Create your own Field Guide to the Birds of Lake Merritt

Join artist and naturalist John Muir Laws for a chill day of sketching the cool fall birds hanging out at Lake Merritt.

“A world of infinite beauty and discovery waits just beyond the point where we usually stop paying attention. Nature offers us peace and a rich and meaningful place to learn,”

– John Muir Laws, artist, naturalist, author, and educator.

In this event, Rotary Nature Center Friends and The Junior Center of Art and Science are partnering to bring Mr. Laws back to Lake Merritt after a too-long hiatus caused by the pandemic, for an engaging in-person community event. Whether you are an accomplished artist, a professional naturalist, a veteran nature journalist or just a curious and game person who loves the lake and wants to develop a new dimension of enjoyment, this workshop is for you!

Here is our agenda:

• 9:30 am to 1:30 pm (4 hours)
• 9:30 Greetings, introductions and overview of day. What is Nature Journaling? Introduce the ‘Zine idea for a bird guide to Lake Merritt. A break with things to look at maybe. Make sure everyone has needed supplies and is comfortable with the plan. introduction to drawing birds for field guides.
• 10:30 Go outside and look at nature at Lake Merritt, focus on the diversity of birds and representative postures and views.
• 11:30 Finish sketches indoors, inking illustrations and creating text. share if you want. Make ‘Zine page sketches darker with ink or and colors.
• 12:30 Wrap-up and continued observation and fellowship outside the Center.

Visit John Muir Laws’ website here: https://johnmuirlaws.com/