Pre-Conference Workshops

The Art of Field Sketching: Drawing Plants

Workshop length: one day - Jan 10, 2012

 Presenter: John (Jack) Muir Laws

Naturalist, educator and artist John (Jack) Muir Laws has worked as an environmental educator for over 25 years in California, Wyoming, and Alaska.  He teaches classes on natural history, conservation biology, scientific illustration, and field sketching. He is trained as a wildlife biologist and is an associate of the California Academy of Sciences. In 2009, he received the Terwilliger Environmental Award for outstanding service in Environmental Education. He is a 2010 TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership Fellow with the National Audubon Society. Laws has written and illustrated books about the natural history of California including Sierra Birds: a Hiker's Guide (2004), The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada (2007), and The Laws Pocket Guide Set to the San Francisco Bay Area (2009). Jack is the co-author with Emily Breunig of the CNPS curriculum, Opening the World Through Nature Journaling.

Workshop Content

This will be a full day of sketching and art instruction to jump start you to keeping your own field journal or re-inspire you to pick up your sketchbook again. We will examine tricks and techniques to help you simplify a complex flower shape, draw wildflowers in perspective, and simple ways to add color to your drawings in the field. Bring paper and pencil if you have it, supplies will be provided for those who do not have their own. Participants will receive worksheets and technique pages to supplement their notes.