WATERCOLOR and NATURE JOURNALING and WHEEL of the YEAR CLASSES

My upcoming class offerings and schedule for 2024 is in development, and I plan to offer classes both in person and virtually. See the descriptions of past classes and general information as a sample of future offerings.

Stay tuned here for updates and feel free to contact me to inquire about developing and booking a custom class.

Watercolor and Illustrated Nature Journaling Classes

Learn techniques in drawing, pen and ink, and watercolor to get you started – or rekindle your passion – for making art through these informal classes. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, you will come away inspired with renewed vision and appreciation for the beauty of nature all around us. Each class will vary with content and location so you can take one or more to build on your skills throughout the season. 

Classes generally meet for 2 hours. Cost is $50 per class and includes all materials needed.  Groups and families are encouraged...it’s a great activity to do together!  All experience levels and ages are welcome, but children should be accompanied by an adult. Class size is limited to 12 participants.

WHEEL of the YEAR CLASSES

These classes work particularly well with a group, and can be done either in-person or virtually via Zoom. I have led these for all ages, over the course of many years as an artist and environmental educator and am always amazed to see how working with the process of visually expressing our experiences in Nature deepens our connection with both creativity and the circular process of time.

ZOOM CLASSES for 2022

During 2022, I offered two year-long Wheel of the Year classes via Zoom - a Four Seasons Wheel Class with writer and naturalist Emily Stone, and a Thirteen Moons Wheel Class with Ojibwe artist and teacher Biskakone Greg Johnson. It was a great forum for including people from all over the region who may not be able to meet in person in sharing teachings, discussions about culture, nature, phenology, and of course Art! These projects will be concluding in January 2023 and I hope to share our final results here soon. At this time, I plan to focus my attention on offering in-person classes for 2023 , but feel free to reach out if you are interested in a similar class or want advice and resources for working with Wheels of Time and Place.

Wheel of the Year: Four Seasons Class - Virtual with Emily Stone

Tune in to the four seasons of the year and record your observations in circular time and nature by creating your own Wheel of the Year. Our special guest Emily Stone, naturalist and award winning outdoor writer, will start off each season with local phenology and observations to inform and inspire your work. Artist and naturalist Janet Moore will demonstrate basic art techniques in drawing, pen and ink, colored pencil, and watercolor to help you capture your impressions and design a Wheel that is uniquely yours. All artistic experience levels are welcome, especially beginners and those who want to get reconnected with their creative self.

Classes will meet for a total of nine Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7:30 p.m. throughout the course of the year, at the four Quarter Points (solstices and equinoxes) and the midpoints in between. Each class meeting will include a combination of instruction and time for group discussions, questions, and sharing of your work. ALL of the classes will be recorded and resources (art demo videos, suggested readings, etc.) will be available to participants after each class…so no need to worry if you can’t make all of the dates!

Class Dates: January 25 (Kickoff, winter) February 8, March 22 (Spring Equinox), May 10, June 21 (Summer Solstice), August 2, September 20 (Autumn Equinox) , November 8, and December 20.

Cost is $180 ($20/class) , and includes access to class resources, including recorded class sessions, demonstration videos, and a private Facebook group page for participants and instructors to share resources, information, and artwork. You may pay for the full course (preferred) or register and pay $20 prior to each class.

Materials We will be using these templates adapted from Wheels of Time and Place to record the Four Seasons of the Year. Class participants will receive downloadable copies to print and use for the project. A suggested supply list will be sent out, but feel free to use any medium or materials you have.

Emily Stone is a naturalist by birth, training, profession, and passion who teaches kids of all ages about nature in beautiful places. As the Naturalist/Education Director at the Cable Natural History Museum, Emily writes an award-winning “Natural Connections” column. Her second Natural Connections book recently won an Excellence in Craft award from the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA). She gives workshops, field trips, and lectures, enthusiastically sharing her sense of wonder and adventures in observation of the outdoors.

Wheel of the Year: 13 Moons Class - Virtual with Biskakone Greg Johnson

Tune in to the lunar cycles of the year and record your observations in circular time and nature by creating your own Wheel of the Year. Ojibwe artist Biskakone Greg Johnson and Madeline Island watercolor artist Janet Moore are teaming up to offer you monthly classes with cultural teachings, discussions, and art techniques to guide and inspire you throughout the coming year. Classes will meet on Wednesday evenings nearest the full moon from 6 to 8 p.m. via Zoom, and will include a combination of instruction and time for group discussions, questions, and sharing of your work. All artistic experience levels are welcome, especially beginners and those who want to get reconnected with their creative self.

Class Dates: January 19 , February 16, March 16, April 13, May 11, June 15, July 13, August 10, Sept. 7, October 12, November 9, December 7, and concluding on January 11, 2023. ALL of the classes will be recorded and resources (art demo videos, suggested readings, etc.) will be available to participants after each class…so no need to worry if you can’t make all of the dates!

Cost is $325 ($25/class) , and includes access to class resources, including recorded class sessions, demonstration videos, and a private Facebook group page for participants and instructors to share resources, information, and artwork. You may pay for the full course , and receive one free class ($25 discount) or register and pay $25 for each monthly class.

Materials We will be using these templates adapted from Wheels of Time and Place to record the Thirteen Moons of the Year. Class participants will receive a downloadable copies to print and use for the project. A suggested supply list will be sent out, but feel free to use any medium or materials you have.

Biskakone Greg Johnson is a cultural practitioner and artistic educator in the Anishinaabe tradition. He works with youth and others to teach the skills and knowledge of his culture. His extraordinary art forms are grounded in a deep relationship with the cycles of nature and traditional harvesting. These range from traditional birchbark baskets, moccasins, and detailed beadwork, to graphic art and design work, including a line of floral design textiles. He is an Ojibwe language teacher and holds a wealth of knowledge to share and inspire others.