AUG 8 | Intermediate Scientific Illustration Watercolor Workshop with Madison Mayfield

Date: Saturday, June 27
Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Location: The Lightcatcher Studio | Whatcom Museum

Do you love the intersection of art and science and are interested in growing your watercolor practice? Spend a day honing your skills with artist and Burke Museum Ornithology Collections Manager Madison Mayfield. In this workshop, you'll receive hands-on guidance to watercolor painting through a scientific illustration lens. Madison will walk you through the process of depicting a specimen with technical accuracy while teaching skills that flex your observational drawing muscles. You’ll begin with a sketching warmup and end the day with two watercolor paintings of seasonal summer flowers and a Blackburnian Warbler, native to the eastern U.S. Artists of all skill levels are welcome, but this class is recommended for those with a regular drawing practice and some general painting experience. 

Class registration fees include admission to the Whatcom Museum and all materials needed to create two scientific illustrations, but artists are also encouraged to bring their own supplies to work with, i.e. watercolors, brushes, watercolor paper, and sketching materials, if they prefer to use their own. The workshop will include a 30-minute lunch break; students can bring a packed lunch or purchase lunch out.   

About the Instructor 

Madison Mayfield is a natural history artist, taxidermist & museum professional based in Seattle, WA. In 2016, she graduated from the Natural Science Illustration Certificate Program at the University of Washington and has been creating science art as a freelance illustrator (and as part of her own personal art practice) ever since. She has spent several years working as an art educator in museum spaces, teaching scientific illustration workshops at the Field Museum, the National Museum of Scotland, the California Academy of Sciences, and the Puget Sound Museum, and she is passionate about introducing anyone and everyone to the world of science illustration!  

Madison currently serves on the board for the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators-Northwest Chapter. In addition to her work as a freelance artist/illustrator, Madison works as an ornithology collections manager at the Burke Museum of Natural History. 

Workshop registrations are final and non-refundable. If you’re unable to attend, you’re welcome to transfer your spot to someone else as long as you notify us 24 hours in advance. Please plan to arrive within 15 minutes of the start time. Late arrivals will not be admitted or refunded.