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AUGUSTA — The Viles Arboretum will hold four nature journaling workshops, which will be taught by Master Naturalist Andrea Lani and held one per season over the next 10 months. Classes will be held Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the arboretum. Dates and topics:
* Spring Nature Journaling — Birds, April 29
* Summer Nature Journaling — Blooms and Bugs, July 22
* Fall Nature Journaling — Event Mapping, October 14
* Winter Nature Journaling — Trees, January 20
The workshops are suitable for both beginners and experienced journalers. Each class will include an introduction to nature journaling during which participants will learn a variety of drawing techniques designed to help even the most reluctant artist overcome their fears. From there the focus will explore a different aspect of the natural world using a variety of journaling techniques specific to the topic and the season. In this way, participants may come for just one session without feeling they have missed anything or enjoy all four while learning new ways to journal at each one. Choose one or register for all four. Registration fee is $35 per workshop for Arboretum members; $45 for nonmembers.
Spring Nature Journaling — Birds! In this workshop participants will use their nature journals to learn more about the birds populating the fields and forests of Maine. A variety of nature journaling techniques– from field sketching to detailed drawings, note-taking to poetry-writing — will help participants become acquainted with their feathered friends.
Summer Nature Journaling — Blooms and Bugs! In this workshop participants willl take to the fields to seek out, draw and write about the season’s wildflowers and insects. Attendees will observe dragonflies, bees and butterflies, practice sketching moving objects, and celebrate midsummer flowers in their journals.
Fall Nature Journaling — Event Mapping! In this workshop learn how to create an event map — an illustrated depiction of a route taken through the landscape — while wandering the Arboretum’s trails. Through noticing and recording the sights, sounds and moments in nature drawing attention, attendees will sharpen their observation skills and deepen their connection to the natural world.
Winter Nature Journaling — Trees! Artists from Da Vinci to Cezanne have found inspiration in the spare, bare branches of leafless winter trees. Focusing on those trees, members will work on several drawing techniques to help them truly see the natural world, practice describing nature using all senses, and write stories about the winter world around us
Because attendees will spend time both outdoors and inside during all four workshops, please dress accordingly and bring sunscreen and insect repellant as needed.
Bring a blank book, notebook or journal and preferred writing and drawing tools (pencil and pen, and colored pencils, if you have them), and something to sit on outdoors (lightweight camp chair, sit mat, extra jacket, etc.). If you have binoculars and/or a field guide to birds, please bring them to the bird workshop.
Andrea Lani has been an avid nature journaler for more than 20 years and has taught nature writing and nature journaling workshops at Viles Arboretum, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Maine Island Trails Association, and other organizations around Maine. She has a bachelor of arts in human ecology, an master of fine arts in creative writing, and is a Maine master naturalist. Her essays about the natural world have appeared in “Orion,”” Northern Woodlands Magazine” and “Snowy Egret,” among others. She wrote and illustrated the book “Deer Tracks and Dragonflies: A Year at Viles Arboretum” based on years of recording her explorations of the arboretum in nature journals.
The Viles Arboretum is centrally located on 224 acres of fields, forests and wetlands with botanical collections from around the world. It offers an ever-changing selection of inspirational exhibits, educational and practical programs for the general public and for schools. Arboretum programs focus on interactive, creative and hands-on teaching with a focus on botany and natural history. The arboretum’s goal is to unlock everyone’s natural ability to understand the nature of the world through their own eyes and intellect.
Learn more about the Arboretum and its programs and how to become more involved by checking the website at www.vilesarboretum.org, checking the Facebook page or simply by stopping in or calling 207- 626-7989.
