Rosalie Haizlett - Watercolor in Nature: Paint Woodland Wildlife and Botanicals with 20 Beginner-Friendly Projects

WATERCOLOR
inNATURE

Paint Woodland Wildlife and Botanicals with 20 Beginner-Friendly Projects

ROSALIE HAIZLETT

Nature Illustrator

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For my grandad, Gerald, who loved to paint as much as I do. Your spirit lives on in every painting I make.

I stumbled upon nature painting during a painful period in my life. I began to suffer from chronic migraines when I was just eleven years old. Week after week, the pain in my brain and the loss of my vision would force me to hole up in my bedroom in the middle of the day with the lights out. No medications provided me with the relief that I needed.

When I was fifteen, a new neurologist prescribed a different solution: Instead of taking a nap when you get a migraine, try taking a gentle walk in nature instead. So, I began walking. I grew up on a farm in rural West Virginia, so it wasnt difficult for me to access safe places to walk in nature. That is something that I now realize was a true gift.

I had always loved to draw and paintprimarily people and architecture. But as I walked the same farm roads day after day, my eye began to tune in to the natural wonders that I encountered outdoors.

Before long, these outdoor inspirations began to make their way into my sketchbooks. I became fascinated by all the different colors and shapes of mushrooms that popped up along the path. Trees, plants and insects that I had passed by before without a second glance suddenly captured my attention. I finally saw the life that was occurring all around me.

The more I painted the natural world, the more connected to our planet I felt. I developed a deeper sense of gratitude for the seemingly mundane natural details all around me. And I wanted to show others the life that I encountered on my walks in the forest through my paintings.

My reverence for nature is twofold. Im grateful for its beauty; it provides me with unlimited creative inspiration for my artwork. And Im grateful for the way it has guided me into a healthier, more mindful existence. I still get migraines, but I experience so much relief when I step outside.

Im really glad that you picked up this book. By completing the projects in these pages, you will be equipped to artistically capture the plants and animals that you encounter on your future walks in nature. And the more you paint from nature, the more you will observe the world around you with the appreciative eye of an artist. I hope that you begin to find natures healing and inspiration everywhere you look!

Lets dive in! To get you started, Ive put together a collection of my recommended watercolor materials, along with a guide to some helpful ink-and-watercolor techniques that I use in the projects in this book. Before you jump into the first lesson, take a peek at these resources to help you get ready to create.

SHAGGY MANE
- MUSHROOM -

1. START WITH THE FIRST PROJECTS

Each project will build on skills learned in previous lessons. First, there are ten ink-and-watercolor projects.