In Aldrich's preface, he stresses never to settle for pretty pictures, or paint only what sells, and this book is a testament to this philosophy. Find your own voice, paint in the way only you know how, and you'll be rewarded with being able to step back from a painting you created and say, "Wow, I did that."

As well as being a technical how-to manual, it's also filled with what Aldrich refers to as the most commonly overlooked aspects of the creative process that lie at the core of a successful painting. The Contents list includes chapters on materials (for drawing, oils & watercolour); drawing or painting on location (practical advice, finding a good subject, working from photos); drawing animals (types, techniques & procedure), the painting process (fur, feathers, eyes, beaks & horns, expressions, body language, action, rocks, grasses & flowers); creating a painting from beginning to end (demonstrations include a Siberian tiger, snow leopard, bison, belted kingfisher, leopard and a cheetah & her cubs); and finally a chapter on issues such as inspiration & interpretation, composition & design, creating a backdrop, colour temperature, lighting, painting animal portraits and composing with photographs.

Aldrich concludes by stressing that the book is merely a springboard for your own vision, rather than a book of rules to be lived by; and one that you should use and modify to develop your own creative voice. "The point is - " he adds, "get out there and do it!"

All in all, a great book worthy of being on the bookshelf of all wildlife artists great and small.