A fascinating look at Jim Dine's nature studies from 1976 to 1993. Dine, best known for his bold Pop Art creations, felt a need to return to drawing from observation in the mid-seventies, something that hadn't been of particular interest to him in his days as an art student. There is a wide range of work, from small scale, meticulously observed and rendered subject in pencil drawing to large scale multimedia works combining charcoal, watercolour, pastel, oil and enamel paint. The text, which features a running explanation of the artist's process for each of the plates shown was both informative and brief. As an art student, I find this book to be an invaluable teaching tool and inspiration for my own forays into painting and drawing. ( )