Editorial Review
A step-by-step technique book for creating beautiful imagery and journals inspired by the natural world.
Nature has been inspiring artists of all ages since the dawn of history, however, most books on nature journaling focus exclusively on drawing and watercolor painting, and therefore are intimidating or irrelevant to artists who don't feel confident in their drawing or painting skills.
This book offers artists and crafters a wide range of experimental techniques for creating beautiful nature journals that primarily use imagery and themes from the natural world, but go way beyond mere drawing and painting. Creative twists on leaf rubbings, plant pressings, non-traditional printmaking, using patina solutions on brass or copper mesh, colorful photo manipulations, layering techniques, and clever ways of incorporating three-dimensional natural objects are just a few of the techniques that are explored.
- Inspirational writings, thematic sidebars, and related conceptual exercises all help readers create artwork that will resonate on a deeper personal level
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Customer Reviews
Interesting book 
2008-03-05
Creative, interesting and fun book with good unique ideas for journaling with nature. Highly recommend it even for non-artists!
simple printmaking and alot of other ideas 
2008-02-28
there are so many interesting ways to print, make prints, try your hand at simple creative and different...and really interesting ideas for making art.
Don't be bogged down at just thinking you have to make a hefty journal...the ideas in here are good for individual art pieces.
No nonsense here. Very intriguing ideas...I can't wait to try them. Thanks.
Not Just Eye Candy 2008-01-23
Prepare to dig deep and jump in. LK has written a book that is bursting with art, facts, quotes and carefully written step by step instructions for creating your own journal pages or simply one of a kind pieces of art. Meaning and content seep out of every pore of the photographs of her beautiful work as she encourages you every step of the way to link your feelings, thoughts and words to images that surround you every day and gives you the tools and techniques to do so. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to really connect to the natural world and embrace the art of personal communication through imagery.
A+ from an avid nature artist 2008-01-23
A wonderful guide to connecting the natural world to my feelings and spirituality. This book employs the beauty of nature and artistic talent to aid in a beautiful final product. It demonstrates new, creative, and fun ideas that translate into one of a kind, meaningful pieces of work. As a marine biologist, I am anxious to use her leaf printing techniques on the various seaweeds that wash ashore. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a new avenue in the art world. My journals will never be the same. Thank you, L.K. Ludwig.
Memorable Moments Captured! 2008-01-23
I loved this book. I pick up unique finds all the time, especially at the beach. I love to photograph living things there. This book gave me some great techniques on how to incorporate them into journals, as well as construction and layout of the journals. I really liked the pocket ideas. They are great for storing and being able to accesss my "finds". It has also inspired my teenager to start a collection and incorporate her own artistic voice onto a journal.
OH Wondrous Nature!!! 2008-07-04
L.K Ludwig does an OUTSTANDING JOB at making the artist within us all feel at ease and ready to express our thoughts, our feelings about this wondrous world in a beautiful and personal way. I was SO VERY PLEASED and DELIGHTED with this book! Many THANKS for sharing your creative insights.
Mixed Media Nature Journals 2008-07-02
Marvelously well done with explicit technique instructions. I've taken classes with L.K. Ludwig, and she transcends her artistic talent in both the classroom as well as this book. A must-have for the mixed media artist.
Mixed Media Nature Journals 2008-06-23
Ludwig is a new and thoroughly original voice on the art journaling scene! This book is a must for avid art journalers even if this romantic, bold, and somewhat chunky style is not yours. The techniques presented are simple and easily reproduced at home. I have tried many of them and there is great joy at discovery and experimentation, particularly the copper patina, of which Ludwig knows more than most. The book is packed with beautiful examples of the author's own work, which reflects a darkly romantic perception of nature and strong, soulful feeling relatedness. Her ingenious combinations of photos, monoprints, fabrics, artificial flowers, and natural materials are stunning and unique. These are new ideas in a genre where recent books have simply reiterated old techniques and ideas. This book is tremendously inspiring, spaciously and beautifully laid out, filled with moving and illuminative quotes from nature writers, and the technique instructions are lucidly and clearly presented. Having been her student in a hands on class, I was pleased to see that she is as good a teacher in print as in person, not always the case.
Gorgeous book 2008-04-29
When I first began browing though this book, I thought to myself "Oh my goodness, how could I ever do anything this beautiful and complicated?" But LK does a wonderful job breaking down her unique images into step-by-step instructions. She includes specific tips for working with a new art material that will help you sail past the trial-by-error part of experimenting and art-making.
I really enjoyed her idea of printing natural texture onto metal foil (pg 60) because it's really simple. A sheet of metal, some patina solution and a patch of grass. Viola! I tried it and is works like a charm. Using this technique, I created some interesting background pieces I can use as mats for my image transfer photos.
LK walks that fine line between creating a visually-stunning book that's beautiful enough to inspire seasoned artsits while still featuring interesting techniques that are accessible to the fearless crafter.
Mixed-Media Nature Journals is a gorgeous book, rich with texture and chocked full of creativity.
Nice but . . . 
2008-03-26
Lots of good info in this book and wonderful photos, ideas, etc. But I'm curious, does anyone else find it creepy that what appear to be entire bird wings are used in some of these projects?
