Drawing Birds: You can learn how to quickly and accurately draw birds. Drawing birds makes you a better birder by teaching you a new way to observe and helps you retain details of your observations. In this class we will learn the basics of bird anatomy that are important for an artist to understand and tricks to help quickly draw birds in the field either for field notes or for the pleasure of sketching. Learn to draw birds that move. Master the one-minute gesture sketch and learn tricks on how to draw heads, wings, and feet. Learn field techniques in pencil, watercolor and colored pencils. No previous drawing experience is necessary. Bring a sketchbook, pencils, your favorite portable art supplies and something simple to share for a potluck lunch.
Calendar of Events
March 21, 2012
Deep Observation
Understanding neurocognition and how your brain stores and retrieves information makes you a better naturalist. How can you see more when observing nature? How can you remember what you see in greater detail? Learn proven tricks and techniques to see details that your brain would otherwise ignore, see nature more deeply, and get more out of your time in nature. Plus a few great nature sketching tricks and, some wild stories of adaptation of Sierra Nevada species.
April 28, 2012
Keynote Talk: Reclaiming the Art of Natural History- The Coast Range of California
California’s Coast Ranges extend north-south for over 600 miles, more than two-thirds the length of the state. The variety of elevations, rock types, and climate zones in this group of mountain ranges supports a remarkable diversity of plant and animal life. John Muir Laws is working on an illustrated field guide to the region and in the course of this work has learned some delightful tales of natural history. Through an illustrated lecture, he will lead us on a virtual walk across the Coast Ranges, exploring amazing relationships between plants and animals as we go. Along the way, we will learn a three-step process that will help us see more and think like naturalists. Jack will also discuss some of the conservation challenges in the region and what stewards of nature are doing to confront them. Whether you’re a botanist, birder or hiker, don’t miss this great opportunity to enrich your next exploration along the coast!
Dance Palace Community Center, 503 B Street, Point Reyes Station
April 28, 2012
How to draw birds
Learn how to quickly and accurately draw birds in the field and from photo reference. In this class participants will learn the basics of bird anatomy and tricks to help quickly draw birds either for field notes or for the pleasure of sketching. Master the one-minute gesture sketch and learn tricks on how to draw heads, wings, and feet. Learn basics of bird anatomy; and quick field sketching. No previous drawing experience is necessary. Bring a sketch pad and pencil.
Event location: West Marin School, Point Reyes Station
April 28, 2012
Field Sketching at Bolinas Lagoon
Join me for a sketching field trip along the shore of Bolinas Lagoon, to learn and practice the fundamentals of bird field sketching. We will have opportunities to observe and draw waders, waterfowl, and songbirds. By drawing what you see, you will observe more carefully and will be able to remember the features of the birds you see. Learn tricks to see past the details to capture the essence of birds with posture, and proportions, and learn a revolutionary way of handling shading. Bring a sketchpad and pencil
Carpooling from West Marin School, Point Reyes Station
April 29, 2012
How to Draw Wildflowers
Learn tricks and techniques to quickly and accurately draw wildflowers. Then step out into the Santa Clara Valley’s Wildflower Show and put your new skills to work. Bring your sketchbook and pencil.
May 5, 2012
Reclaiming the Art of Natural History
California’s Coast Ranges extend north-south for over 600 miles, more than two-thirds the length of the state. The variety of elevations, rock types, and climate zones in this group of mountain ranges supports a remarkable diversity of plant and animal life. Through an illustrated lecture, John (Jack) Muir Laws will lead us on a virtual walk across the Coast Ranges, exploring delightful relationships between plants and animals as we go. Along the way, we will learn a three-step process that will help us see more and think like naturalists. Jack will also discuss some of the conservation challenges in the region and what stewards of nature are doing to confront them. Whether you’re a botanist, birder or hiker, don’t miss this great opportunity to enrich your next exploration along the coast!
June 22, 2012
Keeping A Field Journal
It doesn't matter how you draw, but how you observe. Join us as we explore the beauty of Pepperwood while learning how to improve observation skills, ask relevant scientific questions, and explore the natural world through journaling. Learn from naturalist, artist, and author John Muir (Jack) Laws (California Academy of Sciences) how to best observe the natural world and record your observations in your own nature journal. Subjects will include plant close ups, animals that move and mastering the five minute landscape. Bring lunch and water and wear layered apparel and sturdy hiking boots.
June 24, 2012
Drawing and Painting Sierra Birds
How can you draw birds that move or even fly away? With a combination of understanding bird structure, knowing where to look when you see the bird, and a simple shorthand to get down the basics, anyone can quickly create accurate bird sketches in the field. Come learn the secrets first hand in the grand classroom of the Sierra Nevada. With a combination of indoor illustrated lessons and fieldwork, learn the basics of bird anatomy and how clumps of feathers ruffle, pile and unfold. Learn the basic shapes and methods for capturing the form and movement of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors. We will look closely at birds in flight and foreshortening wings. and tricks to quickly draw birds in the field and avoid anatomical pitfalls that creep into many bird drawings. Understand which critical details to check when you see a bird and master the one minute gesture sketch. Learn techniques for detailed drawings of heads, wings, and feet even after the bird has flown. We will explore techniques with pencil, colored pencil and watercolor for fast field work and studio drawing. Register
July 19, 2012
How to Sketch Waterfowl and Wildlife
Learn techniques to quickly and accurately sketch wildlife from life. Drawing is a useful tool to augment your field notes and help you observe wildlife more carefully. In this outdoor workshop, we will learn how to quickly draw waterfowl and other animals at the Lake Merritt Rotary Nature Center. With a combination of demonstrations, technique lectures, and time to practice you will refine your ability to draw what you see, capture behavior and posture, correct anatomical details, deal with moving subjects, and learn how artists simplify complex subjects to help you get it down on paper with speed and accuracy.