped for a pose or background for an animal or bird. I also pick it up when I'm in the mood to "go away" and visit Alaska. Doug Lindstrand's real adventures as a young man are just what fueled many of our daydreams. Going to Alaska and being self-sufficient while enjoying the pristine landscapes and beauty we read about. The new edition is a more manageable size (mine is 11 x 15") and will become a much loved addition to your bookshelf.

I have just recently come across a copy of this book, that is signed by the author/artist. It is also sealed first day issue-20 May, 1978 First Edition. I would like a little more information on what it is valued at today. It costed 15 dollars in 1978. What would it cost today.