In this full-day workshop, Barry will share the approaches and techniques he used during his recent multi-year residency with Mass Audubon, visiting and painting at all 61 Mass Audubon public properties. Barry will demonstrate the use of field optics and show how the regular use of a field sketchbook can lead to a deeper understanding of the natural world while at the same time developing your artistic and expressive potential. You'll see how field studies can be used to create larger and more complex pictures back in the studio.

We'll briefly review drawing approaches, but will concentrate mainly on watercolor painting. We'll cover everything from materials, basic skills and useful tips to advanced painting concepts like shadow patterns, local color and edge manipulation. We'll discuss how to observe and record values, and we'll make a color mixing chart that can be used for future reference. Barry will finish with some demonstrations so you can see his watercolor technique first-hand and in real time.

This workshop is aimed at intermediate students with some painting experience (all skill levels are welcome). Class size is limited so early registration is recommended. Pre-registration required. Online registration available. A detailed list of materials will be sent to each participant with the registration confirmation.

Barry W. Van Dusen is an internationally recognized wildlife artist. His articles and paintings have been featured in Bird Watcher's Digest, Birding, and Yankee magazines and he has illustrated a variety of natural history books and pocket guides in association with the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Barry is a full member of London's Society of Wildlife Artists. His work has been exhibited regularly in the prestigious Birds in Art Exhibition, as well as in many galleries in the United States and Europe. At the invitation of the Artists for Nature Foundation, Barry has traveled to Spain, Ireland, England, Israel, India and Peru, working alongside other wildlife artists to raise money for conservation of threatened habitats.