drawing trees and leaves book

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really liked it Average rating 4.00  ·

 · 38 ratings  · 5 reviews

Start your review of Drawing Trees and Leaves: Observing and Sketching the Natural World

Jun 20, 2017 Rebecca rated it liked it

OK, but very text-heavy. I wished for more advice on whole trees (shape, proportion, how branches branch, etc). Vertical format is not at all my favorite. I may return to this for ideas on different leaf shapes.

Nov 22, 2017 Randy M. rated it it was amazing

The Curious Artist: Drawing Trees and Leaves is exactly the kind of book I was expecting it to be. Drawing is something I have always enjoyed and did quite a bit when I was a child. Unfortunately, the responsibilities of adulthood too often remove you from things you enjoy. As my working career starts entering its twilight phase, I hope to be able to return to some youthful passions, with drawing being high on that list.

The title of the book is indicative that this is a beginners-level introduct

The Curious Artist: Drawing Trees and Leaves is exactly the kind of book I was expecting it to be. Drawing is something I have always enjoyed and did quite a bit when I was a child. Unfortunately, the responsibilities of adulthood too often remove you from things you enjoy. As my working career starts entering its twilight phase, I hope to be able to return to some youthful passions, with drawing being high on that list.

The title of the book is indicative that this is a beginners-level introduction to drawing this particular subject matter. I would not expect something called "The Curious Artist" to be offering an academic treatise on drawing theory and composition. This is exactly the kind of tutorial I need to reintroduce me to one of my fondly remembered pastimes.

The step-by-step techniques are prodigiously illustrated and cover quite a range of subject matter beyond the eponymous "trees and leaves". Also included are specific techniques for tree blossoms, fruit, pine cones/needles, bark, tree rings, even deer and moths and butterflies. These techniques are for basic competency in drawing these forms. They will not produce, nor are they intended to produce, photorealistic results.

The book opens like a sketchpad, meaning you flip the pages from bottom to top instead of right to left. This may seem off-putting to someone expecting to read it like a book, but this is a book on basic drawing techniques. The intent is to flip it open to certain pages and stay there awhile so you can practice the techniques described. The format meshes perfectly with the mediums you will be using as you draw.

That said, this is not just a book about drawing. As the book cover states, this is "fascinating facts and sketching activities". So, there is a fair amount of educational text about the lifecycles and benefits of trees, and their roles in our ecosystem, that could be read like a book if you so desired. This material isn't going to prepare you for a degree in Forestry or Environmental Science, but it does help in acquiring a deeper appreciation in the subject matter you are endeavoring to draw, so I found it a welcome addition.

Drawing is an old childhood friend that I abandoned as adulthood and career aspirations and responsibilities forced themselves upon me. As retirement looms on the not-too-distant horizon, this book will be a great first step in reacquainting me with my long-lost friend.

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Feb 14, 2018 Claire rated it really liked it

"Drawing through observation is a natural first step, but learning more about the subject—past what is visible— always makes the drawing process better" (Julia Kuo). And as I often say: step into their being "be the tree, open your mind and marvel at what you'll discover".

This book is a little gem. The visuals are warm, simple, fun and going to straight to basics. You learn a lot both about tree ecology fundamentals and on tree anatomy. Trees are intimidating for many, and here you learn to sim

"Drawing through observation is a natural first step, but learning more about the subject—past what is visible— always makes the drawing process better" (Julia Kuo). And as I often say: step into their being "be the tree, open your mind and marvel at what you'll discover".

This book is a little gem. The visuals are warm, simple, fun and going to straight to basics. You learn a lot both about tree ecology fundamentals and on tree anatomy. Trees are intimidating for many, and here you learn to simplify their many facets (from their bark, roots, buds, leaves, flowers). I now use it -where I work- to communicate and illustrate tree sketching essentials in our Live Nature circles and workshops for aspiring naturalists and nature sketching beginners :-) It has become a cool little journaling and education friend!

Now for those who want hard-core detailed drawing technics paired with an in-depth ecology scholar text, that's not 'the' book (but that should be obvious from glancing at the book before purchasing it and there are plenty of good references for those as well).

May you enjoy this sketching companion as much as I do… Happy nature sketching to all! ッ

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Nov 11, 2017 Jenny rated it liked it

I liked this book but I think it tries to do too many things at once. It provides information about trees, leaves, seeds, fruit and animals. It also provides some information about how you could draw trees and different aspects of a tree. It is not an in depth book about drawing trees and leaves, nor does it contain enough information about natural history to tell you that much about trees. I thought it was interesting because I could use some of the information about symmetry and how to get sta I liked this book but I think it tries to do too many things at once. It provides information about trees, leaves, seeds, fruit and animals. It also provides some information about how you could draw trees and different aspects of a tree. It is not an in depth book about drawing trees and leaves, nor does it contain enough information about natural history to tell you that much about trees. I thought it was interesting because I could use some of the information about symmetry and how to get started with constructing a tree or leaf in my embroidery designs but I am not sure that it would be that useful for someone who wanted to learn more about drawing. ...more

Julia Kuo is a Taiwanese-American illustrator who has worked with the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Google. She has taught illustration courses at Columbia College Chicago and at her alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis. Julia was the visual arm of Chicago's 2017 March for Science and has had the honor of being an artist-in-residence at Banff Centre for the Arts in 2014 and in Julia Kuo is a Taiwanese-American illustrator who has worked with the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Google. She has taught illustration courses at Columbia College Chicago and at her alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis. Julia was the visual arm of Chicago's 2017 March for Science and has had the honor of being an artist-in-residence at Banff Centre for the Arts in 2014 and in 2017. She is the recipient of a 2019-2020 Gray Center Mellon Collaborative Fellowship.

Her most recent book is "I Dream of Popo" by Livia Blackburne, published by Macmillan.

www.juliakuo.com

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