Nature Painting in Watercolor

GOING GREEN Learn how to improve your watercolour skills while getting in touch with the natural world, with this affordable guidebook

Banish any thoughts of setting up your easel and painting sunlit valleys, dramatic clifftops or snowcovered forests – this accessible book is all about capturing the more humble aspects of nature on watercolour paper.

Illustrator and art teacher Kristine A Lombardi reveals that a doctor advised her to combat her stress levels by taking walks and focusing on what she could see in front of her. This led to the artist taking an avid interest in nature, and in turn helped her to bring this book to life.

Kristine begins by revealing her approach to obtaining reference (using her camera, in her sketchbook or collecting leaves, shells and more), before taking the reader through her watercolour toolkit. She describes her core brushes, and has insights on using and storing paint. She then goes on to demonstrate a range of watercolour painting techniques, which include using salt and even old credit cards.

The remainder of the book comprises step-by-step tutorials that sees Kristine painting slightly stylised flora and fauna: pampas grass, a woodpecker and birch bark, for example. Her prose is knowledgeable and encouraging – the artist goes into details where necessary, and she even accompanies her tutorials with handy standalone tips. The modest subject matter belies the solid art advice on offer, making this book ideal for beginner and intermediate artists.

RATING ★★★★★

Kristine combines her advice on painting different types of mushrooms to create this piece.

Kristine A Lombardi uses a stiff-bristled scrubber brush to remove some pigment from the purple pampas grass bloom, to create highlights.