Nature Drawing: A Tool for Learning Paperback – 30 April 1995

There are hundreds of drawing books on Amazon, many for only 1 penny plus postage, so why is Leslie's 1980 book worth importing from the USA to the UK, and why is it so expensive? Clare Walker Leslie is an American art tutor, but there are lots of art tutors. Her book starts with an 1891 Gibson quote, which sets the tone of observing the world around us. She spends 30 pages discussing materials (in a good way), and encouragingly makes clear that even supermarket art supplies are sufficient, should Caran d'Ache or Faber Castell Polychromos colours be beyond your budget. She gradually leads the reader into her world of nature drawing, what to draw, with what materials and why they are appropriate. The book is indeed a 'Tool for Learning'. She labels her diagrams, both to inform, and to show what she is thinking at each stage. She is methodical in a way that teaches the reader to observe (in a moment), and to notice the significance of what they see. Exercises are brief, developmental and frequent. Progress is incremental and deliberate because Leslie has a career long teaching strategy, and it works. This book is on many 'Best' lists, and with good reason. The reader is guided through 'none-moving' objects e.g. mushrooms, plants and trees, but Walker makes subtle introductions to the movements of branches, petals and leaves. By page 100, Leslie is encouraging the first stages of drawing domestic animals. Page 121 has animals in motion, and the next level of drawing introduces character and expression. Beginner artists may be afraid to draw emotion in a human face, but it's fun to draw a happy / confused dog or cat. Leslie discusses drawing from photographs, and from museum exhibits (taxidermy poses), and the best ways to include the natural environment / habitat in the animal study. Leslie has an interest in birds, and guides the reader through the textural possibilities of feathers in diagrams. As with the earlier chapters, Leslie is introducing concepts beyond the superficial. Anatomy, form and function will be used as the artist progresses to draw human figures, but Leslie introduces this way of thinking via the simpler anatomy of birds. (Think of Darwin, theory of evolution, and sketching the beaks of finches). Pages 158-175 are on creating field sketchbooks, and the last 26 (176-201), pages are on landscapes. There are over 100 sketches in this book. A concluding (6 page) index is indicative of the detail contained within the text. The textual pages are of considered narrative. Leslie wants to be clear, but not overly prescriptive. Each budding artist will add their own emphasis and character to each drawing. This is a Spectrum book from Prentice Hall (PH) publishing. PH are a quality indicator in themselves. There is a completeness to each chapter, and thorough labelling throughout the text, to a level not found in today's budget / superficial / easy learning texts. Leslie's expertise provides the learner with lifelong tools for understanding, rather than a painting by numbers toolbox. This is an Academic standard text, (i.e. it's University level, and Art teachers will use it in designing classroom learning), with chapter bibliographies, and targeted at learners of all levels from beginner to expert. Anybody aged 8 to 80+ can learn from this book/ Leslie is a born teacher, who loves her subject, and cares for her pupils. Walker's book is a wonderful deception. The reader expects to buy it and quickly learn to draw to a standard, but what happens is that they are drawn into a world where they subconsciously learn to pause, to reflect and to think. Leslie's students are taught to deliberately experience the world around them, and to notice the wonders of nature, or life in the city. Leslie's craft will create lasting memories for the learner. This might not be the cheapest art book on the market, but it is certainly one of the best.

If you buy a new paperback of this, it’ll be a horrible smudgy dark unclear unusable reprint. Learn from my mistake. Buy a second-hand hardback edition, that’ll be the proper original printed edition where the images are clear and sharp. It’ll probably be cheaper too.

I have keeping a nature journal by clare walker leslie and it’s great! The images are clear.In this one the print quality was so bad the images couldn’t really be interpreted.I’ve returned it. Definitely not worth the money.