A Brush with Nature: Abstract Naturalism and the Painting of Life

New Orleans-based painter and admired children’s author Alex Beard is the creator of a unique style of painting called “Abstract Naturalism,” which combines abstract expressionism with naturalist environmental art. His precise yet abstract visual arithmetic has inspired comparisons to the works of visual mathematician M.C. Escher. Inspired by his travels, wildlife, and recurring natural patterns, Beard draws and paints intensely colorful, detailed interpretations of the world around us. Included in this lavishly produced book are works made over the past twenty-five years, and a fascinating introduction that illuminates Beard’s philosophy of the interconnectedness of life, art, and mathematics. This magnificent collection of drawings and paintings will have wide appeal, pleasing not only art aficionados, but those whose enthusiasms range from the environment to mathematics.