HMNH Adult Classes

Online Workshop

Tuesday, December 9, 9:30–11:30 am

Instructor: Rachel Mirus

Familiar natural shapes, like spirals or the branching of plants, recur in fascinating and beautiful diversity, and are often the result of simple patterns for growth. We will use observational drawing to explore a few of the many kinds of spirals, branching patterns, and fractals, as well as how and why they grow. Moving on from pure observation, students will finish with a creative project inspired by these natural shapes.

In-Person Workshop

Saturday, January 24,  9:30–10:30 am

Instructor: Mickey Alice Kwapis, professional taxidermist

Explore amazing arthropods from an evolutionary perspective with a hands-on look at an impressive species! Utilizing sustainably sourced specimens, students will learn about arthropod development and anatomy by preparing and preserving a cicada specimen of their own. Each student will receive  a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and their own pinned specimen to dry and later display at home. With newfound knowledge, students can explore the museum’s arthropod gallery to observe the many nuances of Earth’s invertebrate species. 

These are fun, engaging activities that can be enjoyed by all ages. Students under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone who can work with the child, at no additional charge. If chaperones wish to complete their own project, a second specimen must be purchased through a separate registration.

In-Person Workshop

Saturday, January 24, 11:00 am–12:00 pm

Instructor: Mickey Alice Kwapis, professional taxidermist 

Explore amazing arthropods from an evolutionary perspective with a hands-on look at an impressive species! Utilizing sustainably sourced specimens, students will learn about arthropod development and anatomy by preparing and preserving a sunset moth specimen  of their own. Each student will receive  a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and their own pinned specimen to dry and later display at home. With newfound knowledge, students can explore the museum’s arthropod gallery to observe the many nuances of Earth’s invertebrate species. 

These are fun, engaging activities that can be enjoyed by all ages. Students under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone who can work with the child, at no additional charge. If chaperones wish to complete their own project, a second specimen must be purchased through a separate registration.

In-Person Workshop

Saturday, January 24, 1:00–2:00 pm

Instructor: Mickey Alice Kwapis, professional taxidermist

Explore amazing arthropods from an evolutionary perspective with a hands-on look at an impressive species! Utilizing sustainably sourced specimens, students will learn about arthropod development and anatomy by preparing and preserving a five-horned rhino beetle of their own. Each student will receive  a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and their own pinned specimen to dry and later display at home. With newfound knowledge, students can explore the museum’s arthropod gallery to observe the many nuances of Earth’s invertebrate species. 

These are fun, engaging activities that can be enjoyed by all ages. Students under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone who can work with the child, at no additional charge. If chaperones wish to complete their own project, a second specimen must be purchased through a separate registration.

In-Person Workshop

Saturday, January 24, 2:30–3:30 pm

Instructor: Mickey Alice Kwapis, Professional Taxidermist 

Explore amazing arthropods from an evolutionary perspective with a hands-on look at an impressive species! Utilizing sustainably sourced specimens, students will learn about arthropod development and anatomy by preparing and preserving a Malayan jungle nymph of their own. Each student will receive a set of illustrated instructions, tools, and their own pinned specimen to dry and later display at home. With newfound knowledge, students can explore the museum’s arthropod gallery to observe the many nuances of Earth’s invertebrate species.
These are fun, engaging activities that can be enjoyed by all ages. Students under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone who can work with the child, at no additional charge. If chaperones wish to complete their own project, a second specimen must be purchased through a separate registration.

Online Workshop

Wednesday, February 4, 9:30–11:30 am

Instructor: Artist and illustrator, Erica Beade

Learn how to capture the beauty and variety of plant forms with pencil and paper in this two-hour online workshop. With a focus on close observation, we'll explore a range of techniques for achieving more accurate drawings and delve into contour, foreshortening, and shading to create volume and depth. The group will be limited to twelve participants, allowing ample time for individual feedback. All skill levels are welcome.

Image is artist’s own work

In-Person Workshop 

Saturday, February 21, 11:00–12:30 pm 

Instructor: Kathy Liu

Kathy Liu is a Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering at Harvard. She develops stimuli-responsive materials—materials that react to the world around them—for medical and biomimetic applications. The fragrance world combines her fascination with scent perception as remarkable chemical systems built by nature with her passion for broadening the audiences for materials science.

Online Workshop

Wednesday, March 4, 9:30–11:30 am

Instructor: Artist and illustrator, Erica Beade

Learn to capture mammals with pencil and paper in this online workshop. We’ll explore some basic mammal anatomy that will inform your drawings; step-by-step methods for developing your mammal sketch; techniques for achieving greater accuracy and for capturing depth, volume, and fur texture. The group will be limited to 12 participants, allowing time for individual feedback. All skill levels are welcome.

Online Workshop

Tuesday, March 17, 9:30–11:30 am

Instructor: Teaching artist and science writer Rachel Mirus

Have you ever wondered how artists can give a painted landscape depth or make an orange in a still-life look truly spherical? Artists use a familiar set of techniques such as vanishing points, occlusion, and atmospheric perspective to communicate depth and dimension that are all based on how our brains interpret visual scenes. In this workshop, we will try these techniques for ourselves while also learning why they work. The group will be limited to 12 participants, allowing ample time for individual feedback. All skill levels are welcome.

In-Person Workshop

Saturday, April 11, 9:30 am–12:00 pm

Instructor: Artist and illustrator, Erica Beade

Explore the beauty of butterflies and moths using preserved museum specimens. This workshop will introduce observational drawing techniques with pencil, and then dive into colored pencil techniques to create a rich, vibrant image. The group will be limited to 12 participants, allowing ample time for individual feedback. All skill levels are welcome.

Online Workshop

Wednesday, April 29, 9:30–11:30 am

Instructor: Artist and illustrator, Erica Beade

Explore the variety and elegance of tree forms using pencil and paper. We will focus on capturing the shapes and volume of trunks and branches and techniques for drawing foliage in this online workshop.

The group will be limited to 12 participants, allowing ample time for individual feedback. All skill levels are welcome.

In-Person Workshop

Saturday, May 9, 9:30 am–12:00 pm

Instructor: Teaching artist and science writer Rachel Mirus

You may have foraged, grown, or eaten mushrooms, but have you painted with them? Many mushrooms and lichens can be used to make inks in a spectrum of earthy colors. Rachel Mirus will demonstrate the ink-making process and introduce some local lichens and mushrooms that produce color.

Then we'll experiment with making art from a selection of pre-made mushroom inks. Come try out these unusual materials and see what you can make! 

Image Credit: Rachel Mirus