Wild Colors of the Verde River with Roseann Hanson

8am - 5pm at Rio Verde Ranch

You will learn how to find the right soil and plants, how to easily process them into paints and/or ink, safety tips, and more. Arizona’s Central Highlands are famous for their red soils, and we’ll work from pigments you gather, or that we provide from local foraging expeditions, we’ll do ahead of time to ensure we have enough material for everyone. We’ll also explore plants along the Verde River, and learn how to create botanical inks. For the last hour of workshop, we’ll create sketches of the landscape, plants, and wildlife of the Upper Verde using our new paint and ink—truly place-based art. Participants will take home sample paints and inks. Bring your own lunch and sketchbook, and don’t forget your binoculars.

Cost: $75 (Van Transportation Included)

Time: Depart from Prescott, AZ, at the Natural History Institute at 8:00am and return 5:00pm

Difficulty: Easy (0.5 - 1 mile of walking) We will be stationed at the Rio Verde Ranch, which is a short 1/4-mile walk from the van parking. The day will be spent in one location, with options to explore the Verde River and forage for pigment materials.

Food and Water: Bring your own lunch, water, and snacks for a full-day excursion.

Roseann Hanson is a naturalist, artist, and explorer who has been keeping science-based nature and field notes journals for 40 years. She is one of the organizers of the Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference, and is the author of the popular books Nature Journaling for a Wild Life, and Master of Field Arts. She studied journalism and ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, and has worked in the American Southwest, Mexico, and East Africa as a conservationist, naturalist, and writer. She has authored a dozen natural history and outdoor books, including the Southern Arizona Nature Almanac with her husband Jonathan Hanson, and San Pedro River: A Discovery Guide, both of which include her nature journal data and art. She was the founding coordinator for the trans-disciplinary Art & Science Program at the 115-year-old Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, part of the University of Arizona College of Science. She teaches nature writing, nature journaling, and field notes for biologists. She was named a Fellow of both the Explorers Club in the U.S. and the Royal Geographical Society for her conservation and expedition work. You can find her on social media at https://www.facebook.com/roseannhansonexplore or https://www.instagram.com/roseannhanson and on the Hansons’ website through her own Field Arts Institute http://www.exploringoverland.com/fieldarts

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Natural History Institute, 126 North Marina Street, Prescott, United States