Workshop Registration

Class size is limited! Registration for this workshop must be completed in advance online or at the MCBG Store. The registration fee is $200.00 per participant and covers materials to make your journal, plus admission for both days. The discounted rate for current MCBG Members is $190.00  – sign in to access your discount.   All fees are non-refundable unless the workshop has been canceled or rescheduled by the Gardens. Proceeds support our nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. 

Your participation in our workshops, walks, and events directly fuels our education programs, makes free school field trips possible, and helps people of all ages and backgrounds build meaningful connections with plants and the beauty of the natural world. 

Thanks from the MCBG Team and all who enjoy this garden by the sea!

Workshop Materials

Mary-Ellen recommends bringing any supplies you already have and waiting to purchase additional materials until after the workshop. Seeing the instructor's tools and other participants' supplies can help you decide what best suits your needs. If you are just getting started, the list below includes a few basic recommendations.

Journal Binding

The instructor will provide the materials and tools needed to make your journal.

Paints

• Pre-made watercolor sets, such as the Sakura Koi Water Colors Field Box with 12 colors, water brush, and palette, are a great choice. Mary-Ellen has used this set for years. It is available from Blick and at Racines in Fort Bragg.

• Another excellent option is the Winsor & Newton Cotman Field Plus Set, which includes 12 colors, a water container, and a palette.

• If you prefer watercolor tubes, you can create a compact travel kit using an Altoids tin with refillable pans. Start with at least three primary colors plus white, then expand as desired. Mary-Ellen also uses clean plastic milk caps as paint wells. Be creative! She will bring a few pre-made travel kits for purchase during the workshop.

• For a lightweight palette, Mary-Ellen recommends the Masters International Folding Watercolor Palette, which holds up to 20 colors filled from watercolor tubes.

Brushes

Bring round watercolor brushes #3, #6, and #10. Mary-Ellen prefers Da Vinci travel brushes, although they are more expensive. A beginner set, such as Winsor & Newton Cotman brushes, is an excellent alternative. A refillable water brush is also a useful addition.

Pens

• Sakura Pigma Micron Graphic waterproof three-pen set

• White gel pen (available to borrow)

• Pentel or Sharpie fine-point marker (available to borrow)

Pencils

• White pencil

• #2 pencil

• Watercolor pencil set (Mary-Ellen recommends the Derwent 12 Watercolour set.)

• Eraser

• Light blue sketching pencil (optional)

Water Container

Bring a small cup or container for water. Since Mary-Ellen typically carries drinking water with her, she simply refills a small plastic cup. Small containers can also be found at dollar stores.

Sketchbooks & Paper

For notes and practice, Mary-Ellen recommends an 8½" × 5½" mixed-media spiral-bound sketchbook because it encourages experimentation without the pressure of perfection. Hardbound books or larger formats work equally well if you prefer them. Recommended options include:

• Strathmore 300 Series Mixed Media

• Strathmore Visual Journal

• The handmade journal created during the workshop

Mary-Ellen has also used small loose-leaf binders filled with a variety of papers, including lined paper for notes, watercolor paper, and papers suitable for pencil or ink.

Rag

Bring a small rag or cloth. An old sock worn over your wrist works surprisingly well for wiping brushes.

Workshop Schedule

Day 1

• 10:00 AM–12:00 PM – Begin indoors with journal binding. Learn about paper selection, create the cover, fold pages, assemble the accordion binding, cut page folds, insert signatures, and complete the journal structure.

• 12:00–12:30 PM – Lunch

• 12:30–2:00 PM – Finish constructing journals. Review materials, papers, tools, sketchbook options, and drawing media, including pencil, pen, colored pencils, watercolor, and markers. Explore useful accessories such as rulers, magnifiers, binoculars, stencils, reference sheets, and carrying cases. Examine nature journaling kits, sample journals, artist pages, and recommended books.

• 2:00–4:00 PM – Presentation on creating effective journal pages, including metadata, shapes, questions, prompts, parts and wholes, quantities, relationships, scenes, directional markers, callouts, and written observations. Prepare a journal spread using metadata.

Day 2

• 10:00 AM–12:00 PM – Review handouts covering plant parts and flower shapes. Learn techniques for beginning drawings, improving observation skills, and working with different media. Demonstrations include watercolor and watercolor pencil techniques, along with tips for working comfortably outdoors.

• 12:00–12:30 PM – Lunch

• 12:30–2:30 PM – Outdoor drawing and painting session.

• 2:30–4:00 PM – Share artwork, reflect on the experience, and conclude the workshop.