Discover the Art of Field Sketching by Kristin Link: Nature-inspired techniques for pencil, pen and watercolor
Learn to observe, sketch, and understand nature through field-based drawing with this step-by-step guide to sketching landscapes, plants, and wildlife.
Discover the Art of Field Sketching by Kristin Link
Nature-Inspired Techniques for Pencil, Pen, and Watercolor
Timber Press, Available April 28, 2026
From the publisher:
An empowering guide to the many ways of noticing, connecting with, and documenting the world around you, based on the renowned workshop that Kristin Link has been leading in remote Alaska for over a decade.
For over 15 years, artist and illustrator Kristin Link has taught everyone from children to experts to draw everything from a single acorn to a breathtaking mountain vista. Now her popular field sketching course is available as a guide that anyone can use.
Discover the Art of Field Sketching is a nature illustration book for artists of all skill levels. It starts with the basics of pen, pencil, and watercolor, then introduces more advanced techniques for complex landscapes and animals in motion. It features visual subject matter for wherever you live: you can learn to sketch a night sky, a backyard bird, or a squirrel in the park as well as a rugged mountain wilderness. The book includes 30 step-by-step lessons, and many more inspiring examples of finished products. It also focuses on the meditative and philosophical aspects to field sketching, like slowing down, presentness, and learning to love nature of all sizes.
Discover The Art of Field Sketching is just as informative on why to get into field sketching, as it is on how to make the most of your projects.
What’s Inside:
Field-ready techniques: Learn how to set up your sketchbook, choose materials, and manage light, weather, and movement.
Practical exercises: Short, guided activities designed to build confidence through hands-on practice.
Guided reflections: Short prompts in each chapter that help you notice what you enjoy, clarify your approach, and make the practice your own.
Real sketchbook pages: Examples from my own field journals that show process, not perfection.
Visual tools for learning: Annotated examples that break down how to see and simplify form, space, and seasonal change.
This book is for:
nature sketchers and field journalers
artists seeking stronger observational skills
naturalists, scientists, and educators
travelers, hikers, and curious observers
beginners through experienced artists. No prior drawing experience needed.
It bridges art and science in a way that makes seeing as rewarding as drawing.
On Sale: April 28, 2026
Page Count: 296 pages
Publisher: Timber Press
ISBN-13: 9781643263793
The author Kristin Link sketching in the field.
Field sketching is not just about drawing, it’s a way of observing and understanding the natural world. Over years of teaching, I’ve seen how simple tools and structured approaches can help people sketch with more clarity and confidence outdoors.
In this book, I share the methods I use in my own practice and in my classes, with the goal of helping you develop a flexible and joyful way to draw in the field.