Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Drawn from Nature by Helen Ahpornsiri [Review & Giveaway - USA/CANADA]

An intricately crafted journey through four seasons of flora and fauna.


ISBN: 9780763698980
Hardcover $22.00
My thoughts:  Most of us have gathered wild flowers, perhaps pressing them because they are so lovely and we want to remember the moment. Or perhaps you've gathered colorful leaves in the fall marveling at their colors and declining beauty.The author of Drawn from Nature has taken a love for the beauty of plant life and created works of art from the already beautiful and even the not-so-pretty that is found out-and-about in the wild out-of-doors.

I am so amazed at this book and the intricate work of this artist. Just to sit looking at these beautiful images is a treat to enjoy. But that is not all this book includes. It is broken down into the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter with plants and animals becoming active and springing into action with glorious color and going on through the seasons to the bare branches, darkness, and stillness that encompasses Winter.

A beautifully pictured and told story of our seasons.

A must see is the video that Candlewick has on youtube.com that captures the artist creating her art utilizing the design that she sees in real bits and pieces of nature. It is fascinating!


About the book: Helen Ahpornsiri's intricate artwork transforms leaves, petals, and seeds into bounding hares, swooping swallows, and blossoming trees. Using nothing but pressed plants, this journey through the seasons captures the wonder and magic of the natural world between the pages of a book. This standout title with beautiful nonfiction text will take readers through an extraordinary year in the wild.

About the artist/author: Helen Ahpornsiri is an Illustrator based in East Sussex, UK.

All images are made using only real flowers, petals, stems and leaves. These are grown or foraged responsibly before being placed in a flower press. After 1-6 weeks of pressing, the flora and foliage is flat and ready to use – preserved in their natural colours, with no paints or dyes. Each piece is then cut and delicately positioned to form detailed illustrations; all brimming with the intricate twists and tangles of plant life.

The artist at work  - the delicate work of creating these beauties can be appreciated by viewing her skilled hands as she creates a butterfly from ferns.

GIVEAWAY
Candlewick Press is graciously providing 1 copy for a giveaway.
Begins March 15
Ends April 7 at 12:01 a.m. EDT
Open to USA and CANADA addresses only.
No P.O. Boxes, please.
a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Candlewick Press on behalf of the author to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own, alone, and are freely given.

28 comments:

  1. "What form of artistic expression for you engage in? Painting? Drawing? Crafts? Sewing? Flower arranging?"

    I'm quite good at drawing!

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  2. I sew and do woodworking but I have always wanted to draw and play the piano. I am not good at either of those.

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  3. I love drawing and coloring paper dolls with my daughters!

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  4. I'm a nature lover! I paint, draw and write. What a lovely book and artwork.

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  5. Drawing, crafts, painting, journaling. I love colors. :)

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  6. I like to sew. craft, color. Looking to learn how to crochet!

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  7. I do a lot of drawing, especially now with children.

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  8. I use sewing with mine.
    Theresa N
    weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  9. I do sewing and crafting, embroidery.
    Mary Beth Elderton

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  10. I like to garden and crossstich.

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  11. I garden, do yarn crafts and paint on lots of different materials - Canvas, wood, gourds, rocks, etc.

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  12. I like to do crafting with paper, making cards and scrapbooks.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  13. Oh, this book is just stunning! I want to pour over it with my budding 7-year old artist. I personally love to do lettering. I draw a little, but lettering has always been my love. Thanks for linking up at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
    Tina

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  14. I enjoy gardening, writing, and digital scrapbooking. I also like to try new techniques with my kids - collages, salt & watercolors, flower pounding, etc.

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  15. Hello, you used to write great, but the last several posts have been kinda
    boring... I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track!
    come on!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous - Thank you for your input. I'd love for more clarifiction on your insight into what you think my writing lacks so please feel free to contact me via the email in the right sidebar. I'd love to hear from you.

      Delete
  16. I sketch with colored pencils

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  17. So far, I can sew and crochet. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  18. crafts and sometimes knitting, gardening and baking.

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  19. I crochet and take a lot of my inspiration from nature.

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  20. I'm a mix of making art in anyway. However, right now I'm crocheting a bit more. I love anything about art and creating things that just show off my personal style. ☺

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  21. Calligraphy!

    theyyyguy@yahoo.com

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  22. I do photography, create digital art, due some crafts...mostly paper crafts such as Quilling, Origami and Kirigami. Thanks and God Bless! ILuvTheEucharist @ aol dot com

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  23. I like to do crafting.

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  24. I've always enjoyed gardening and now digital coloring. I'm trying to interest my autistic son in gardening but his attention span doesn't let us get far. He seems more interested in arts and crafts. I'm trying for his sake to do more

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