Field Notes
Grab your traveling sketchbook bags for a mixed-media outdoor adventure that combines exploration, observation, research, detailed drawing, and writing. This workshop, called Field Notes, is rooted in the Field Study tradition and encourages you to be curious and dedicate time to building a library of inspiration. It serves as a platform for grounding yourself in the moment, documenting your surroundings, and engaging in play and experimentation.
Key components of the workshop include:
Exploring the natural world around you
Creating the perfect travel-sized field notes toolbox
Experimenting with different materials and techniques
Developing and maintaining a mobile creative habit
Connecting with a community that challenges you and shares your interests
We will start each session at a casual pace, spending our time exploring trails, forests, bogs, or prairies. Remember to bring snacks, dress for the weather, and wear sensible shoes. Most importantly, arrive curious and open to challenges and new experiences.
I provide:
Mixed-media Hardcover Sketchbook
Drawing Set ( HB Pencil, Ink Pen, Smudge Stick, Flexible Ruler, and Kneadable Eraser)
Pocket Microscope
Students Bring:
BYO-preferred portable art supplies (no oil paints)
Dress appropriately for the weather conditions
Bring a refillable water bottle and snacks
Lightweight blanket or sitting pad
Meet Your Instructor:
Jessica Turtle
Jessica Turtle is an interdisciplinary artist and educator who founded Treehaus Studio at The Acreage. This art and ecology studio seeks to foster a deeper connection between land and water in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway through adventure, knowledge sharing, and creative expression. Through her art and teaching, Jessica encourages us to appreciate the beauty and magic of the natural world while fostering a deeper understanding of our role within it.
Jessica Turtle has a BFA in Studio Arts from the University of Wisconsin. She studied Object-based learning with the N.W. Harris Learning Collection in Chicago and at the Bell Museum in Minnesota.
Class Details:
Location: Green Door Folk School (2312 E Kasson Rd Cedar, MI 49621)
Date/Time: August 15th @10:30am – 4:30pm and August 16th @10:30am – 2:00pm
Prerequisites/Skill Level/Age Requirements:
- Age: 16+, open to younger participants accompanied by a guardian
- All skill levels welcome
Booking Information:
What happens after I book the class? After you book, we will send you a confirmation email that you are IN! A week out from the class, we will send you an email with more details about our meeting locations and some housekeeping items.
Where can I stay if I’m coming from out of town? If you’re traveling for a class, we highly recommend a stay at Cedar North, a cozy farm-stay just steps from the Green Door Schoolhouse. Nestled on a permaculture farm in Leelanau County, Cedar North offers peaceful garden views, the charm of a working goat farm, and room to roam and reflect. NOTE: Indicate you are a Green Door student at checkout for a discounted rate.
Policies:
Go for it! If you love to walk in the woods, pay attention to detail, or are looking for analog ways to remember and record your life, this is the class for you!