Nature is a thing of beauty. I can stare outside at nature in awe for hours without getting bored. Art, too, is a thing of beauty. Art and nature often go hand-in-hand. Sometimes when out in nature, you may want to capture a moment by sketching or journaling about it. Or perhaps you just look to nature for inspiration to create art. During the past few years, I have taken several beginner classes on botanical drawing, and I absolutely love it. I love losing myself in the fine details of a branch or flower. If you are looking for books about art and nature, this list is a good place to start. There are books on nature journaling, drawing, botanical drawing, and an exciting new field called neuro arts. I hope you find inspiration among the books on this list! Just a quick reminder that if you click on one of the links, I may make a commission at no additional charge to you. The links below will take you to Amazon. If you prefer to support independent bookstores, check out my curated lists on Bookshop.com.
Keeping a Nature Journal, 3rd Edition: Deepen Your Connection with the Natural World All Around You by Clare Walker Leslie
Nature journaling is where art and nature meet on the page. If you have wanted to start nature journaling and don’t know where to start, definitely start with Clare Walker Leslie. She is an amazing artist and her collection of books about the art of nature journaling are instructive and beautifully illustrated. The idea is you journal about your observations of the natural world. Leslie’s Keeping a Nature Journal is a great one to start with and if you get hooked and are looking for inspiration, check out Drawn to Nature as well. Drawn to Nature is more of a collection of Leslie’s nature drawings, while the former is more about how to get started with nature journaling. Leslie also has a new book out focusing specifically on birds called How to Look at a Bird.
Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen & Ivy
Conscious Creativity: Look, Connect, Create by Philippa Stanton
Layers of Meaning: Elements of Visual Journaling by Rakefet Hadar
365 Days of Art in Nature: Find Inspiration Every Day in the Natural World by Lorna Scobie
The Insect Artist: How to Observe, Draw, & Paint Butterflies, Bees, & More by Zebith Stacy Thalden
Watercolor in Nature: Paint Woodland Wildlife and Botanicals with 20 Beginner-Friendly Projects by Rosalie Haizlett
The Joy of Botanical Drawing by Wendy Hollender
Botanical Art Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide to Watercolor, Graphite, Colored Pencil, Vellum, Pen and Ink, Egg Tempera, Oils, Printmaking, and More by Carol Woodfin and Robin A. Jess
The Art of Botanical Drawing by Agathe Ravet-Haevermans
All of the above links will take you to Amazon. If you prefer to browse or shop at Barnes & Noble, click on one of the book cover images below. Reminder, if you click on a link and purchase an item within 24 hours, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you.
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