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Secrets of Painting Wildlife in Oils Workshop

October 10 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Join artist Karen Weber for a one-day oil painting workshop at Crow’s Nest Preserve and learn about painting wildlife in oils.

Designed for beginners and intermediate painters, this hands-on class will guide students through the complete process of creating an expressive fox portrait from a photographic reference. By the end of the day, each participant will complete a finished fox portrait to take home and gain a practical process they can apply to future animal paintings.

Students will:

  • Learn how artists use a grid to improve drawing accuracy.
  • Understand how to simplify a photographic reference.
  • Learn to identify major value shapes.
  • Set up and organize an oil painting palette.
  • Mix secondary colors from a limited palette.
  • Create the illusion of fur through value and brushwork.
  • Complete a finished wildlife portrait.

A list of suggested supplies will be provided once you register for the event. Plan to bring your own oil paint, brushes, and more. Canvases will be supplied. 

about the instructor

Karen Weber is a Pennsylvania oil painter whose work celebrates the charm, personality, and spirit of animals. Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries, museums, and community art spaces throughout the region, and she is especially known for her commissioned pet portraits and whimsical animal paintings all designed to bring a smile and spark of joy. Drawing on years of experience painting animals, Karen teaches a practical step-by-step process that helps students simplify complex subjects and create expressive paintings of their own.

 

When

Date:
October 10
Time:
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Event Categories:
,

Where

Crow’s Nest Preserve
201 Piersol Road
Elverson, Pennsylvania 19520
Directions
View Venue Website

about the property

Crow’s Nest’s forests are filled with oak, hickory, tuliptree, black gum, beech, and maple trees. The preserve’s meadows feature native grasses and wildflowers, while the tradition of Chester County farming continues in areas dedicated to agriculture.

Crow’s Nest is part of Hopewell Big Woods, a vast, unbroken forest about 114 square miles—almost the size of the City of Philadelphia. Just next door, you’ll find French Creek State Park and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, making Crow’s Nest part of one of the largest areas of protected land in the region.

parking

Crow’s Nest Preserve has one gravel parking lot with 20 spaces.

visitor hours

Daily, dawn to dusk.

more preserve information

before you go

  • A list of suggested supplies will be provided once you register for the event. Plan to bring your own oil paint, brushes, and more. Canvases will be supplied. 
  • Our instructor will also provide a recipe for her favorite oil painting medium, reference photo, and gridded drawing practice handout (for practice at home). 
  • Please meet at the red Natural Lands kiosk near the parking lot. 
  • Some trails may be rocky, please plan accordingly.  
  • Bring water and snacks for a comfortable hike. 
  • Please leave your four-legged friends at home. Service animals are welcome. 
  • If you are sick or feeling unwell, please stay home. 

Registration is required to reserve your spot. Your online registration signifies acceptance of our terms and conditions (read in full below). Questions? Please contact us.

  • $45 – Natural Lands member ticket
  • $50 – non-members ticket
  • $70 – event ticket and a year-long membership to Natural Lands
  • $12 – ACCESS Cardholder ticket – limited number available.
register now

Event Terms and Conditions

Cancellation

Events may be cancelled due to inclement weather or low registration. In that case, we will make every effort to update our website and contact registrants. Note that we cannot offer refunds of paid registrations or ticket purchases, but rest assured that your donation will help us in our work to save open space, care for nature, and connect people to the outdoors.

Communication

Natural Lands (and our co-host if applicable) will use the email address you provided here to let you know details about this event and to keep you up-to-date on other news and happenings. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Photography Policy

Attendance at Natural Lands programs and events constitutes consent to be photographed for use in print and electronic media. Images will not be identified using full names without written approval from the individual. Please notify Natural Lands staff if you would prefer that your photo not be used.

Participant Waiver

By registering for this event, I, as the participant, and/or parent or legal guardian of a minor participant, do hereby understand and acknowledge that by participating, in this, or any, Natural Lands’ event or activity, I am agreeing to indemnify and hold harmless Natural Lands, their respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, members, volunteers, employees, other participants, any sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and lessors of premises on which the Activity takes place, (each considered one of the “RELEASEES” herein).

I further acknowledge, agree, and represent that I understand the nature of the Program and related Activities and my and/or the Minor’s experience and capabilities, and believe that I and/or the minor are qualified, in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in such activity. I willingly agree to comply with the stated and customary terms and conditions of participation.

I fully understand that: (a) the Program and related Activities involve risks and dangers of damage to personal property and serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death (“risks”); (b) these Risks and dangers may be caused by my and/or the Minor’s own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the Activity, the condition in which the Activity takes place, or the negligence of the “releasees” as aforementioned; (c) there may be other risks and social and economic losses either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages I and/or the minor incur as a result of my participation or that of the Minor in the Activity.

I hereby release, discharge, and covenant not to sue Natural Lands or any of their “releasees” from all liability, claims, demands, losses, injuries, damage to property, or other damages on my and/or the minor’s account caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the “releasees” or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations; and I further agree that if, despite this release and waiver of liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement I, the Minor, or anyone on the Minor’s behalf makes a claim against any of the Releasees, I will indemnify, save, and hold harmless each of the releasees from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss, liability, damage, or cost which any may incur as the result of such claim.

I have read this Agreement, fully understand its terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights by registering for this event, and have done so freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid, the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.