Mention is made in the short Introduction of Robert Smith's noted Spiral Jetty earth art in Utah's Great Salt Lake. But the nature art of this book combining photography, examples, and simple instruction and encouragement is not so artistically ambitious. As mentioned in the Foreword, the book is meant more to enhance children's walks in the woods or fields or at the beach--any outdoor area. Its content though is not limited to children, but relevant to teachers, activities leaders, and anyone else looking for ways to enhance a simple nature trip. Homeowners and office workers looking for simple decorations for spots in a home or office desks would find it relevant as well.
Pouyet is a French graphic designer (the book was first published in France in 2006). The materials he uses for his illustrative simple creations and the creations themselves are much more varied and fragile compared to the earth art of practicing, professional artists such as Smithson. The stone, earth, tree trunks, large branches, and other fundamental elements of nature used in the earth art of Smithson, etc., can be found with many of Pouyet's creations. But there is also berries, leaves, mud, snow, sea weed, flowers, and other elements which are ephemeral.
Pouyet's book succeeds estimably in its modest aim of being an illustrated arts-and-crafts guide for nature activities.
