Osher Nature Journaling Workshop

We had a wonderful time at our Osher Nature Journaling Workshop!  The weather was lovely, the woods were full of life, and my participants were eager to get outside and explore.

We started the day indoors, talking about the process of nature journaling, trying out drawing activities.

Then we went outside to explore nature around the Raccoon Creek State Park Recreation Hall.

Participants sat in folding chairs, recorded observations...

... and sketched nature.

Some wrote poetry.

Others simply sketched with a pencil.

We returned to the Recreation Hall where we shared our discoveries...

...sketches ...

...and poetry.

Seeing and hearing everyone else's creative explorations uplifted and inspired me.

After lunch, we headed out on a nature walk through the woods to a Civilian Conservation Corp-built camp. 

We each took time to sketch and record what we noticed.

We returned for a final wrap up and sharing session at the Recreation Hall.

Many thanks to David for his work setting up, lighting and photographing for our class, and to my participants for being great adventurers and exploring the topic of nature journaling with me!

Here are my sketches from the day.

I hope you're enjoying the summer and finding time to sketch!

Happy Creating!

Osher Nature in Watercolors Worshop for Beginners

There's still space left in my upcoming Nature in Watercolors Workshop for Beginners on May 26th!  If you are curious about watercolors and would like to learn more, I hope you'll join me.  Even if you're not currently a member of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at CMU, you can take the class!

Osher at CMU offers curious participants a chance to try out one class for free, and if they like the experience and want to try more classes, they can become a prospective member, pay $95, and take as many additional classes in that semester as they like.

Here's a link to more information about Osher at CMU: https://www.cmu.edu/osher/

Here's Osher at CMU membership information:  

https://www.cmu.edu/osher/membership/index.html

And here's a link to the summer 2026 catalog of classes: https://www.cmu.edu/osher/publications/weekly-essentials/2026/summer/registration-is-open.html

Nature in Watercolor Workshop for Beginners

Are you curious about painting with watercolors, but you don’t know where to start? Would you like to spend a day with your Osher friends in nature being creative? Join us at Raccoon Creek State Park for this day-long workshop. We will play with our art supplies to become friendly with them, then we’ll test them out in the beauty of nature. 

Please note: This workshop will be held rain or shine. The address to plug into your GPS is Raccoon Creek State Park Recreation Hall, 195 Cabin Rd #15050, Georgetown, PA 15043. Mobility Requirements: Hiking 1/2 mile on uneven terrain with art supplies will be part of this full day of activities. Bring your watercolor supplies and a brown bag lunch for a day of watercolor painting adventures.

Friday, May 29, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

$25 Materials fee.

Cost: Requires membership in Osher at CMU.  Membership information here:

 https://www.cmu.edu/osher/membership/index.html

Dues & fees information here:

 https://www.cmu.edu/osher/membership/dues-and-fees.html

Still have questions? Drop me a comment below.

I hope you'll join me on May 29th!

Nature Treasures and a Nature Journaling Class!

My studio is chock-full of twigs, feathers, acorns and other natural treasures picked up on walks.  Eventually, these bits get dusty & crumbly, so I return everything to the wild.  

When I collect drawings of these treasures, I get to keep them tucked away in my nature journal in their fresh, dust-free state.

I also get the experience of slowing down, immersing myself in nature, and drawing in my nature journal.

I made this sketch on a recent hike in Raccoon Creek State Park.  It's lovely to open my nature journal and bring back memories of that day and of making discoveries in the woods.

Would you like some inspiration and instruction on nature journaling?

I hope you'll join me for an in-person Nature Journaling class at the Raccoon Creek State Park Wildflower Reserve on Sunday, April 12th, 2026, from 1-4 PM. Cost is $15.

You can register here:

https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/nature-journaling-3974

New Year, New Classes!

Here's the schedule of my latest classes. You don't need any art experience to join me and find joy, self-expression and community in my art classes. I offer in-person classes, and talk you through every step of the creative process.

I hope you'll join me for one of these upcoming continuing education classes at the Community College of Beaver County!

You can register here: https://ccbc.coursestorm.com/category/arts

Beginner's Pencil Drawing

Mondays, Feb. 16, 23, March 2 & 9, 2026 from 6-9 PM

$109

Make a fresh start in 2026 with this versatile & portable art form. Instructor Betsy Bangley will lead you through a series of activities designed to help you learn how to capture the world around you with a pencil on paper. We’ll start by playing with our materials to find out how to make a variety of marks, lines and shading types, move on to sketching everyday objects, and build up to exploring perspective and textures. Discover a new way to express yourself, and embark on an art adventure!

Register here:https://ccbc.coursestorm.com/category/arts

Or by phone: 724-480-3575

Pencil Drawing: Color and Shading

March 16, 23,30 & April 6, 2026, 6-9 PM

$109

This is an extension of our 4-week Beginner’s Pencil Drawing class, and is open to all. Would you like to advance your drawing skills? Perhaps you’re a beginner who would like guided practice. Jump into drawing fruit with colored pencils, creating portraits, and exploring more exciting drawing projects with Betsy Bangley. Whatever your skill level, you will gain drawing ability through working in this supportive group and practicing weekly.

Register here:https://ccbc.coursestorm.com/category/arts

Or by phone: 724-480-3575

Watercolor Leaves and Florals (Botanicals)

April 4,11,18 & 25, 2025 10 AM to 1 PM

$109

Join Betsy Bangley for a relaxing course in watercolor florals. Paint away your stress, and learn brush strokes, color mixing and layout ideas to create beautiful flowers and leaves. Use your new skills to decorate journal pages, stationary, and framed art, or simply create for the joy of painting. 

All materials are provided.

I hope to see you in one of these classes!

You can register here:https://ccbc.coursestorm.com/category/arts

Or by phone: 724-480-3575

Community College of Beaver County Continuing Ed. News!

I was delighted to open CCBC's  Fall 2025 Continuing Education Course Guide and find myself on page 12. 

I'm honored to have my classes featured, and hope you'll join me this fall for Beginner's Pencil Drawing and Pencil Drawing: Color and Shading!

You can register for these classes by following this link:

https://ccbc.coursestorm.com/

Then click on "Arts" under "Beaver County Classes."

I'll be in the studio to welcome you on the first day of classes, Monday, October 6th.

Hope to see you there!

Hike & Sketch with My Nature Journal

What's better on a summer afternoon than a hike in the woods?

A hike with your art supplies!

I love tree trunks, especially where the roots reach into the soil.  That connection point creates the feeling of grounding for me, and also beautiful shadows and shapes.

Taking a break on a recent hike, I painted this woodland scene in my nature journal.  I enjoyed mixing a variety of greens, and simply exploring the woods with my paintbrush.

What do you love to look at?  That would be a great subject to draw or paint in your nature journal.

If you'd like to take a class with me, there's still space in my upcoming Nature Journaling class.

Course dates: Mondays, July 7,14 & 21, 6-9 pm

Community College of Beaver County, Monaca, PA

Cost: $89

All materials are provided. 

You'll receive a sketchbook, colored pencils, pencils, an eraser & a pencil sharpener.

For more information and to register, follow this link:

https://ccbc.coursestorm.com/category/arts

Happy Creating & I hope to see you there!

Nature in Watercolor Workshop for Beginners!

On Friday, May 30th, I led a Nature in Watercolor Workshop for Beginners for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.  We met at Raccoon Creek State Park, and began the day with an introduction to what watercolors do -- how they flow and spread on paper.

We tested out our brushes, paints and paper.

We shared our favorite supplies.

We explored how to mix greens to match the world outside.

The best way to learn how to paint with watercolors is to experiment with them -- mixing colors, splashing down water & paint, and testing the effects of different brushes.

I loved the way everyone was supportive of each other.

We went outdoors to find subjects to paint and sketch.

What a wonderful feeling to sit in the peace of nature and create!

Everyone found their quiet nook to sketch in.

We returned to the Recreation Hall to share our sketches.

Everyone encouraged their classmates.

  Seeing others' artwork inspired the rest of us.

After lunch, we talked about simplifying the landscape, then played with our paints some more.

I demonstrated how to clean watercolor brushes,

 and we had a final sharing session to admire each others' work.

Many thanks to -- 

the ladies who took part in the session, 

Osher for organizing the class, &

David for his help setting up, schlepping stuff, and being our photographer!

If this looks interesting to you, I hope you'll join me for an art class in the future.

In July, I'm teaching a Monday night Nature Journaling class at the Community College of Beaver County starting July 7th.  You can register and find out more here:

https://ccbc.coursestorm.com/category/arts

Scroll down to Nature Journaling or click here:

https://ccbc.coursestorm.com/course/nature-journaling-washington-county2

Happy Creating!