Kristine A. Lombardi - Nature Painting in Watercolor: Learn to Paint Florals, Ferns, Trees, and More in Colorful, Contemporary Watercolor

Learn to paint florals, ferns, trees, and more in colorful, contemporary watercolor

KRISTINE A. LOMBARDI

2021 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

Artwork and text 2021 Kristine Lombardi

First published in 2021 by Walter Foster Publishing, an imprint of The Quarto Group.
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ISBN: 978-1-63322-886-3

Digital edition published in 2021

eISBN: 978-1-63322-887-0

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I became a nature enthusiast once I began taking long walks outdoors. Several years ago, I mentioned to my physician how stressed out I was feeling (due to my work schedule, social commitments, and so on), and she immediately suggested that I begin walking.

I must admit that I secretly rolled my eyes a bit. We live in very stressful times, where everyone is inundated with busy schedules, the news, and constant alerts from our phones, so I was skeptical that something as simple as walking could alleviate all of this. My doctor explained that taking long walks in nature can be both peaceful and meditative. She advised me to focus on what was right in front of me versus staying in my head. She mentioned trees, clouds, and the different seasons. Youre an artist, she said, smiling, so you should enjoy this even more!

I began the next day.

I wasnt exactly a stranger to walking, but my intent changed. Prior to that day, I had walked either for cardio or as a fast-paced way to get from one part of New York City to another, always running to make the bus or train. But at my doctors advice, I embarked on these walks a bit differently. It wasnt easy at first to get out of my head, but I made a concerted effort to acknowledge the beauty that was all around me and let go of modern-day concerns for a while.

Soon I found myself snapping photos of amazing 100-year-old trees, spring flowers, and cottonlike clouds in the sky. I was less in my head and more in the moment, whether marveling at the intricate colors of an autumn leaf, the crusty bark of an old oak tree, or the way the bare trees bluish shadows fell across the winter snow. It didnt take long to make these walks a habit. I was hooked.

I tend to head straight out my front door and walk through the quieter streets in my town, but at times I drive to one of the parks or reservations in the area. Both provide so much inspirationand in different ways.

No matter where you live, whether the climate is tropical, arid, humid, oceanic, or cool, you likely have a great spot to observe nature, and you will find yourself feeling more peaceful. There really is beauty everywhere you look! I am constantly seeking it, and I hope you do too.

- Kristine

Sketchbook & References

As my walks increased, so did my interest in capturing nature in my art. More and more, I began to chronicle these things with my camera phone. I amassed an enormous image library, which I still tap into when looking for a particular flower or season. This way, I can work on lush peonies in the dead of winter or paint spiny, dried-out clusters of thistle in the middle of a sultry July afternoon. (To view some of my inspirational photos, turn to .)

I often look low when I am outgetting very close to the groundand study the tiny blooms that grow. Nearly invisible from a standing position, these bits are just as detailed as the larger blooms that command our attention. Sitting beneath our feet are complex ground cover plants, mushrooms, and earthy mulch. If you are lucky, you might see the tiny shell of a snail or a fallen feather from a robin or jay. You just need to look!

I have found myself outside on the coldest days feeling so grateful to spot a deer darting through the woods, a hawk gliding across the pink sky, or a red fox trotting across the snow. Winter is a stunner if you embrace it. It is incredibly quiet and peaceful, and I am always amazed by its beauty. Here in the Northeast, so many of us complain about how long this season lasts, but if you get outside and look around, you wont suffer the same cabin fever as those who remain inside for months on end.

In addition to documenting my finds with a camera, I collect samples of natureleaves, pods, acorns, pine cones, bits of bone, shells from the beach, and so onand tuck them into my pockets. I then lug these back to my studio and create little studies in my sketchbook. If I dont have time to do so immediately, I add them to a giant glass jar.

Sketchbooks are a great way to dive in. Sometimes just knowing that they are for your eyes only takes the pressure off creating.

We can all feel trepidation when starting a painting, but using a sketchbook is quite freeing. Over the years, my students have questioned why their sketchbooks are so much closer to their vision than the finished paintings that they create. I firmly believe this is due to the fact that our sketchbooks are a place to play and observe what we take from the world around us, without the nagging sense that the art must be perfect.