Awaken your Senses to the Natural World

Allow the natural landscapes of estuary, forest, and coastal headland be the location of your creative inspiration. We will spend a portion of our day mindfully witnessing to expand the senses. From this awareness, we will then identify both the profound and uniquely subtle elements of the environment. Transitioning from this meditation to the studio, we will create artwork that presents our individual experience of the location. The patterns, forms, and colors, either abstract or realistic, will become an illustration as we share our perspective of the collective story.

*Locations can be 3 miles one way on uneven terrain.

Zebith Thalden is a nature illustrator in Portland, Oregon. She has taught courses in woodworking, drawing, painting, graphic design, copper-smithing and environmental education. Her book The Butterfly Artist: How to Observe, Draw, and Paint the Fascinating World of Insects will be published by Timber Press in September 2022. She received an MFA from Goddard College and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Portable items:

• Sketchbook and drawing utensil(s)

• Water bottle

• Lunch

• Walking or hiking shoes (may get wet and/or muddy)

• Camping chair that is easy to pack/carry (optional)

• Backpack for hands free carrying (encouraged)

• Personal weather preparations (sunhat, rain jacket, bug repellant, warm/cool layers, etc.)

Studio items:

• Multiple grounds in a size/material of your choosing (paper, canvas, or the like)

• Non-toxic 2D media (paint, torn paper, pencil, pastel, charcoal, etc.).

• Brushes

• Glue

• Pencil sharpener

• Drawing board

• Artist tape

• Ruler

• Eraser

• Studio shoes/socks (optional)

*You will have a few hours to create artwork in the studio each day, have enough supplies so that you can create at least one finished piece each day.