About

You will explore nature journaling in the field with Mara Menahan, Botanical Illustrator, and a 2017 Bloedel Reserve Creative Resident.

John Ruskin, an art critic who elevated landscape painting to a high art, also founded an art school in 19th-century London as a way for students to understand nature. He believed that, "The greatest thing a human being ever does in this world is to see something... To see clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion all in one" and that one hasn't truly seen the world until they have attempted to draw it.

Using Ruskin's methodology, Mara will teach a workshop on field sketching and observation to help participants see plants and place in a new way. Through a series of exercises, participants will use drawing as a method of awakening observation skills, truly learning to see. 

Instructor Mara Menahan Bio:
As an illustrator, Mara has worked with several environmental organizations including the National Fund for the U.S. Botanic Garden, Montana Audubon and the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Wilderness Foundation. As an advocate for climate action, Mara represented the University of Montana at the 2013 United Nations Climate Change Negotiations in Warsaw and biked across the country of Bhutan with youth from the Himalayas to explore the regional impacts of our changing climate as part of Bhutan Ride for Climate. As a student, Mara was a resident at the University of Montana Forum for Living with Appropriate Technology, an urban sustainability demonstration site. 

Sallie Maron

sallie@bainbridgebarn.org