Birds of the West - by Molly Hashimoto (Hardcover)

About the Book

Encourages birders and artists alike to really see the birds around us, in all their varied, often vivid colors, textures, and feathers

Book Synopsis

"Exceptionally well written and offering a complete course of art instruction on the subject of birds, Birds of the West: An Artist's Guide is beautifully illustrated throughout." -Midwest Book Review

• Unique gift book celebrates more than 80 iconic Western birds
• Author is an award-winning nature artist and art teacher
• Explores habitats: suburban backyards, alpine heights, shorelines, and more

Birds accompany us in our daily lives with their songs, flashes of bright color, and energetic activity. Even people who don't consider themselves birders notice them; from urban wetlands to wilderness trails, we follow the sound of a distant twitter or song.

Award-winning artist Molly Hashimoto captures birds through different media, from quick sketches with pen and wash to more carefully planned block prints. Each medium has a unique way of revealing different avian qualities--elegant lines or imposing silhouettes, a delicate bill or brilliant plumage. In Birds of the West, Molly shares this range of artwork as a way to encourage readers, whether artists or not, to observe more closely the feathered friends around us. Through her art and words, she explores specific Western habitats providing the natural histories of birds typically found in each, as well as intimate personal encounters and inspiring passages from others. And she teaches painting, drawing, and printmaking methods throughout the book with technique sidebars designed for all levels of experience.

Review Quotes

Exceptionally well written and offering a complete course of art instruction on the subject of birds, "Birds of the West: An Artist's Guide" is beautifully illustrated throughout.--Mary Cowper "Midwest Book Review"

Flip through this stunning collection of nearly 100 Western bird species depicted in a range of mediums, from ink sketches to block prints, then try to spot one in the wild.-- "Sunset"

[Birds of the West is] a fun book, offering ideas for projects and, most importantly for me, new ways to observe birds and their natural world.... It's this attention to appropriate waters, plants, climate, and time of day that make her bird portraits special.... Hashimoto is a graceful writer who effortlessly combines the personal with the instructive.--Donna Schulman "10,000 Birds"

[Birds of the West] is a handy book to have in your parks library not only to use as a guide for improving your own sketches, but to deepen your knowledge on the natural history and wildlife of the West's national parks.--Kurt Repanshek "National Parks Traveler"

[Birds of the West] is guaranteed to delight and inspire.--Helen Raptis "AM Northwest"

Birds of the West is an elegant aviary captured in ink on pulp, a glorious riot of feathers and beaks presented in familiar natural habitats, in poses that reveal the distinct personalities and habits of their subjects.--Christian Martin "Cascadia Weekly"

Exquisite.... [Molly Hashimoto's] love of teaching and her passion for birds shine through in this luminous new collection.--Valorie Hallinan "Books Can Save A Life"

Get to know the birds of the West in Seattle artist Molly Hashimoto's stunning display...Hashimoto captures the beauty of roughly 100 Western bird species with musings about where she's seen them in the wild.-- "425 Magazine"

I was captivated by the engaging text about birds she had seen but even more so by the art Hashimoto had made, inspired by these encounters. Page after page is filled with striking images of her portraits of birds.... Hashimoto makes us see birds in new ways.--Anne Kilgannon "Black Hills Audubon Society"

Molly's personal encounters, paired with her delightful artwork of feathered creatures, promise many enjoyable hours seeing the world through her eyes and fingertips.--Diane Spicer "Hiking For Her"

Really fun to read.--Pat Pauley "ARTbeat Northwest"

This inspiring book of bird art was produced using a variety of art mediums and shows the dedication of author Molly Hashimoto to connect people with birds through hands-on art experiences. It's a refreshing book that provides a variety of creative looks at the birds around us.-- "The Birding Wire"