Urban Sketching Handbook Spotlight on Nature

Explore new ways to capture nature in your on-location drawings and paintings through insightful tips and inspiring artwork from 40+ artists from around the world.

In The Urban Sketching Handbook Spotlight on Nature, Gail L. Wong and Virginia Hein share their secrets for getting beyond basic greenery. Presenting a variety of approaches, including detailed examples, quick tips, and “workshop” ideas for practicing the concepts, this book reviews important fundamentals for composition and color and inspires unique treatments and points of view.

There is a story to be told about nature wherever we are. Pack this handbook with your art supplies as you set out to tell your own stories of nature, and discover:

Different ways you can use nature to compose your story and your sketch, whether nature is the main character, the setting, or a frame for your composition.

A variety of approaches to representing the incredible variety of forms, surfaces, and textures we find in nature, including finding shape, proportion, and structure and creating depth.

Tips for finding the character of a place with advice on painting water movement, atmosphere and weather, and quality of light.

Places to find nature in a city, from a venerable landmark tree to a humble dandelion growing in a sidewalk crack.

An exploration of various methods of expressive interpretation, including sketching in monochrome, playing with color palettes, and simplifying shapes.

A gallery of inspirational examples of art showing a variety of different artistic styles and a list of 24 artistic challenges to develop your own style and skills.

Geared toward intermediate and experienced artists, but a great inspirational reference for beginners, The Urban Sketching Handbook Spotlight on Nature shows you the many ways you can bring nature to life on the page.

The Urban Sketching Handbook series offers artists expert instruction on creative techniques, on-location tips and advice, and an abundance of visual inspiration. These handy references come in a compact, easy-to-carry format—perfect to toss in your backpack or artist’s tote.