Capturing the essence: techniques for bird artists.

Collingwood: CSIRO Publishing, 2011.
Oblong format, laminated boards, 124 pp. colour illustrations, line drawings.

EACH COPY HAS A SIGNED BOOKPLATE BY THE ARTIST (until stocks run out). This image was especially done for our 30th anniversary in business.

A step-by-step personal guide written and illustrated by one of the world’s greatest living natural history artists. Bill Cooper shows the value of field observation, how to make the most of essential information and then how to paint birds using field notes, sketches, photographs and other observations. The author takes the reader through the processes involved in oil painting, water colour and acrylic techniques, and a piece of art is built up in stages to demonstrate the skills required in each of these media. While the book covers some of the general basics relevant to various kinds of painting of natural history subjects, the concentration is very much on birds. Also available in paperback [stock id 33707].

THE AUTHOR/ARTIST: William T. Cooper AO originally painted landscapes and seascapes but turned to painting birds because of a lifelong love of natural history. He has collaborated on many bird monographs with Joseph M. Forshaw. In 1990 William was awarded the Philadelphia Academy of Science (USA) Gold Medal, and in 1994 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his contribution to art and to ornithology. A collection of his original paintings is owned by the National Library of Australia and many private collections around the world.

**This Australian edition is hardcover, overseas editions are paperback.