Wednesday, January 4, 9:30am-12:30pm
Thursday, February 9, 9:30am-12:30pm
Thursday, March 16, 2:00pm-5:00pm
Thursday, April 20, 2:00pm-5:00pm 

Museum is CLOSED to the public during this program. You will have the opportunity to discover, or rediscover, the fascinating collections during this private program exploring the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Roger Williams Park. Bring a small easel or chair and your drawing or painting materials, and choose your subject from the collections of birds, bears, lions, and Oceanic artifacts. Museum staff will also select some special “guests” from the museum vaults to display. During the program, the instructor will circulate for those who wish feedback, and at the end of the session, attendees will gather to view and discuss each other’s work.

Program fee: $35 per adult/ $30 for museum members. Pre-registration required.  

Permitted Materials: You may bring the medium of your choice — charcoal pencils, graphite, colored pencils, pastels, or watercolor (please, no oils or acrylics).  All skill levels are welcome to participate, high school age and older. Capacity is limited, so sign up early to guarantee your spot.

INSTRUCTORS:
KATHY HODGE: Kathy Hodge attended RISD and has a BFA in painting from Swain School of Design. She has been working in oils and charcoal for over 30 years, has exhibited widely and was awarded the 2017 Fellowship in Painting from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. Kathy has long taken inspiration from the natural world in her landscape paintings and was appointed Artist in Residence in thirteen of our National Parks and Forests. She first discovered the museum collections when taking a museum class and she is very excited to be able to offer this opportunity to draw from the collections. Kathy is leading January, March and April.

Thea Ernest: Thea arrived in Rhode Island in 1983 ready to surrender to art at Rhode Island School of Design. After receiving her BFA in Jewelry and Light Metals in 1987, she created custom cabinet hardware and decorative metalwork both for private homes and historic properties. In the past several years, Thea has gravitated toward the immediacy, color and portability of plein air watercolor. Throughout the year, no matter what the weather, you may see Thea in her AutoStudio – a 2010 Honda Fit – or outdoors capturing scenes across RI. Thea has taught and presented workshops at Blithewold, Portsmouth Arts Guild, What Cheer Flower Farm, Providence Art Club and the Seekonk, Rehoboth and Washington Park Public Libraries. Her commissioned home portraits grace walls in several states. Thea is leading February.