Santa Cruz has been an outdoor painting hotspot since the 1890’s, well-known across the nation as a destination for exploring art while surrounded by nature. In fact, the Seabright Community in particular has been an artistic hub for plein air painters for over a hundred years and continues to have a robust presence even today....
Let’s get festive with native flowers, succulents, and air plants! Celebrate Springtime and the wonder of wildflowers by crafting a living botanical wreath. This course will satisfy both plant and art lovers alike; learn the science of epiphytes while you design and mount native flowers, succulents, and air plants. Create a masterpiece for your seasonal decor or a treasured...
Get to know Santa Cruz’s WILD SIDE at the Museum of Natural History! Nerd out on your night out during monthly after-hours events, featuring rotating themes, vendors, and activities. FREE admission to the Museum all day 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with special festivities from 5 – 8 p.m. Just like mixing a palette, we...
Come to SOMOS Watsonville for an art activity: Discover a botanical process with fresh flowers and a cardboard press. Come and learn how to make a plant press to dry and preserve your favorite flowers. Open to Watsonville Residents ¡Venga a SOMOS Watsonville para una actividad artística: Descubra un proceso botánico con flores frescas y una...
Love nature, science, and art but don’t know where to start? Here is your opportunity to master a new skill and bring home your own environmentally-inspired masterpiece after just one class. Learn the basics of watercolor and gouache with step-by-step instruction by a master scientific illustrator. After a nature walk to gain knowledge of local...
Make a print that will last forever inspired by the different things you see in nature! This printmaking technique is called “embossing”. Used during the 19th century to design stamps and seals for documents, to make coins, and to make a variety of different types of prints. Open to Watsonville Residents ¡Haga una impresión que...
As part of this Springtime special, get up close and personal with the art of butterflies! Featuring beautiful insect displays, from the rarely seen insect taxidermy collection, this program is perfect for aspiring artists and entomologists alike. Taught by a professional entomological illustrator, this workshop will begin with a scientific presentation on insects before transitioning...
As part of this Art of Nature special, learn from one of the featured exhibitors on how to capture the intricate beauty of birds. Spotlighting local Santa Cruz species as models, participants will learn how to paint the nuanced features of these stunning seasonal subjects. In addition to learning the painting techniques, participants will also...
Go green this Earth Day by creating a work of art from upcycled beach glass! As part of this special seasonal offering, discover the beauty of beachcombing as you create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece made from shoreline treasures. Using local and sustainably-sourced resources, participants will learn the basics of environmental sculpture and design with step-by-step instruction....
Let’s go to the beach and learn to paint in oils! In recognition of Earth Day, learn how to use oil paints in an environmentally friendly, solvent-free way. This open-air art workshop will teach the techniques necessary to capture environmental perspectives through the creative use of negative space, layering, various stroke techniques, and more. Paint a...
Find the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History at Wilder Ranch’s Art in the Park! We’ll be hosting environmentally-inspired art activities and displaying beautiful artifacts from our collections. Come celebrate the incredible artistic talent we have in our community, especially artists inspired by nature. Bring your art supply of choice and get creative, or take...
Go outside and learn to paint gouache and watercolor landscapes while surrounded by nature as inspiration. This open-air art workshop will teach the techniques necessary to capture environmental perspectives through the creative use of negative space, layering, various stroke techniques, and more. Using the Museum’s exclusive access to various vistas as reference, participants will be...
Love nature, science, and art but don’t know where to start? Here is your opportunity to master a new skill and bring home your own environmentally-inspired masterpiece after just one class. Celebrate Micro May through stipple art, which uses small dots to create the impression of texture, shading, or solidity. Learn this unique art style...
Discover a botanical process with fresh flowers and a cardboard press. Come and learn how to make a plant press to dry and preserve your favorite flowers. Open to Watsonville Residents Descubra un proceso botánico con flores frescas y una prensa de cartón. Venga y aprenda a hacer una prensa de plantas para secar y...
As part of this Art of Nature exhibit special, join an esteemed artist as you learn the science and art behind the most adorable sea slugs around! Featuring beautiful scientific illustration displays from the exhibit, this program is perfect for aspiring artists and marine biologists alike. Taught by a professional illustrator and exhibitor, this workshop will...
Join over 40 local Santa Cruz artists as they showcase their craftsmanship! We will be featuring a wide array of goods, ranging from paintings and photography to jewelry, decor, and embroidery. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to support our community’s artisans, celebrate local talent, and grab a gift just in time for Mother’s...
Make a print that will last forever inspired by the different things you see in nature! This printmaking technique is called “embossing”. Used during the 19th century to design stamps and seals for documents, to make coins, and to make a variety of different types of prints. Free and open to Watsonville Residents ¡Haga una...
Come do scientific illustrations with us! You will be making close observations of specimens and using descriptive language and drawings to reflect your observations. Open to Watsonville Residents ¡Venga a hacer ilustraciones científicas con nosotros! Observará detenidamente los especímenes y usarás lenguaje descriptivo y dibujos para plasmar sus observaciones. These programs are funded by the...
Explore the tiny side of Tyrrell Park and learn to paint in oils! In celebration of Spring, learn how to capture the beauty of nature’s miniature marvels using oil paints. From pint-sized pollinators to delicate florals, this workshop will train your eye to find, and appreciate, the artful beauty hidden under your nose. This open-air...
Meet our local birds and craft your own mushroom hat — nature and fun in one! Free and open to Watsonville residents. ¡Conoce las aves de nuestra zona y crea tu propio sombrero de hongo — naturaleza y diversión en uno! These programs are funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209...
Come do scientific illustrations with us at Toddler Tumble Time! You will be making close observations of specimens and using descriptive language and drawings to reflect your observations. Open to Watsonville Residents ¡Venga a hacer ilustraciones científicas con nosotros! Observará detenidamente los especímenes y usarás lenguaje descriptivo y dibujos para plasmar sus observaciones. These programs...
For one night only, join celebrated international artist, Nicole Sylvia, for an evening of redwood-inspiring collaging! Drawing inspiration from the new Treasured Trees exhibit, participants will learn the beauty and intricacies of paper art. This workshop will cover the process of collage from ideation to structuring compelling compositions. Participants will learn how to arrange a...
Let’s get festive with redwood horticultural art! Celebrate the new Treasured Trees exhibit and the wonder of forestscapes by crafting an arboreal-inspired sculpture. This course will satisfy both plant and art lovers alike as you learn the science of redwood ecosystems by designing, weaving, and mounting redwood materials into a beautiful model. Create a masterpiece for your...
Love nature, science, and art, but don’t know where to start? Here is your opportunity to master a new skill and bring home your own environmentally-inspired masterpiece after just one class. Learn the basics of chalk pastel and colored pencil with step-by-step instruction by a master scientific illustrator. After a nature walk to gain knowledge...
As part of this redwood exhibit special, learn from a featured scientific illustrator on how to capture the intricate beauty of forest ecosystems. Using the rare artistic medium, Dura-Lar, learn specialized stenciling and color pencils techniques with step-by-step instruction by a master naturalist and artist. By layering reference materials under the Dura-Lar, participants will learn...
As part of this Jumbo July special, join an esteemed artist as you learn the science and art behind the most massive mollusk around! Featuring beautiful scientific illustration displays, this program is perfect for aspiring artists and marine biologists alike. Taught by a professional illustrator and naturalist, this workshop will begin with a scientific presentation...
The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is turning 120 years old! Author Taylor Lahey will be reading his debut book, 'Câmbio'. To celebrate, we're throwing a huge birthday party for August's First Friday! We're bringing together some of our friends from across the community for a night of games, arts and crafts, music, and...
Go outside and learn to paint gouache and watercolor landscapes while surrounded by nature as inspiration! This open-air art workshop will teach the techniques necessary to capture environmental perspectives through the creative use of negative space, layering, various stroke techniques, and more. Using the Museum's exclusive access to various vistas as reference, participants will be...
Join us for a family-friendly event at Pajaro Valley Arts! We will be learning about shells and performing a shell print, which you'll be able to take home with you. Venga a un evento familiar en Pajaro Valley Arts! Aprenderemos sobre las conchas y realizaremos una impresión de conchas, que podrá llevarse a casa.
Capture the beauty of redwoods on canvas using the forests as inspiration. In celebration of the new Treasured Trees exhibit, adventure into the redwoods of the Byrne-Milliron Forest and learn to paint with oils using nature as a living reference. This open-air art workshop will teach the techniques necessary to capture environmental perspectives through the...
This Safari September lecture is all about advocacy through art! Join celebrated artists and naturalists as they share the impact their masterpieces have on conservation education, international endangered species policies, and how they translate conservation science to the canvas. As a behind-the-scenes bonus, they will debut their newest works of art before and after their...
