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Adult Opportunities

Drawing Nature in Colored Pencil (in person)

Learn the fundamentals of working with colored pencil to create images of nature.

Content Detail

Each week, as you work with colored pencils to draw images of nature, you will:

  • learn from demonstrations and instruction by a professional art instructor,
  • learn how to see color in a specimen and recreate it on paper,
  • receive one-on-one guidance, and
  • work with three-dimensional specimens, such as leaves or flowers. 

Over the course of six weeks, you will discover how colors impact each other and the viewer. Add to your sketchbook and finish several colored pencil drawings. All supplies are provided for your use during the course of the program.

This program meets in person at The Morton Arboretum. 

Instructor: Kimberly Mullarkey, artist

Health and Safety: Program participants must abide by the Arboretum’s health and safety guidelines. Guidelines are subject to change, so please check back frequently. 

Age: 16 and older

#A012

Kimberly Mullarkey, artist

Kimberly Mullarkey has a bachelor’s degree in fine art from the University of California–Santa Cruz and a master of fine arts degree from Northern Illinois University. She lived in France for six months, where she studied early Northern Renaissance painting. She teaches botanical art at The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden. She also teaches drawing and design at the College of DuPage. She has spoken at many local art leagues about creativity, botanical art, and her own work. To fulfill her wanderlust, she leads trips.

What to Know

  • Held indoors.
  • All supplies for use during the program are provided, courtesy of the Nature Artists’ Guild of The Morton Arboretum. You are welcome to bring your own supplies, if you have them, including colored pencils, graphite pencils, and erasers.
  • Prerequisites: Begin to Draw (A000) or equivalent foundational drawing skills are required.

Program Schedule

Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, April 5 and 12, 2023 (no class on March 29)

6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Thornhill Education Center

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