The Art of Seeing: Light and Color

The Art of Seeing: Light and Color

The Art of Seeing: Light and Color with Mark Kesling

Santa Fe Workshops

June 10- June 20, 2025 Tuesdays and Fridays; 2:30 – 4:30 EDT

“Color is a pigment of our imagination,” Mark Rea famously said, highlighting how colors only come to life through our perception. In this new online workshop with Mark Kesling, photographers of all skill levels explore the interconnected roles of light and color in photography. We examine the science of light, understanding the electromagnetic spectrum and how different types of light (from infrared to visible) impact exposure, mood, and composition. At the same time, we investigate how light influences color perception, focusing on how light interacts with various surfaces and materials to shape the way color is captured in a photograph.

Throughout our group sessions, we engage in hands-on exercises that experiment with both lighting techniques and color theory. We learn how natural and artificial light affect color and how to manipulate both to create dynamic and compelling images. We also explore how color influences mood and composition, uncovering the emotional power of colors and how to use them intentionally in their work. From working with different types of light to experimenting with color grading and filters, you refine an understanding of both lighting and color, gaining new skills to elevate

Register Here

About Mark

Mark Kesling is a pioneering artist and science educator with over 30 years of experience in museum education, exhibit design, and science education. He has designed and managed major exhibits for institutions such as The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, The Carnegie Museum, and The Exploratorium. Currently, Mark serves as Founder and CEO of the daVinci Pursuit, a concept he conceived in 2009—a “science museum without walls” that brings educational exhibits to neighborhoods using outdoor spaces as galleries. Mark combines art and science to create engaging installations that serve communities in underserved areas of Massachusetts and Indiana.

Nature Journaling Workshop: Connecting Art and Science Through Observation

Nature Journaling Workshop: Connecting Art and Science Through Observation

Join us for an enriching Nature Journaling Workshop designed to help participants explore and engage with the natural world through the combined practices of art and science. This workshop invites you to develop a deeper connection to your environment by cultivating observational skills, creativity, and curiosity.

In this unique combination of book club, art lesson, and nature journaling, we will explore the natural world around us on the Cape through a 5-week session utilizing the book Keeping a Nature Journal: Deepen Your Connection with the Natural World All Around You by Clare Walker Leslie. Each session is designed to focus on a different part of Clare’s book.

We will begin with a guided discussion about the importance of nature journaling, including its role in scientific observation and artistic expression. Participants will learn techniques for effectively observing and recording their surroundings, noting not just what they see but also what they hear, smell, and feel.

Keeping a Nature Journal and supplies for each session are listed in Eventbrite.

Register Here

Dates, Times, Locations

Supply List

Book

Wednesdays: April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 2025

10 – 11:30am EDT

Brewster Book Store, 2648 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631

(Feel free to use/reuse what you already have or purchase from the Bookstore)

  1. Backpack or shoulder bag

  2. Journal with watercolor paper (cold press)

  3. Soft pencil (HB, H, or #2)

  4. Pencil sharpener

  5. Technical drawing pen

  6. Refillable brush pen

  7. Technical drawing pencil

  8. Binder clips

  9. Small ruler

  10. Colored pencils

  11. Watercolor pencils

  12. Watercolor set (pans or tubes)

  13. Small mixing palette

  14. Small sponge

  15. Small rag

  16. Small water bottle

  17. Small water spray bottle

  18. Small syringe (no needle)

  19. White gel pen

 

Keeping a Nature Journal: Deepen Your Connection with the Natural World All Around You by Clare Walker Leslie. 3rd Edition, Available at Brewster Book Store. 

Try to get a copy before the first class and read chapter one.

About Mark

Mark Kesling is a pioneering educator, designer, and professional photographer with a rich and diverse background in the arts and sciences. Beginning his photographic journey in the 1970s as a wedding and studio photographer, Mark has evolved his practice to focus on the dynamic intersection of art and science. His innovative approach utilizes scientific principles to enhance the artistic skills of photographers, making the learning experience both engaging and impactful.

With over 45 years of extensive work in museum design and education, Mark has established himself as a leader in the field. As the founder and CEO of the daVinci Pursuit, he drives initiatives that embody the concept of a “museum without walls,” fostering an inclusive and accessible environment for learning and exploration. His unique skill set enables him to blend artistic creativity with scientific inquiry, captivating learners of all ages.

Mark collaborates with a diverse range of partners, including neighborhood organizations, city institutions, and educational entities, to create meaningful art and science installations in communities. Through his work, he inspires and enriches the lives of those he engages, making a lasting impact on the cultural landscape.

 

Field Sketching Galls with Robin Carlson Part 2

Field Sketching Galls with Robin Carlson Part 2

About Robin

Robin Lee Carlson is a natural science illustrator and the author of The Cold Canyon Fire Journals. She builds careful observations of the natural world into deeper commentary on ecology and climate change, and her work centers on field sketching ecoreportage, living documentation of the ever-accelerating transformation of ecosystems by human activity. Her work has also appeared in The Common, the literary journal of Amherst College, and in Arnoldia, the magazine of the Harvard University Arboretum. She teaches online and in-person workshops that combine drawing, painting, and natural history.

Robin is one of the 2024 recipients of the Fireline Fellowship, part of the Long-Term Ecological Reflections Program in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon.

https://robinleecarlson.com/
https://www.instagram.com/anthropocenesketchbook/

Field Sketching Galls

A Field Journal Sketching Experience with Robin Carlson

Part 2: Galls in Willow, Manzanita, Alder, and Rose – Monday, March 24, 2025 – 7 to 8:30pm (Eastern)

Location: Online via Zoom

Cost: $30 per session

Register

The daVinci Pursuit is pleased to welcome illustrator and author Robin Carlson to our second series of online workshops about sketching galls in the field. In this series of two workshops, we will combine drawing, painting, and natural science. The classes will weave scientific knowledge into accessible and engaging instruction, where students actively create stories in their own artwork. 

Field Sketching Galls

Robin Lee Carlson

A gall is the eye-catching result of an intricate interaction between an insect and a plant. Galls offer a peek into the often unseen relationships between species in an ecosystem, and are exciting treasures to find when out exploring in nature.

I’d like to invite you to join me for a two-part series about sketching galls in the field. The first workshop will focus on different kinds of oak galls and the wasps that form them. The second workshop will look at galls formed by other insects (and mites) on other plant species. We’ll work in ink and watercolor and try out different techniques for drawing galls and gall-forming insects. At the end of each session, there will be time to ask questions and share your work and insights.

The workshops are designed to work together to build a picture of gall diversity, but either one can also be taken as a standalone class. Registrants will be able to attend live online and will also have access to a recording of the workshop.

Made possible through the generous support of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitiable Foundation

Field Sketching Galls with Robin Carlson Part 1

Field Sketching Galls with Robin Carlson Part 1

About Robin

Robin Lee Carlson is a natural science illustrator and the author of The Cold Canyon Fire Journals. She builds careful observations of the natural world into deeper commentary on ecology and climate change, and her work centers on field sketching ecoreportage, living documentation of the ever-accelerating transformation of ecosystems by human activity. Her work has also appeared in The Common, the literary journal of Amherst College, and in Arnoldia, the magazine of the Harvard University Arboretum. She teaches online and in-person workshops that combine drawing, painting, and natural history.

Robin is one of the 2024 recipients of the Fireline Fellowship, part of the Long-Term Ecological Reflections Program in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon.

https://robinleecarlson.com/
https://www.instagram.com/anthropocenesketchbook/

Field Sketching Galls

A Field Journal Sketching Experience with Robin Carlson

Part 1: Oak Galls – Monday, February 24, 2025 – 7 to 8:30pm (Eastern)

Location: Online via Zoom

Cost: $30 per session

Register

The daVinci Pursuit is pleased to welcome illustrator and author Robin Carlson to our second series of online workshops about sketching galls in the field. In this series of two workshops, we will combine drawing, painting, and natural science. The classes will weave scientific knowledge into accessible and engaging instruction, where students actively create stories in their own artwork. 

Field Sketching Galls

Robin Lee Carlson

A gall is the eye-catching result of an intricate interaction between an insect and a plant. Galls offer a peek into the often unseen relationships between species in an ecosystem, and are exciting treasures to find when out exploring in nature.

I’d like to invite you to join me for a two-part series about sketching galls in the field. The first workshop will focus on different kinds of oak galls and the wasps that form them. The second workshop will look at galls formed by other insects (and mites) on other plant species. We’ll work in ink and watercolor and try out different techniques for drawing galls and gall-forming insects. At the end of each session, there will be time to ask questions and share your work and insights.

The workshops are designed to work together to build a picture of gall diversity, but either one can also be taken as a standalone class. Registrants will be able to attend live online and will also have access to a recording of the workshop.

Made possible through the generous support of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitiable Foundation

A Guide to Sketching in the Field with Robin Carlson Part 3

A Guide to Sketching in the Field with Robin Carlson Part 3

A Guide to Sketching in the Field: Examples from a Study of Wildfire

Robin Lee Carlson

A sketchbook is a matchless tool for investigating the world. Sketchbooks have been my constant companions on walks, hikes, rambles, and research throughout my life. They are how I get to know a place, how I slow down and get lost in the details in front of me, and how I build all those individual observations into a deeper understanding of the ecosystem as a whole. Come and join me for a three-part introduction to field sketching! This series will begin with a session with everything you need to know to prepare for nature journaling in the field, including tools, techniques, and reference materials. In the next session, I’ll take you on a virtual field sketching expedition, putting our observation and sketching approaches into practice. Our final session will be spent exploring ways to use what we observed in the field for further development in artistic projects. Each of the three classes will use examples and techniques drawn from my work, especially from my long-term study of fire ecology. The classes will feature demonstrations of tools and supplies along with live drawing demonstrations for you to follow along. At the end of each session, there will be time to ask questions and to share your work and insights. These workshops are intended for a broad range of experience with drawing in the field. We will discuss all the basics that a beginner needs to know to get started, but all techniques will include new ways of looking and engaging with nature, and new ways of getting the most out of your drawing tools.

A Guide to Sketching in the Field

A Field Journal Sketching Experience with Robin Carlson

Part 3: Preparing for Field Sketching – Monday, December 9, 2024 – 7 to 8:30pm (Eastern)

Location: Online via Zoom

Cost: $30 per session

Register

The daVinci Pursuit is pleased to welcome illustrator and author Robin Carlson to our first series of online workshops about sketching in the field. In this series of three workshops, we will combine drawing, painting, and natural science. The classes will weave scientific knowledge into accessible and engaging instruction, where students actively create stories in their own artwork.

Part 3: Continuing Exploring After the Field Trip

Back home after a hike with a sketchbook full of drawings, what comes next? Field sketches can stand on their own as documentation of what we observed. They can also be springboards into further explorations of a place or process, or invitations to more involved artworks. In the final workshop of the series, we will talk about ways to keep engaging with your field observations: ways to identify new species encountered, how to investigate questions that arose, and ideas for expanding one set of observations into a larger project. I will share examples from my wildfire sketchbooks, and lead participatory demonstrations of some of the work I have done to develop field sketches into artworks that tell a story that emerges over time.

About Robin

Robin Lee Carlson is a natural science illustrator and the author of The Cold Canyon Fire Journals. She builds careful observations of the natural world into deeper commentary on ecology and climate change, and her work centers on field sketching ecoreportage, living documentation of the ever-accelerating transformation of ecosystems by human activity. Her work has also appeared in The Common, the literary journal of Amherst College, and in Arnoldia, the magazine of the Harvard University Arboretum. She teaches online and in-person workshops that combine drawing, painting, and natural history.

Robin is one of the 2024 recipients of the Fireline Fellowship, part of the Long-Term Ecological Reflections Program in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon.

https://robinleecarlson.com/
https://www.instagram.com/anthropocenesketchbook/

Made possible through the generous support of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitiable Foundation

A Guide to Sketching in the Field with Robin Carlson Part 2

A Guide to Sketching in the Field with Robin Carlson Part 2

A Guide to Sketching in the Field: Examples from a Study of Wildfire

Robin Lee Carlson

A sketchbook is a matchless tool for investigating the world. Sketchbooks have been my constant companions on walks, hikes, rambles, and research throughout my life. They are how I get to know a place, how I slow down and get lost in the details in front of me, and how I build all those individual observations into a deeper understanding of the ecosystem as a whole. Come and join me for a three-part introduction to field sketching! This series will begin with a session with everything you need to know to prepare for nature journaling in the field, including tools, techniques, and reference materials. In the next session, I’ll take you on a virtual field sketching expedition, putting our observation and sketching approaches into practice. Our final session will be spent exploring ways to use what we observed in the field for further development in artistic projects. Each of the three classes will use examples and techniques drawn from my work, especially from my long-term study of fire ecology. The classes will feature demonstrations of tools and supplies along with live drawing demonstrations for you to follow along. At the end of each session, there will be time to ask questions and to share your work and insights. These workshops are intended for a broad range of experience with drawing in the field. We will discuss all the basics that a beginner needs to know to get started, but all techniques will include new ways of looking and engaging with nature, and new ways of getting the most out of your drawing tools.

A Guide to Sketching in the Field

A Field Journal Sketching Experience with Robin Carlson

Part 2: Virtual Field Trip, Sketchbook in Hand – Monday, November 18, 2024 – 7 to 8:30pm (Eastern)

Location: Online via Zoom

Cost: $30 per session

Register

The daVinci Pursuit is pleased to welcome illustrator and author Robin Carlson to our first series of online workshops about sketching in the field. In this series of three workshops, we will combine drawing, painting, and natural science. The classes will weave scientific knowledge into accessible and engaging instruction, where students actively create stories in their own artwork.

Part 2: Virtual Field Trip, Sketchbook in Hand

Out in the field with a sketchbook, where to start? With sights, sounds, scenes, and species all around, it can be daunting to decide what to stop and examine closely. Join me on a virtual field trip to explore a nature reserve recently burned in a wildfire. We’ll talk about how I approached the burned landscape when I started my project, how I spent my time once I was in the field, and how I decided what to focus on and draw. We will draw examples of plant, animal, and fungus species that thrive after fire. As we go, we will experiment with different ways to record what we observe, to fit varying conditions and time constraints in the field.

About Robin

Robin Lee Carlson is a natural science illustrator and the author of The Cold Canyon Fire Journals. She builds careful observations of the natural world into deeper commentary on ecology and climate change, and her work centers on field sketching ecoreportage, living documentation of the ever-accelerating transformation of ecosystems by human activity. Her work has also appeared in The Common, the literary journal of Amherst College, and in Arnoldia, the magazine of the Harvard University Arboretum. She teaches online and in-person workshops that combine drawing, painting, and natural history.

Robin is one of the 2024 recipients of the Fireline Fellowship, part of the Long-Term Ecological Reflections Program in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon.

https://robinleecarlson.com/
https://www.instagram.com/anthropocenesketchbook/

Made possible through the generous support of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitiable Foundation

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