Sketching Your Favorite Subjects In Pen & Ink by Claudia Nice
 I am fascinated by the tapestry of nature, each woven thread vibrant with the Master's touch. All the colors, textures, forms and designs you could imagine are entwined within nature's mantle; to find them, you need only to open your “artist’s eye” and observe. The more I see, the more I am inspired to take my pen and set down yet another lovely scene or intriguing image, lest I forget it. I may change it some to fit my mood or whimsy, or strive to capture it just the way it is, It makes no difference, for if a part of me also flows through the pen and remains behind on the paper, this to me is art. My favorite subjects are most often found out of doors, sometimes at the end of a meandering country road, along a high mountain trail, or over a barnyard fence. I travel light, with a camera around my neck, a sketchbook tucked under my arm, and a pocketful of sketching tools. Although I work in many mediums, I like the sharp contrast and intricate detail of a pen stroke. The ink techniques in this book have been developed mainly by trial and error. The failures have been given to experience and the successes have been repeated, improved and committed to memory. This is how to build a personal style, for everyone judges success by a different yardstick, holding fast to those things that please. So take the pen in hand, learn to observe, feel free to experiment and above all, relax and enjoy what you do. And if this book can help or encourage, then it has accomplished its purpose, and I am pleased. Happy Sketching! 144 pages paperback with 175 b&w illustrations.
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Creating Textures in Pen and Ink
 Using picture after picture (and handwritten instructions, for a more intimate feel), Claudia Nice teaches artists how to use dots, fine lines, brush strokes, black & white and color—a mixture of mediums and techniques—to create:
The gleaming transparency of glass
Smoothed driftwood
Rolling surf and ocean waves
The foliage of distant trees
The warmth of brick and adobe
Intricate leaf textures
Rainbows that glimmer
The woven texture of basketry
Sunrises and sunsets that glow
Lifelike animal hair
Dramatic wood grain
And dozens of other textures! Artists will learn how to use such diverse materials as technical pens, colored inks and liquid acrylics, along with ways to alter and combine ink and watercolor for exciting texturing effects. Claudia Nice is one of the country’s foremost watercolor, pen & ink artists and teachers. The author of eight current North Light books, Claudia teaches students from all over the world at her private studio in Oregon.
144 pages paperback with 120 color illustrations.
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Creating Textured Landscapes with Pen, Ink and Watercolor by Claudia Nice
 Texture makes the difference between run-of-the-mill landscapes, and paintings that spring to life. In Creating Textured Landscapes with Pen, Ink and Watercolor, pen and ink is used to add depth, impact and textural contrast - the key to realism in landscape painting. With the help of reference photos and field sketches, the Claudia shows you how to create realistic and colorful paintings of landscapes ranging from expansive mountain vistas to more intimate vignettes. Various components of landscape paintings are simplified and brought together throughout each chapter into full-page finished landscapes. The tools demonstrated are simple and fun to use plus pen and ink is used to enhance the more highly textured areas of the paintings. About the Author
Claudia Nice is the author of nine successful North Light books including Creating Textures in Pen and Ink with Watercolor, How to Keep a Sketchbook Journal, and Watercolor Made Simple with Claudia Nice. Well-known by both fine artists and decorative painters, her friendly voice and clear instruction keep her fans coming back for more. 144 pages hardcover with 5 b&w and 150 color illustrations
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