Nature journaling and sketching is a way to open a window to the world around us. Through this practice, we learn to look more closely at the plants and animals we encounter, ask questions and make observations, and see our everyday lives in a whole new way. No drawing experience is needed for this class, and all artistic levels are welcome, as we will be studying basic nature journaling techniques and tips, then putting them into practice by sketching bird species found in Nevada. Study with two teachers at once, as both an artist and a field ecologist will walk you through the process!
We will first break down our subject into easily drawn shapes, then learn how adding in field notes on behaviors, postures, and colors will help you to compose a drawing that truly captures the essence of our feathered subject. This class will leave you inspired by the natural history and anatomy of birds.
Suggested Materials
All students will need paper, a sharpened or mechanical pencil, and an eraser - but to fully follow along, we also recommend a multimedia sketchbook, colored pencils or watercolors, and a thin waterproof black ink pen, such as the 005 Micron. Please download this document for use during the workshop.
About Lindsay Dimitri and Meredith Solin
Meredith “Mez” Solin first came to Lake Tahoe in 2007 while following her passion for the mountains and snowboarding. These would seem like very unorthodox habits for a beach-loving native Floridan, though - until you hear of her belief in the necessity of exploration and that chasing wonder and trying new things is essential to fostering both happiness and wholeness in life.
Aside from her passion for nature, Meredith also holds a B.A. in Studio Art from Florida State University, where she studied in their B.F.A. Graphic Design department and the European Graphic and New Media Design Program in London. She also holds minors in Art History, Elementary Education, and Communication. From science, to sports, to travel, and languages, she teaches and advocates that all things share connecting threads - and all can be explored and expressed through the arts. Currently, she is the Folk School Manager and resident artist for Martis Camp Club in Truckee, California, where she has presided over their exclusive program for the last five years.
Lindsay Dimitri grew up in Genoa, Nevada, and spent her childhood catching lizards and following mule deer trails through the sagebrush along the foothills of the Carson Range. She earned an M.S. from the University of Nevada, Reno, and has worked as a rangeland ecologist studying plant and animal interactions in the Great Basin for 15 years, but has recently begun teaching 7th and 8th-grade science.
While she pursued science as a career, art has always played a vital role in her life. She took art classes in college to take a mental break from a science-packed class schedule, and drawing, painting, photography, crocheting, and crafting are a few of her artistic outlets. During her M.S., she co-taught field ornithology for three semesters, where students were taught to identify the birds of Nevada by sight and sound.