Discover the Art of Field Sketching: Nature-Inspired Techniques for Pencil, Pen, and Watercolor

by Kristin Link

An empowering guide to the many ways of noticing, connecting with, and documenting the world around you, based on the renowned workshop that Kristin Link has been leading in remote Alaska for over a decade. ​

For over 15 years, artist and illustrator Kristin Link has taught everyone from children to experts to draw everything from a single acorn to a breathtaking mountain vista. Now her popular field sketching course is available as a guide that anyone can use. 

Discover the Art of Field Sketching is a nature illustration book for artists of all skill levels. It starts with the basics of pen, pencil, and watercolor, then introduces more advanced techniques for complex landscapes and animals in motion. It features visual subject matter for wherever you you can learn to sketch a night sky, a backyard bird, or a squirrel in the park as well as a rugged mountain wilderness. The book includes 30 step-by-step lessons, and many more inspiring examples of finished products. It also focuses on the meditative and philosophical aspects to field sketching, like slowing down, presentness, and learning to love nature of all sizes. 

Discover The Art of Field Sketching is just as informative on why to get into field sketching, as it is on how to make the most of your projects.

Genres: Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so amazing that I would not only recommended it to anyone looking to learn field sketching but to any art teacher looking for text book for their class. I wasn't sure if it would be, as the cover really isn't great, but sometimes that doesn't mean anything, as every reader knows.

There are step by step instructions on how to draw the different plants and animals you will find in nature, as well as how to draw landscapes. Not only that, there is an entire section dedicated to watercolors .

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for granting my wish, Timber Press! And thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity to read Kristin Link's Discover the Art of Field Sketching. I try to draw and paint, I keep a number of different journals and notebooks and I *love* peeking into the pages of other people to see what they're capturing. Link does exactly that sharing her process in down-to-earth and approachable language and beautiful visuals, both the photographs and her illustrations/watercolors. It's helpful to see how her illustrations evolve from a few simple basic shapes to additional layers of details and colors until you see the finished result. She starts with some of the basics and easier methods and continues to build up to more challenging pieces (movement/animals, vast landscapes, moving water, night skies and constellations, etc.). Throughout the book, she shares her philosophy on how you might approach the process of sketching nature or keeping a field journal. There's overlap and inspiration from others in the world of nature journaling so I enjoyed seeing some of the similarities as well as how Link's interpretations might be different. Overall it's a celebration of the wonders around us, if we only take a moment to look closely and be curious about our environment. It's a great reminder to slow down, ask questions and enjoy these bits of awe that surround us.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Timber Press for the advance e-copy of this wonderful and wildly informative book by Kristin Link!

If you're looking for a place to get started with sketching landscapes, or the outdoors, this book is nothing short of artistic perfection! The pages are filled with beautiful photographs, and richly drawn watercolour sketches. I run programs at the public library where I work, and one of my favourite parts of this book was the way that in one volume, it captures the essence of at least 5 programs I ran separately and had to do a lot of separate research to build. It's one of the strengths of this book: how generously it brings information together for readers and artists.

Some highlights that you have to read to understand why they're so good: using a colour wheel of place, creating a colour diary, the way the author explains and demonstrates mixing colours; The draw-along, step-by-step projects throughout the book that cumulatively build on skills, chapter over chapter. There are also the watercolour studies in texture that I found pretty dreamy, as someone who creates (not as often as I teach it in programs), teaches and appreciates watercolour art. The two most fundamental projects were capturing iridescence in feathers, and drawing fur in animals (if only for their beauty when drawn and painted); Special mention also, of the particularly cool draw-along project of drawing animal footprints in the snow and the so-incredible-you'll-want-to-turn-it-into-a-library-program (or ask that your local library does): creating watercolour constellations. These favourites from the book aren't even the tip of the iceberg for skill building and learning the craft, either. I live in Southern Ontario, Canada which is snow covered for at least half of the year (or generally speaking, cold enough for it) so this book speaks beauty to the Winter seasons, helping readers find it in otherwise dull-seeming landscapes (which also makes it a fun book for vitamin D and mental health recharging throughout).

Discover The Art of Field Sketching is an art book you will want on your shelves for the way it gives in perpetuity. It's not a one-and-done volume which makes it worth every penny! I will absolutely be recommending this book for purchase at my library and hope that you do the same, or purchase it for your own shelves (which I may find myself doing as well).

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful little surprise 🥹🌿 i didn’t expect to love a hobby book this much but alas here I am haha🌱
The way everything is broken down is SOOO SOOO easy to follow ✏️ from the basics all the way to more detailed sketches. im so glad it was broken down because I didn't find myself getting as overwhelmed as I do in some other art technique books. It actually made me want to pick up a pencil and just start drawing again 🥹

I loved how it focuses on nature in such a beautiful mindful way 🌄. I reminded me that sketching isn’t just about being good at art, its more so about slowing down, paying attention and connecting to nature 🫶
The step by step lessons were super helpful, especially for things like plants, animals and landscapes 🌿🐿️ and I really liked that it builds your skills gradually instead of dumping everything on you at once.

watercolour is so dreamy 🎨💧

This book encouraged me to go outside, sit in the sun and creating something just for myself. Pressures were all removed. 🌞
If you’ve ever wanted to get into sketching (or just want something creative and grounding) this is SUCH a good place to start, or if you're like me and have a history of art but went out of it for a little while and just wanting to return back to what you once had, this is a beautiful return. 🥹✨

tropes (but I mean... make it hobby edition) 🌿
beginner friendly ✏️
step by step learning 📖
nature inspired 🌄
mindful creativity 🧠
slow living vibes 🌞
artistic growth 🎨

field sketching, nature journaling, beginner art, watercolour, pencil drawing, creative hobby, slow living, mindfulness, outdoor activities

[Mel Aras · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a very pretty and helpful watercolor painting book.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but my favorite part was the shadow sections in the tutorials. I struggle a lot with watercolor shadowing, so I have found them very useful. The sixth chapter was also very useful in that regard.

At first, the pictures in the book scared me as I thought they could be hard to follow, but actually, I had fun following the tutorials. I especially waited to write my review, as I wanted to see how much the book contributed to my art while I was doing my sketches, and I found the results very good. I have not yet done a landscape painting from my own travels, but I followed one of the tutorials in the book and felt very satisfied with my result.

I think this book would be ideal for those who love to travel in nature and document their experiences through drawing. I would suggest it to those who already do watercoloring, but I think people who are new to the art form can also benefit from this book.

Huge thanks to Netgalley, Timber Press and Kristin Link for this advanced reader’s copy.

[Jennyfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a watercolour artist, I am in awe of those who can sketch - the loose, free style of line drawings with tints of colour. Sketchers make it look so effortless.

Discover the Art of Field Sketching is a fantastic resource for those wanting to train their skills and become better at sketching what they see.

The book opens, as they all do, with the preferred tools used by the author, then we go into sections of theory (line types, shading and blocking, texture, colour theory etc), with step by step practical exercises interspersed between them. From doodle warmups to to detailed botanical studies, this book is a really good guide to helping one improve their sketching. I love the idea of a daily sketching diary, and I'll be putting it into practice in this coming year.

A fantastic resource for artists

~This is a NetGalley ARC. All opinions are my own~

[Book-Lover-49]

This book is an amazing resource for beginners and even some more seasoned artists.
It starts with basic techniques and builds from there. Each lesson showing how to draw and which tools to use. With the lessons building on each other and bringing whoever is following this book to the next level.

Anyone who follows the lessons on this book will for sure have improved their skills tenfold.

Highly recommend this book.

[SketchyNewEngland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes beyond the normal “how to draw” titles we’ve all seen a hundred times and really shows you HOW to field sketch. The pictures demonstrate how to begin to draw a natural, oddly shaped item and take it all the way to photo realistic if desired. The materials and techniques are well described.
I left this book feeling inspired to go outside with my nature journal and go on an adventure.
Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC review copy.

[Natalie Hefner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved perusing this art book. It’s drawings and step by step tutorials are fascinating to see. The way this is written makes you feel like you can just pick up the simplest of art supplies and create a painting or a drawing. It’s inspiring. As an artist, I love the specifics of the art supplies used. They really do matter when you’re trying to find a similar end result to the tutorial! The tutorials are well written and documented. I enjoyed it very much.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. I have done an online field sketching course before and this was a great asset to remind me and to take it further. I had a period of convalescence lately and this prompted me to try field sketching. I look forward to taking this outside in the future and practicing. A great resource. Thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for the ARC.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t describe how wonderful this book is. Beautiful illustrations built up with great instructions for field sketching and watercolour. Particularly focused on nature. I loved it, dipped into daily and have ordered a copy! Can’t rate highly enough….

[Karlen HK · Rating 5 out of 5]

*An ARC of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Not groundbreaking, but very inspiring. Makes me want to get out my travel watercolors!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great guide for beginner artists & artists who want to learn new techniques. I really loved the chapter on different ways to use field sketching skills.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so amazing that I would not only recommended it to anyone wanting to learn techniques in field sketching,but to any art teacher looking for a good book to give to their students. Not only does this have great step-by-step instructions on drawing plants, animals and landscapes, it also has an entire section on watercolors (definitely not my favorite medium, but I know tons of people love it).

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.