See it. Sketch it. Bird It.

nature journaling and sketching materials

Get ready for spring birding with this interactive program. Learn ways of observing, describing, sketching, and identifying birds that will immediately help you become a better birder.

All you need is a willingness to make marks—we supply pencils, paper, models, and identification guidance. (You are welcome to bring your own sketchbook if you prefer, of course!)

Register at https://sevendaystickets.com/events/see-it-sketch-it-bird-it-4-24-2024

Suggested: $15- $35 (pay what you can; includes museum admission)

Ages 10 and up
Minimum: 8 people, so sign up with a friend!

Carving shown is a Red-breasted Nuthatch, carved by Bob Spear.
Books pictured include Sibley’s Field Guide to Birds, Law’s Guide to Drawing Birds, and Johnson’s First Steps: Sketching and Drawing.

 

September events

Unidentified hawk overhead against a brilliantly blue sky. Photo copyright Erin Talmage and used by permission.

Head and neck of Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), a wood carving by Bob Spear (rest of body not visible in photo)The school year has started, but that isn’t slowing us down up on Sherman Hollow Road. Check out the fall programs at the Birds of Vermont Museum, sign up for one if you like, or just drop by. We’re open Wednesday – Sunday, 10-4, until Halloween. We’re open by appointment other days and after. The trails are open sunrise to sunset, every day. Libraries have passes, and admission is always free for members (https://birdsofvermont.org/membership/).

We look forward to seeing you!

=== SEPTEMBER EVENTS ===

Continue reading “September events”

CANCELLED : Saw-whet Owl: One-Day Woodcarving Class

saw-whet owl carved in wood and painted, perched on a chunk of wood with bark on it

We’re sorry, but we have to cancel this class. Prepaid seats will be refunded.


Carve and paint a Saw-whet Owl during this one-day carving class! Wood blank and paint provided.

David Tuttle of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers leads the workshop.

All levels welcome. Great for adults and teens. Younger kids need parental permission. Great skill-building for Scouts and 4-H.

Bring mask, tools, gloves, and lunch. (Contact us if you will need tools or gloves; Dave often brings some to sell.)

Register and pay in advance: $35 for Museum and GMWC members • $45 for everyone else.

Class size limited to 10. (Minimum 6 students needed to hold a session.) If class fills, please join the waitlist. If enough people are on the waitlist, we try to arrange additional sessions.

Masks recommended when indoors.

Contact us if you would like to hear of additional upcoming classes.

Let your imagination take flight: art workshop with Rachel Mirus

Illustration of Blue Jay in flight on a green and yellow leafy-textured background.

Join artist Rachel Mirus and let your imagination take flight with bird-inspired creative drawing.

Observing nature has inspired many artistic flights of imagination. In this class, we will look closely at feathers, one of the hallmark traits of birds, and spend time observing birds.

Along the way we will cover field sketching and easy ways to add color to drawings, working primarily in graphite, color pencil, and brush pen.

From this observational foundation we will consider how scientific or fantasy illustrators reinvent vanished animals like feathered dinosaurs or create images of mythical animals like the phoenix.

Class will culminate in project time for students to experiment with their own creative ideas. Come learn ways your appreciation of nature can fuel your imagination!

All materials provided, but participants are encouraged to bring any natural objects they wish to draw or share. You are welcome to bring any materials you prefer. Rachel also provides materials, but sometimes people have preferences and she support students using what they are comfortable with.

Bring a friend! You are welcome to enjoy your lunch here at the museum after the workshop.

Sliding scale fee • Register here or call (802) 434-2167 to pay at the door.




Minimum: 4 participants
Maximum: 15 participants
Ages 13 and up

Rachel Mirus: A light-skinned woman with straight, long brown and red hair, smiles in three-quarter view at camera. She is visible from shoulders up. She is outdoors with golden autumn foliage in background and a blue mountain ridge behind. Image shown with permission.

Drawing for Mindfulness: art workshop with Rachel Mirus

pencil drawing of wood frog (facing to the left, mostly in profile), by Rachel Mirus. Shown by permission.

Join artist Rachel Mirus in practicing observational drawing techniques that can quiet the mind and encourage being wholly present in nature.

In this short workshop, we’ll practice drawing techniques inside with a variety of materials for every ability level. Weather permitting, we’ll move outside for a nature walk and en plein air drawing. (If not, the museum’s bird-in-habitat exhibits are available.)

All materials provided, but participants are encouraged to bring any natural objects they wish to draw or share. You are welcome to bring any materials you prefer. Rachel also provides materials, but sometimes people have preferences and she support students using what they are comfortable with.

Bring a friend! You are welcome to enjoy your lunch here at the museum after the workshop.

Sliding scale fee




Or call (802) 434-2167 to pay at the door.

Minimum: 4 participants
Maximum: 15 participants
Ages 13 and up

 

Pencil drawing of dove in flight by Rachel MIrus. Used by permission. Rachel Mirus: A light-skinned woman with straight, long brown and red hair, smiles in three-quarter view at camera. She is visible from shoulders up. She is outdoors with golden autumn foliage in background and a blue mountain ridge behind. Image shown with permission.

See it. Sketch it. Bird It.

nature journaling and sketching materials

Get ready for spring birding with this interactive program.

Learn techniques for observing, describing, sketching, and identifying birds that will immediately help you become a better birder.

All you need is a willingness to make marks—we supply pencils, paper, models, and identification guidance. (You are welcome to bring your own sketchbook if you prefer, of course!)




Suggested: $10 – $30 (pay what you can; includes museum admission)

Recommended for older children and adults

Carving shown is a Red-breasted Nuthatch, carved by Bob Spear.
Books pictured include Sibley’s Field Guide to Birds, Law’s Guide to Drawing Birds, and Johnson’s First Steps: Sketching and Drawing.

 

[POSTPONED] Cardinal Ornaments Sunday Option (One-Day Woodcarving Class)

Three painted woodcarvings: a male Northern Cardinal, a female Northern Cardinal, and an evergreen tree. They sit on a wooden surface against a pale background, with the male in front and the tree in back, overlapping. The birds are ornaments: they have small brass loops on their backs through which a cord could be threaded. The tree is a somewhat layered cone in dark green with some white and glitter on some of the ridges of its branches.
We are very sorry but we need to postpone today’s carving class. We just heard from Dave that he needs to take care of an ill family member. He would like to rescheudle the class, but is not sure of when that will be. We will reach out as soon as we know more, and we will reimburse anyone who cannot make the new date or decides not to take the reschedule class. We are sorry for the inconvenience!

Carve and paint two small Cardinals during this one-day carving class! Wood blank and paint provided.

David Tuttle of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers leads the workshop.

All levels welcome. Great for adults and teens. Younger kids need parental permission. Great skill-building for Scouts and 4-H.

Bring mask, tools, gloves, and lunch. (Contact us if you will need tools or gloves; Dave often brings some to sell.)

Register and pay in advance: $35 for Museum and GMWC members • $45 for everyone else.




Class size limited to 10. (Minimum 6 students needed to hold a session.)  If class fills, please join the waitlist. If enough people are on the waitlist, we try to arrange additional sessions.

Masks are required when indoors; thank you.

Contact us if you would like to hear of additional upcoming classes.

Two painted woodcarvings: male and female Northern Cardinals. They sit on a wooden surface against a pale background, with the male in front and the female in back, overlapping. The birds are ornaments: they have small brass loops on their backs through which a cord could be threaded.
Male and female Northern Cardinal ornaments, carved and painted by Dave Tuttle.

Drawing for Mindfulness: art workshop with Rachel Mirus

pencil drawing of wood frog (facing to the left, mostly in profile), by Rachel Mirus. Shown by permission.

Join artist Rachel Mirus in practicing observational drawing techniques that can quiet the mind and encourage being wholly present in nature.

In this short workshop, we’ll practice drawing techniques inside with a variety of materials for every ability level. Weather permitting, we’ll move outside for a nature walk and en plein air drawing. (If not, the museum’s bird-in-habitat exhibits are available.)

All materials provided, but participants are encouraged to bring any natural objects they wish to draw or share. You are welcome to bring any materials you prefer. Rachel also provides materials, but sometimes people have preferences and she support students using what they are comfortable with.

Minimum: 4 participants
Maximum: 15 participants
Ages 6 and up
Bring a friend! You are welcome to enjoy your lunch here at the museum after the workshop.

Sliding scale fee



Or call (802) 434-2167 to pay at the door.

You may also like the Nature Selfies workshop on November 12.

Pencil drawing of dove in flight by Rachel MIrus. Used by permission. Rachel Mirus: A light-skinned woman with straight, long brown and red hair, smiles in three-quarter view at camera. She is visible from shoulders up. She is outdoors with golden autumn foliage in background and a blue mountain ridge behind. Image shown with permission.

POSTPONED — Nature Selfies: art workshop with Rachel Mirus

a mixed media selfie art piece by Rachel Mirus incorporating nature materials and sketched objects. Used with permission.

Explore your connectedness to the Vermont landscape with artist Rachel Mirus. She takes us from thinking about our relationship to Vermont nature to being inspired by the ecologically-inspired work of Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

We will make a whimsical self-portrait illustrating our unique relationships.

We’ll start with a nature walk to stimulate the imagination and move inside for art-making with a variety of materials for every ability level. You are welcome to bring any materials you prefer. Rachel also provides materials, but sometimes people have preferences and she support students using what they are comfortable with.

Minimum: 4 participants
Maximum: 15 participants

Ages 6 and up • Great for families!

Dress to be outside, then inside. You are welcome to bring and enjoy your lunch here at the museum after the workshop.

Sliding scale fee



Or call (802) 434-2167 to pay at the door.

You may also like the Drawing for Mindfulness class on November 19.

Rachel Mirus: A light-skinned woman with straight, long brown and red hair, smiles in three-quarter view at camera. She is visible from shoulders up. She is outdoors with golden autumn foliage in background and a blue mountain ridge behind. Image shown with permission.

[POSTPONED] Cardinal Ornaments One-Day Woodcarving Class

Three painted woodcarvings: a male Northern Cardinal, a female Northern Cardinal, and an evergreen tree. They sit on a wooden surface against a pale background, with the male in front and the tree in back, overlapping. The birds are ornaments: they have small brass loops on their backs through which a cord could be threaded. The tree is a somewhat layered cone in dark green with some white and glitter on some of the ridges of its branches.
We are very sorry but we need to postpone today’s carving class. We just heard from Dave that he needs to take care of an ill family member. He would like to rescheudle the class, but is not sure of when that will be. We will reach out as soon as we know more, and we will reimburse anyone who cannot make the new date or decides not to take the reschedule class. We are sorry for the inconvenience!

Carve and paint two small Cardinals during this one-day carving class! Wood blank and paint provided.

David Tuttle of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers leads the workshop.

All levels welcome. Great for adults and teens. Younger kids need parental permission. Great skill-building for Scouts and 4-H.

Bring mask, tools, gloves, and lunch. (Contact us if you will need tools or gloves; Dave often brings some to sell.)

Register and pay in advance: $35 for Museum and GMWC members • $45 for everyone else.



Class size limited to 10. (Minimum 6 students needed to hold a session.)  If class fills, please join the waitlist. If enough people are on the waitlist, we try to arrange additional sessions.

Masks are required when indoors; thank you.

Contact us if you would like to hear of additional upcoming classes.

Two painted woodcarvings: male and female Northern Cardinals. They sit on a wooden surface against a pale background, with the male in front and the female in back, overlapping. The birds are ornaments: they have small brass loops on their backs through which a cord could be threaded.
Male and female Northern Cardinal ornaments, carved and painted by Dave Tuttle.