MDC: Cape Nature Center offers Nature Art

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News from the region
Southeast
Published Date
02/16/2016
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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center offers a monthly nature art program. The next session is Saturday, March 5, from 1 to 3 p.m., and is all about adding color to nature journals.

“So much of our art is inspired by nature,” said Jamie Koehler, assistant manager of the center. “Our volunteers lead this program and they are both nature experts and phenomenal artists. They’ll showcase how to use water colors in journaling to add color.”

Nature journaling is a process where a person draws or writes what they see in nature in a dedicated journal. The process helps in identifying what aspects of nature change throughout time, over seasons and generally helps appreciate the intricacies of the outdoor environment. Journals can be as simple as a few sentences recorded per nature experience, or as complicated as full illustrated pages with doodles and drawings that reflect what species were viewed and what the weather was like. Some like to add various mediums to the journaling process as their journal grows in pages.

“If you’re interested in trying or have dabbled in water colors even a little bit, this will be a program for you,” Koehler said.

Basic water coloring techniques will be demonstrated and basic supplies will be provided so guests can try it in class.

All ages and groups are welcome, though registration is required. The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center is located inside Cape Girardeau's North County Park, just east of Interstate 55 (Exit 99) and Kingshighway (State Highway 61). For more information on this and other nature programs at the center, go online to mdc.mo.gov/CapeNatureCenter, call (573)290-5218, or text nature to 91212.