Ten-Step Drawing Nature features illustrated tutorials to draw 60 animals, plants and insects, broken down into simple steps. From dragonflies and birds to flowers, feathers and shells. Handy prompts encourage artistic individuality and include helpful tips for drawing other subjects, not featured in the book. Learn to draw everything from a bird’s nest to a cheeky harvest mouse. Mary Woodin is a Suffolk nature artist.
The themes (Meadows, Wetlands, Lakeland, Forest, Coast) cover 60 amazing plants and animals to draw (including goldfinch, barn owl, dandelion, violet, herring gull – along with American species like black bear, hummingbird, racoon, Californian poppy and cardinal). Each step is numbered with images and text. Then you get the final (largest image) to compare.
The Green Sketching Handbook shows how to learn to let go of your worries, by losing yourself in nature and sketching for pleasure, not perfection. Combining quick easy exercises with research on nature connection, this book is inspired by Dr Ali’s own journey (she’s a climate scientist who embraced wobbly lines and a habit that made her feel good).
My happy place is up in the hills, surrounded by bilberry bushes and cotton grass, listening to the curlews and skylarks. What about you? Do you picture a deserted tropical beach or your grandmother’s garden? Perhaps an alpine meadow or the banks of a meandering river?
Dr Ali Foxon runs green sketching workshops for all ages. She previously worked as a climate change advisor but in her 30s, changed career to become a nature artist. She lives on the edge of the Peak District.
The Greenest Pencils in the World
Switch off the TV and computer, and learn to draw and paint the natural world. These two pursuits are lovely hobbies that can send you into a relaxed state very quickly. And if you get any good, you could end up building a nice little home business, illustrating your own prints or recycled gift shop items.
Vent for Change makes nice pencils with recycled CD cases (just don’t drop them near anywhere outside in case they fell into the sea, as the cases are obviously plastic). We don’t list their recycled leather items, which could still create a market. Packed in cardboard in lots of pretty colour options, these sharpen as usual, and each purchase supports education.
Modern pencils are made from graphite powder (heated petroleum coke) and clay kaolin. The wood is usually cedar, as it does not warp easily. Order a free Terracycle box to collectively recycle pencils, pens, felt-tips, mechanical pens and correction fluids. Keep pencils away from children/pets (choking hazards – especially attractive to birds). Do not use (or gift) plantable pencils to households with pets, as wildflowers are toxic.
Zero Waste Pencil Cases
This Recycled Board Pencil Box has thumb cutouts on each side for ease of opening. Each box is hand letterpress printed on a 160-year old traditional press in Suffolk. This Kraft Paper Pencil Case is made with natural paper with an inside cotton lining, in natural colours.
