The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling

by John Muir Laws

The ultimate guide to nature drawing and journaling! A potent combination of art, science, and boundless enthusiasm, the latest art instruction book from John Muir Laws (The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds) is a how-to guide for becoming a better artist and a more attentive naturalist. In straightforward text complemented by step-by-step illustrations, dozens of exercises lead the hand and mind through creating accurate reproductions of plants and animals as well as landscapes, skies, and more. Laws provides clear, practical advice for every step of the process for artists at every level, from the basics of choosing supplies to advanced techniques. While the book’s advice will improve the skills of already accomplished artists, the emphasis on seeing, learning, and feeling will make this book valuable—even revelatory—to anyone interested in the natural world, no matter how rudimentary their artistic abilities.

Genres: Art, Nature, Nonfiction, Drawing, Science, Reference, Education

1043 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

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John Muir Laws is a naturalist, artist, and educator who has dedicated his work to connecting people to nature through art and science. From an early age his parents instilled in him a deep love and respect for nature. Over the years, that love has grown to a commitment to stewardship and a passion to share the delight of exploring nature with others. As both a scientist and artist, Laws has developed interdisciplinary programs that train students to observe with rigor and to refine techniques to become intentionally curious.

Reviews

[loafingcactus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen so many reviews of this amazing book and I haven't seen anyone mention the two page preface, which is unfortunately. Laws writes that he has dyslexia. This disability has shaped his career choices and he notes that good disability engagement from his family, his high school and college instructors, and the access to a good student disability office all facilitated his success. There's an unfortunate theme in our culture of disability being sidestepped that can be summarized as "I don't see you as disabled" which also means that the accomplishments of disabled people are often hiding right in front of our noses, such as this book.

The book is packed full. Every page could be an entire essay or YouTube video or more, and often is over on the author's blog and YouTube channel. This is how the reader knows that two pages on disability is really something to pay attention to and a message the author intended to share as much as how to proportion the legs on a bear. The book is all about the tools needed to experience the world in the most engaged way possible. In a 20 point list of how to think like Leonardo Da Vinci, one of the points is collaboration. Collaboration is discussed in the book. Sometimes it seems like the author is collaborating with nature itself, such as the example in the book "Little Poppy, This Is Your Life."

Most of the lessons in the book I have heard from others. How to observe. How to work with proportions. But the way Laws puts everything together is unique, and this book is so special because it IS such a "book of everything." Anyone working to develop better awareness be it through meditation and or through social action (human are animals too... everything in this book can be applied to observing them), a budding naturalist or a developing painter, this book is about a way of engaging that applies to every person.

[Tait Sougstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop wasting your time trying to cobble together bits and pieces of nature study skills from the internet- just buy this book right now. It has reams (literally, it is about the size of a ream of letter-size paper!) of comprehensive training on...

Well, what is it on? Nature drawing and journaling? I think the title by necessity collars the scope of this book, which is nothing other than an elevated way of being; a way of being more present and engaged, more curious, more awed at the wide world; of cultivating disciplines that train the eye, the hand, the mind.

Drawing and journaling in this book are tools to that end, but appear only later in the book. You don't get to "How to draw a bear" until you first spend a lot of time pondering wonder and curiosity. And then, "How to draw a bear" is not presented as, "Draw these lines to generate a generic bear whenever you want." Rather, it is a lab to apply the specific skills in the previous foundation chapters on drawing skills. "Remember how we talked about framing lines and negative space before? This is how it applies to the shape of a bear. Because, if you are field sketching a bear, you probably want to do it quickly."

Trying to figure out what to put into your nature kit? This has it all, down to his favorite brushes and pencils, but also thoughts about how much you want to pack. In everything, Law's focus pushes past the details that are so easy to get lost in, down to the goal: How to I get more out of my walks and hikes. Have a pack, ready to go, light enough to not be a burden or distraction, so that the path of least resistance is to take it and use it every time. Think watercolors are pretty? Great. Pack them if you are going to use them. It's not about pretty pictures- it's about observing, pondering, and enjoying.

I have not yet read every page of this book, but it will be a reference for the rest of my life. I spent some time this weekend sketching flowers, then put the tools in my bag so I can get them out whenever I want. A non-photo cyan pencil is high on my list to purchase. When I'm ready to get high-quality colored pencils or watercolors, you better believe I'll start with whatever he suggests.

Most of all, this has just been a pleasure to read. His love of life shows through on every page. The illustrations and examples are gorgeous, training on every page. I was amazed at how easy it was to start making magnified details and annotating interesting things in my sketches.

[Ilias · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book because it ranges from what questions to ask while nature journaling to different scientific nomenclature to how to draw a variety of very specific animals. I didn't read the whole thing; I don't really draw! Many animals; I'm just not there yet! But I really enjoyed the whole, like, first half. The notes on color theory were very interesting. I skipped all the water color sections, because again that's just not something I'm looking at right now. But there was a lot of information on all sorts of art techniques, some of which was fun and helpful, and I had a really good time with the parts where he laid out different varieties of scientific note taking, from extremely rigorous to pretty casual. It was really good to just read a variety of styles and then pick and choose what was interesting to me!

I read probably sixty percent of this book, but with that caveat, I really liked it! An upstanding example of the genre!

[Erika Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well done. I learned a ton from this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in starting a Nature Journal. I also highly recommend if you are not planning to start one that you reconsider! In a crazy fast-paced world, you can slow down and enjoy what is around you and you WILL notice more if you take time to slow down. Great book.

[Emma Valkyria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das Buch sollte jeder Kunstlehrer in der Schule verteilen.
Tolles Werk was motiviert und inspiriert den Stift in die Hand zu nehmen <3

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So comprehensive and the drawings are so beautiful. I love just flipping through this book.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! I love both drawing and journaling so to find a book that speaks to both was wonderful. I loved all of the different ways it talks about noticing, seeing and being curious about and than hand-in-hand we have very practical information on how to make wonderful drawings and using different mediums. Huge win.

Honestly, I almost didn't want it to end. And now it's time to get drawing.

Highly recommend!

[Bethann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a magical book. I really loved the examples provided however, what I loved the most were the bits before all the picture examples, tips, and tricks. There's much to be said about a curious spirit. A great resource.

[Pixie Unger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good. There was new information that I hadn't seen in a drawing book before. I like how he has you proportion your butterflies. I feel like I acquired new understands, but I wasn't inspired to try any of the exercises. Solid, better than average B grade.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me a good nature drawing book.

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just wish there were more books like this.

[Brittany Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best drawing book I have ever read

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I'll admit it - I haven't actually read every single page in this book yet - I wanted one more to round off my 2016 reading challenge. I just got it for Christmas but I have already perused it multiple times, used it as reference, and look forward to integrating its excellently rich content and learning from it more into the future. I am definitely a beginner nature journalist but I think it is fair to say the material could be beneficial to artists of all levels. John Muir Laws is a great teacher, explains a wide variety of techniques in an approachable way, and his art is amazing.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my time with this book. I love to take my art outdoors. It gave me strategies, images, and helpful hints to make my nature journaling better and come alive. I am looking forward to doing many of the suggestions in the book this summer while on break from teaching.

[Leah Markum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is in high demand at my library. Art books in general get checked out a lot, especially bird and botanical arts books, especially Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling. I haven't completed all the exercises yet, but I've done enough for an overall impression.

Few art books encompass most nature subjects. This one and many others have a lot of birds, sure. There's a clique for nature people who are foremost bird people. I don't specialize in birds, but I don't want to exclude them either. This book, like many art books, also has a lot of flowers. I'm a plant person, and after the bird people I've always felt like the next big nature people clique are the garden people. I'm not a garden person, but wild plants flower too, and flowers are fun to draw and paint. One section in this book includes landscape elements like water, rocks, and clouds, which are also often in many nature art books that don't specialize in birds and blooms. But this book has more, and this is where it becomes unique. It includes bears, lizards, frogs, ladybugs, caterpillars, spider webs, bark, leaves, and branches. After all, journaling isn't about picking the stereotypical picturesque, it's cataloging everything.

Other than nature subjects, Laws Guide also spans many mediums. There is graphite, colored pencil, watercolor pencil, water-soluble pens, water color, and gouache used in various exercises. Something I additionally appreciate is the use of the white colored pencil and the white gel pen for accents in the fur and feathers.

I'm not keen on Laws's subject style, but considering this is a book on journaling and not a general art improvement book, I don't see a point in evaluating his style. Journaling is meant to be simple and loose. I do, however, like Laws's composition style. For instance, a hawk will be on a branch with a rectangular offset backdrop instead of a full background, and then notes placed in the quadrant of the page that's diagonal from the backdrop. It's artsy, but functional and not time consuming. It also makes me think of the days of naturalist explorers, so it has an adventurous feel.

I'm not ecstatic about this book in the way that I am about other five star art books. This book is less about feeling empowered by it's beauty and excellent teaching style, but more about fulfilling an important niche and doing so effectively, so I'm excited all the same. It's a 4.5.

[Mollie Studer]

"Rather than step into the realm of the unknown, embrace our ignorance, genuinely wonder, and look for an answer, we ignore the question. Perhaps it is psychologically safer to stand in known ground; in schools, students and teachers are often expected to know the answers to all the questions. if a pupil doesn't have an answer it is assumed he or she wasn't paying attention or didn't study hard enough. Now, as adults, fights for status in social and professional situations, the vulnerability of not knowing is still a threat. In any profession, answering "I don't know" can be viewed as a weakness. Some naturalist can name every species they see. Some doctors have a prescription for every ailment. Some consultants can produce an answer for every question. There is a special word for these types of experts: liars. No one knows it all. This pressure to look smart and competent keeps us from publicly wondering and admitting when we do not know an answer. It can also prevent us from trying new things, being open to new ideas, or learning new skills. Being aware of the pressures that stifle our curiosity help us to push back against them. Not knowing the answer is okay. In fact, it is where the fun begins."

Thank you John Muir. I agree wholeheartedly

[Ardyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been afraid to open this book for years, certain it's all much too advanced... but John Muir Laws deserves his reputation as a teacher and guide for the beginner. Yes, there is a lot beyond me -- but it's later, and easily found as our skills advance. The first 85 pages are well within my understanding, and his advice is consistent.

Also! There's hardly any talk about the four seasons! Cannot overstate how much I appreciate this as a person living in the tropics.

This book (along with some Sketchbook Skool videos on YouTube) has managed to get me excited about wandering around sketching when all we have is unanswered questions and a total absence of artistic skill -- I feel okay about that, finally, rather than a soul-sucking dread.

If you've been struggling with fear of failure on nature journaling / nature study / nature art / drawing... this is probably the one to buy. But go on YouTube first, check out both John Muir Laws and Sketchbook Skool (not a nature-specific art channel).

[Annie Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laws is filled with wonder at the beauty of nature and encourages us to notice and give thanks. Drawing is not to produce a pretty picture but to record, to be in awe, and to wonder.

Although this author is not obviously a Christian, he reminds us of God's great gift to us in nature, the gift that shows us who he is, that answered Job's questions, that preaches without words to the whole world. How can we ignore it so blithely?

This book will be part of our homeschool as we deliberately set out to explore the other book of God, his amazing world.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a lovely set of suggestions for the budding observer. The ideas for using journaling to just sit and observe and focus on a thing and appreciate it are very detailed and inspiring. The first half of the book covers the types of things you can journal about, John Muir Laws own approach and standard science approaches. The second half focuses on sketching animals, landscapes, and other parts of nature. It starts with a general section that briefly describes what to practice, like underlying shapes and drawing from the shoulder.

[Kiera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautiful and informative I abandoned my resolve to rely on the library alone and bought it. Laws addresses every question you could have when approaching the practice of journaling, even some that probably seem obvious to other authors—his favorite colors for painting with, what kinds of questions you can ask in the field, how to abbreviate bird names (and how it’s OK to mess them up). My favorite parts were related to field water coloring, which seems so much more attainable based on the advice in this book.

[Trish Remley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have worked through this book for the last two years. Lots of great basic practical info. Has allowed me to start to learn to sketch while not worrying about getting every detail precise when drawing/painting in the context of keeping a journal of what one sees and enjoys in nature. Completed many practice examples given. Done some sketching/watercolor from photos taken (even framed a coneflower :). Now ready to assemble a portable kit and just start walking around the property doing it!!

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if I can adequately describe how much I enjoyed this book, except by saying I know I will carry and refer to it for the rest of my life. Amazing if you're just learning to draw or if you're experienced; if you're deeply in love with nature or just starting to connect with it. This will (and already has) improve my skills, hobbies, my job, my community, and my mental health. I am so incredibly grateful to own this, and I can't express my gratitude enough to Laws for writing it. Can't wait to read more of his guides in the future.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been flipping through this for a long while and think I've finally read the entire book.

Law's guide is absolutely PACKED with information, examples, and tutorials about observing and sketching nature. But most importantly, we're inspired to go outside, sit quietly, observe critically, and experiment with art.

I love the philosophy in the beginning of the book just as much as the tutorial in the later pages.

This will be my go-to reference for nature journaling--I couldn't ask for more.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely inspirational and phenomenal resource on nature journaling. Tons of examples, gorgeous illustrations, and, through it all, emphasis on thinking, noticing, questioning, making hypotheses, drawing conclusions...which leads to a greater awe of nature. My 5 year old and I have started a weekly nature journal and we both love asking questions about our discoveries. I am buying this today, if I can find it!

[Sia Karamalegos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really thorough guide to not just sketching in nature but also the fundamentals of drawing and painting in media commonly used in sketchbooks (pencil, colored pencil, pen, watercolor). I'm interested more in sketchbooking than actual nature journaling, so this book was not really for me but it's thoroughly packed with tips if you want a more comprehensive guide with exercises. I think his guide on birds may be more what I'm looking for.

[Toby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent guide for new and experienced artists. It provides very good instruction on drawing specifically for nature drawing such that you could use this to get started making some excellent sketches/pictures when out and about. One of the best, most comprehensive and most approachable drawing books I've seen.

Of course if you want to draw anime or castles, this won't help much.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opened a whole new world of nature journaling for me and in that I have found what is probably my favorite hobby. It’s a combination of the two things I love - nature and art and you cannot find a better book and teacher on this topic than John Muir Laws. This is the best book on nature journaling out there.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a really gorgeous book but way over my head as far as art.
I suppose if I took the day and really worked I could get a spectacular drawing.
I think I’ll stick with my simple stuff for now but I do love John’s stuff.
Also he mentions so many wonderful ways to document things in your nature journal and I love that.

[Tibby]

A useful start to getting into nature journalling. I was hoping for a little more on what to write, although if you're getting started Laws has good advice. Where the book shines is with all the drawing advice he offers. I don't know that I need to draw exactly like Laws, but he has a lot of good tips and tricks and practice for capturing things in nature.

[Susan smith]

WOW sooooo comprehensive - it's basically an instructional book on drawing and watercolor painting - just about anything you'd want to know how to draw/paint in nature - so well done - thank you for this amazing reference book