How to Draw a River: From the Source to the Sea: A Step-by-Step Course for the Nature Artist

by Alex Boon

Overview

A Step-by-Step course for the Nature Artist 

This compact guide to landscape drawing will show you how to capture the elements and detail of Rivers and create great artwork: from the Source to the Sea.

• structured in a step-by-step course format
• each section builds confidence
• understand the importance of detailed analysis
• build the quality of your artistic output

Throughout the seasons - and in all weathers - How to Draw a River offers a unique insight and understanding of the natural world around us and how to capture its beauty in a sketchbook.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781446314807
Publisher:	David & Charles
Publication date:	07/22/2025
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.87(w) x 8.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Alex Boon is an artist and nature influencer from Devon, England. As well as his nature journals, Alex also creates original artwork that is informed by his time spent outdoors. He shares his art through a range of different routes including his YouTube channel, online art school and art club The Nature Journaling Circle. He also holds in-person talks and demonstrations.

Read an Excerpt

As a nature artist, my particular passion is the continued, patient recording of a specific place and the wildlife that frequents it. Regular visits to the same place never become boring as I always discover something new, be it the flora and fauna along the riverbank, or the character of the river as it ebbs and flows. I document this in my nature journals – books that I fill with sketches and notes. 

Rivers are a perfect environment for creatively recording nature. I am lucky enough to live close to a river that discharges into the sea in my home town. Documenting the seasonal changes in this river and its tributaries has brought me much joy, and getting to know the plants and birds that inhabit the river has been a wonderful learning experience. Accessing blue-green spaces is known to be great for our health and wellbeing. In addition, by getting to know our river we can recognise the signs of environmental damage and become valuable stewards of these crucial natural environments. 

In this book, I hope to inspire you to get to know a river close to you. I will share a range of different methods to help you meet your river artistically and record the changes that you observe in graphite, ink, and coloured pencil. We will explore the river from source to sea, discover the wildlife that it supports, and understand how humans have interacted with it. By following the exercises, I hope that you will become more knowledgeable and enthusiastic about your local river as well as developing your artistic skills in a fun and mindful way.