Drawn from the Wild

If you go down to the woods today…you’re sure of some good supplies. I think it’s fair to say that only the most dedicated muesli-knitter is likely to source all their materials this way, however… Let’s get the elephant out of the room first, shall we? I do not for one moment think that you’re going to abandon your local art shop and start combing the forest floor for inks, colours and ‘brushes’. Nor should you. However, once upon a time that was exactly what you would have done, and those earth colours you love so much? Well. Drawn from the Wild by Caroline Ross will provide you with all the information you’re ever likely to need about making plant-based inks, pastels, pens and brushes, as well as surfaces you can draw and paint on. Do you need, or even want to? I think you’ll find that, whatever your requirements, these are instructive and worthwhile explorations of the natural world.

Caroline Ross’s Drawn from the Wild is an extraordinary and thoughtful guide that invites readers to deepen their connection with nature through the creation of natural art materials.

Perfect for makers, foragers, nature lovers, and artists, this book blends creativity with sustainability, encouraging readers to engage with the landscape in a mindful and respectful way.

Ross gently guides readers through the ancient skills of making their own inks, paints, brushes, and tools from gathered natural resources such as oak galls, earth pigments, charcoals, and plant dyes.

Her clear and detailed instructions make traditional processes accessible to the modern maker, with practical advice on safe foraging, ethical gathering, and environmentally conscious making.

One of the book’s most inspiring qualities is its celebration of self-sufficiency and creative experimentation.

Ross encourages the reader not only to follow her methods but to explore their own local environments, discovering the colours, textures, and materials unique to their landscape.

This deeply personal approach fosters a stronger sense of place and a greater appreciation of the natural world. It is also a beautiful way to explore your own art practice further.

Beautifully illustrated with photographs, sketches, and examples of artwork made using the materials described, Drawn from the Wild is both a practical manual and an invitation to slow down and reconnect with nature through making.

The projects are as suitable for fine artists as they are for makers and crafters, and the book’s emphasis on low-impact, sustainable practice will resonate with anyone who values thoughtful creativity and healing through art.

In summary, Drawn from the Wild is an inspiring and empowering resource that offers a fresh perspective on art-making—one rooted in the beauty, richness, and generosity of the natural world.

Caroline Ross uses wild and ancient materials to make artworks from small illustrations to large murals. She also teaches life drawing and shows people how to make the materials she herself uses. Having spent decades indoors in art and recording studios, Caroline spends as much as possible of her life outdoors, immersing herself in nature as she sources her materials, and makes her work.

Painting Chelsea School of Art 1996; BA (Hons) Fine Art Kingston University 1995; BTEC General Art and Design Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design 1991