Would anyone want to paint at the Museum after hours? In the wake of opening our newest permanent exhibit, Water Shapes Florida, we wanted to invite amateur artists into the Museum to explore watercolor painting techniques and our exhibits in a quiet space after hours. With snacks and wine (or mocktails), of course!
Our team planned this event for May 9, just before Mother’s Day, with a little uncertainty about filling our classroom. We know we’re enthusiastic about natural history and science art, but would anyone pay to pick up some watercolor painting skills while sipping wine with us?
Apparently, a lot of people wanted to join us! Our Watercolors & Wine event was popular enough to sell out very quickly and we made room for a few extra artists at our tables.
Led by Dale Johnson, our artistic team welcomed excited guests to explore iconic plants and animals, and then walked them through the tools, supplies, and painting process. Easy lessons included brush-and-paint handling, sketching a foundation, light table guidelines, and finishing off a painting.
It was a lovely evening event that inspired a wide variety of paintings. Chatter ebbed and flowed across the room as guests shared with each other, quietly focused on their creations, and snacked and sipped.
We’re excited to host more of these artistic events here at the Museum, so stay tuned by email or on social media to get tickets to the next event!
About Dale Johnson
Florida Museum operations manager Dale Johnson is a graduate of the UF Biological Illustration program, studying fine art and biology.
Here at the museum, Dale’s art can be found in the South Florida Peoples & Environments, Butterfly Rainforest, Discovery Zone and Water Shapes Florida exhibits. She has also worked for Walt Disney World Company, an exhibit design firm, an exhibit fabricator and has done interpretive planning and design for multiple nature centers and state parks in Florida.