Austrian artist Waltraud Nawratil shows how to combine a love for nature with a passion for expressive painting.

Divided into helpful sections to teach the reader how to use acrylics, watercolours or airbrushing, as well as natural materials such as sand, bark and leaves, to create captivating pictures full of colour and vitality.

There is a wealth of stunning abstract pieces by Waltraud which will provide inspiration for more experience painters as well as the beginner.

The book covers the variations through all seasons, teaching the reader to see the natural world with creativity and a fresh new perspective.

Table of Contents

• Introduction 6
• Materials and tools 8

• Your painting surface 10
• Painting tools and accessories 11
• Paints 12
• Additional materials 14

• Using mixed media 18
• Watercolour painting style 19
• Using a spatula 20
• Collages and structures 21
• Applying plant materials directly 21
• Stamp-printing with natural materials 22
• Working with paste 24
• Experimental techniques 26
• Working with spray varnish 28

INSPIRATION 30

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION 32

INSPIRATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 34

• Flowers 34
• Trees 36
• In spring 36
• In summer 38
• In autumn 39
• In winter 40

THROUGH THE SEASONS WITH FLOWERS AND TREES 42

• Spring 44
• Flowering Dandelion 46
• Poppy and Wild Cumin 48
• Ox-eye Daisy 50
• Birch Trees in Spring 52
• Spring Mood in the Forest 54
• Spring Breeze in the Trees 56
• Summer 58
• Flowering Suns 60
• The Meadow 62
• Lily Pond 64
• Large Poppies 66
• Poppy and Fern 68
• Sunny Forest with Fern 70
• Summer Tree 72
• Autumn 74
• Autumn Poppy 76
• Abstract Autumn Tree 78
• Fiery Autumn Forest 82
• Autumn in the Birch Forest 84
• Winter 86
• Abstract Poppy 88
• Poinsettias 90
• Winter Abstract 92
• Virginia Creeper in Winter 94
• Virginia Creeper in a Grey Frame 96

GALLERY AND CLOSING WORDS 100

• About the author 110