The Art of Science: Building a Field Guide

The National Geographic will publish the newest edition of the Field Guide to the Birds of North America this September. Join artist, co-author and co-illustrator Jonathan Alderfer for an inside look at how this latest edition was conceived and brought to press. Jonathan will also display a selection of his original field guide illustrations and discuss the painting process.

Jonathan Alderfer has specialized in painting birds and natural history subjects for more than thirty years. For ten years he was National Geographic’s resident birding expert at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. While there, he authored, edited, or illustrated more than twenty books for the National Geographic Society, including the best-selling Complete Birds of North America. You’ll be amazed to learn the details of how field guides are actually made and awestruck by Jonathan’s fine art paintings.  Come early for social time and refreshments.