This charming book records one man's philosophical journey into the little-known culture of Bhutan. The gently meandering text pauses to meditate on the mystery of the ordinary as revealed in the natural world, emerging into wisdom and enlightenment. Gorgeously illustrated with paintings of nearly 100 rarely seen Bhutanese plants.

A.K. Hellum's profile page

• Alberta Book Awards - Book Design of the Year
• Alberta Book Awards - Wilfred Eggleston Award for Non-Fiction
• Alberta Book Awards - Cover Design of the Year
• Alberta Book Awards - Book Illustration of the Year
• Alberta Book Awards - Trade Book of the Year, Silver Award
• Alberta Book Awards - Trade Book of the Year
• Banff Mountain Book Festival - Outstanding Book on Mountain Culture

"I would recommend readers to indulge themselves in the warmth of these stories and the pleasure of growing in spirit and knowledge." Paul M. Woodard, Journal of Forestry

"..rich compilation of poignant personal experiences." Marlies Glasius, CBRA

"It's hard not to see the art as works of great beauty given their vivid colouring, minute detail and almost lyric grace." Gilbert A. Bouchard, Edmonton Journal

"The whole is imbued with a Buddhist perception, and we are brought close to an understanding that plants and people, animals and earth are one, and without self." Ottawa Citizen

"Reading this book is like reading someone's beautifully illustrated personal journal.. [T]he paintings are beautifully done. Any reader who read this book and then visited Bhutan would immediately recognize these plants if he or she were lucky enough to happen upon them.. If you enjoy gorgeous botanical illustrations or gentle musings on small daily events, you will like this book." - Judith Whitcomb, Biodiversity

"As you leaf through A Painter's Year, wonderful flowers and shrubs, exotic trees and a text that borders on the poetic, are indeed a delight to see." --Henry A. Spencer, The Forestry Chronicle

".a pleasant journey into another way of looking at plants." Hawai'I Horticulture