Drawing from Nature Class: Reptiles and Amphibians
A Workshop with Watercolor and Ink
Saturday, May 4 / 9 AM – 12 PM
$52 General Public, $47 VINS Member

Register Today*
*Sign up for multiple sessions and get a $5 discount on all classes. Use discount code MULTI24 in your cart.

Other Drawing from Nature Class dates:
June 1 – Watercolor Wildflowers
July 13 – Summer Songbirds
August 24 – Predators of the Sky: Raptors, Vultures and Corvids
October 5 – Fall Foliage: Leaves and Landscapes

Workshop Details:

While often underappreciated, the emergence of Vermont’s reptiles and amphibians are just as much a hallmark of spring as the return of migratory birds or the blooming of lupine in meadows. The appearance of female turtles journeying to lay their eggs, the sound of Peepers calling for a mate or the sight of salamanders moving back to their pond all signal that warmer weather is returning to the north.

In this first Drawing from Nature class, the focus will be on the region’s native reptiles and amphibians. The workshop will begin with a walk on the trails of the VINS Nature Center exploring habitats used by reptiles and amphibians while discussing their biology and conservation. Following that, the class will have the opportunity to get up-close with VINS’ Reptile Ambassadors and will spend the rest of the workshop creating illustrations and watercolors in nature journals.

Learn tips and tricks for drawing as well as for creating vivid pages that depict personal natural history experiences. Drawing, sketching, and watercolor experience not necessary, all skill levels welcome.

Suggested Materials:

• A water bottle
• A high-quality journal with heavyweight, mixed media, or watercolor paper
• HB pencil or mechanical pencil
• An eraser
• Micron pen size 01 and/or 005
• Optional: your preferred art medium such as watercolor, gouache, or colored pencils

Instructor Bios:

Cynthia Moulton – Cynthia finds that observing and recording in a field journal enhances our engagement with the natural world. Teaching courses in ecology, animal diversity and biological illustration at Castleton University for the last 25 years has allowed her and her students to explore science through pen and ink, graphite and colored pencil.

Lois Moulton – Lois has been passionate about science illustration for years, creating numerous personal nature journals from her travels and time outdoors. As an educator at Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, Massachusetts, she has been incorporating art as a tool for observation into her science classes since 1995. Lois specializes in watercolor and pen & ink.

For more information contact us at info@vinsweb.org or 802.359.5000.

Photo credit: Lois Moulton