Wild Animals of the North
Dieter Braun
Flying Eye Books
Magnificent art takes the forefront in an awe-inspiring introduction to an array of creatures great and small, all of which are native to the northern hemisphere. The book is divided into three regions: North America, Europe and Asia and, starting with North America, Dieter Braun takes readers on an exploration of animals of the land, sea and air: his stunning illustrations are a wonder to behold and seem to encapsulate the very essence, spirit and being of the animals portrayed. I was reminded of elements of primitive cave paintings in his rendering of the Bison …

of Dürer in his American Lobster …

and Cubism in for instance, his Polar Bear…

Moving on to Europe that glorious Grey Heron …

brought American ornithologist and painter Audubon’s work to mind and Braun’s beautiful Roe Deer illustration seems inspired by Art Deco.

Some pictures are left to speak for themselves with just the animal’s common and scientific names given, others have a paragraph of factual information. I found myself ‘googling’ some of the less familiar creatures – the Asian, Manul for instance -where I found the photographs of the particular animal somehow less alive than Braun’s image on the page.

Several of my favourite portraits are among those from Asia. There’s the Red Panda …

now an endangered species;
Black Bear, which in this gorgeous scene …

closely resembles the large soft toy replica I once bought from the Norbulingka Institute near Dharamsala in northern India and the beautiful crested Mandarin Duck …

familiar to me from frequent visits to Bushy Park – a favourite haunt on mine.
Children and adults alike will get great pleasure turning the pages of this large, sumptuous volume and it will surely be the inspiration to find out more about some of the eighty odd animals presented herein. However, it is not a book for those interested in things zoological only; there is much to interest art lovers as well.
Top quality is something one now almost takes for granted from Flying Eye Books: here is yet another example of how attention to detail in design ensures that their high standard is once more maintained: I cannot wait to see the companion volume Wild Animals of the South soon to be published.

Those who have an interest in birds (no matter from where) and in creating art will likely enjoy:

Kerry Lemon’s Birds of Paradise
Kerry Lemon
Pictura
This concertina-style book takes us on a trip to the rainforests of New Guinea wherein live the stunningly coloured birds of the title. In addition to the colouring in possibilities, the author includes some basic information on the birds featured and lots of helpful tips on art in general, and how this particular book might be used.

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