Customer Reviews

The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature, Revised Edition

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a pretty complete little volume. When you get it, you really do have to assume some knowledge and practice of making art and the media, however, she goes over materials and techniques, which can serve as a good refresher or initial exposure.

The best part is a discussion early on about how to pack all the materials so you don't keel over from exhaustion, hauling too much art gear, along with the usual standard hiking goodies. (I especially needed help with that, given my childlike adoration of way too many pretty colors.)

The emphasis is on SKETCHING, not doing the Mona Lisa. This is important in outdoor work as light changes and speed can be of the essence. I sometimes pick up this book so that I can just relax my techniques a bit.

The examples in the book, in many media and in monochrome or color are a delight to view. Sometimes, it's just fun to sit down with a cuppa and flip through the nice drawings of objects and scenes in nature.

This book provides a tremendous amount of information on sketching in nature but don't let the title fool you- this is a terrific general sketching and drawing book. Johnson covers topics that are rarely covered in other books. The use of pens, watercolors, pencils and colored pencils (both water soluble and not) are covered. This is an invaluable book and is an asset to both the beginner and more advanced student. I'm on Amazon right now trying to find other books by Cathy Johnson- I'm that impressed.

This is a very refreshing book. Cathy Johnson not only makes it look easy to draw and paint loose, yet accurate, watercolor sketches outdoors, but she tells you everything you need to know. This book will actually teach you how to draw and paint what you see, without making things overly complicated. Best of all, her supply list is well within the means of most people. I really enjoyed this book, and learned a great deal from it. This summer, I caught Lyme disease. It's nasty. For months, I could hardly walk, let alone hike and garden and do stuff I used to love. But Cathy's book has helped draw me back outside, and I'm learning to love nature all over again, one leaf, flower, and bug at a time. This book would make a great gift.

I loved this book. I am a beginner and it was an excellent resource.

In lieu of a long list of superlatives let me just say that a few years ago this book inspired me to go out and sketch in the wilderness and I have been doing it ever since. I have read several books on how to sketch, draw and paint, but no one I know does such a magnificent job of describing and explaining the subject. From materials to technique, to the thought process that goes into sketching in the field, Cathy Johnson covers it all concisely, rationally and with feeling.
I recommend this book for beginner or otherwise. Twelve chapters. It has 227 pages and no index. Good bibliography.

I was looking for a book to go through all aspects of nature sketching and journaling. This is the book! I have lended the book out to other sketch artists and they found it very useful as well. Lots of pointers on different types of sketching and FANTASTIC illustrations. It it worth purchasing just for the illustrations alone. I would recommend this book to ANYONE who is interested in sketching nature.

I am a novice artist and need all the tips and help I can get. This book is a big help and I refer to it frequently.

If you love nature sketching and painting outdoors this book is a must have!...Wonderfully illustrated with topics on materials and tools, various mediums, subject matter, techniques and more...If you like sketching and painting nature subjects indoors, you will love this book also!!!

Cathy Johnson scored another home run with me with this book. I'm newly returned to sketching after a 40-year break. I started with her "first series" sketching and drawing book after checking it out of my local library. The Sierra Club guide is broader and more inclusive, loaded with ideas and techniques from other artists, and very useful to a beginner. I like Cathy Johnson's style and her presentation - the idea of "suggesting" a form or shape or movement is appealing; she gives me enough information and encouragement to try something, modify it, and make up my own style.

I have enjoyed reading the book. It seems to be very well written, lots of good information. Now I just need to start practicing what I've learned.