Palette of Catalina Color Walk: Nature Journaling Workshop

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Connect with the natural world while tapping into creativity during this workshop with plein air artist and psychotherapist Kymberlee Stanley. She will guide us along an immersive color walk through Wrigley Memorial Botanic Garden. The natural palette of colors found here within the earth and sky have inspired Catalina’s artists and architects for over a century. 

Guided by Conservancy naturalists, participants will journey through six stops. We will discover the Island’s iconic colors through the eyes of artists who documented the natural world through observation and paint, long before photography. At each stop, participants will slow down, closely observe their surroundings and mix paint to capture Catalina’s native landscape in a personal nature journal. 

Stanley will demonstrate her signature alla prima oil painting technique that uses bold, direct brushwork built on deep observation. Learn to read color in light and shadow, understand complementary relationships, and blend color palettes that define Catalina’s visual identity. Conservancy naturalists will explain the ecological and cultural history behind each plant and its colors, tracing the thread from native species to the art and architecture that represents Catalina. 

What to Bring

• A reusable water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Layered clothing, as temperatures may vary throughout the day

Important to Know

Meet at the Trailhead Visitor Center for a free shuttle to the garden. Upon event completion, we will return to the Trailhead.

Ferry tickets are not included in the cost of this workshop and should be purchased early to ensure a seat is available. Same day ferry riders from Long Beach should reserve the 6 a.m. Catalina Express boat.

Participants should come prepared for being outside in the field, standing and walking. Sturdy, close-toed shoes and a re-fillable water bottle are required. Some walking on uneven terrain should be expected.