Course Registration
ADV - Earth Colors - Making Watercolor Paints from Natural Earth Pigments, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
16797 289th Ave NWZimmerman, MN 55398
Please note: This is a class offered on two different dates (April 17 OR April 18). Please check the date carefully and register for your preference.
oin us in this day-long workshop and discover natural color pigments hidden in soil, minerals, and stone in your surroundings. Explore the geology of Minnesota and its clay resources.
Learn the process of foraging, harvesting, and transforming soil and stones safely into watercolor paint. Create a sample of watercolors that celebrates the local natural environment and share in the joy of experimenting and creating with nature. Class will meet at Oak Savannah Learning Center inside Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
Make an origami box with a color card to store the watercolor half-pans of paint made at the workshop.
- All supplies and watercolor brush included.
- Ice water and hot tea provided
- Bring a brown bag lunch and snack
- 1 Deli container to transport wet watercolor pans
For Registration questions contact Extension Registration, ext-reg@umn.edu
For Username or Password help contact UMN Help Desk, HELP@umn.edu, 612-301-4357.
Help Videos:
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NOTE: The canvas link they are referring to is only for online classes, not "in person" classes.
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INSTRUCTORS:
Laura Baxley, retired landscape horticulture specialist and habitat gardener. She is a triple biome Minnesota Master Naturalist and Volunteer Site Steward at Lost Valley Prairie SNA.
Zan Tomko is an artist and MN Master Naturalist instructor. She directs the MN Lichen Map Project and MN Lichen Trails and writes a nature column for MN Landscape Arboretum.
The course cost is $50 and includes course manuals and supplies.
Course Dates:
Meeting from 9:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. on:
- Friday, April 17, 2026
Instructor Information
Always balancing between art and horticulture, Zan taught computer graphic design at Illinois Central College, Peoria High School and American Indian OIC. Previously, she was a program manager in horticulture and conservation for Fon du lac Park district in East Peoria, IL, where she promoted U of I Master Gardener & Junior Master Gardener programs. Before that she was a staff photographer & editor at State Farm Insurance, Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Audubon Magazine.
She has a bachelor’s degree in K-12 Art Education from Eastern Illinois University and a Masters in Fine Arts Photography from Illinois State. She has MN teaching license, Master Gardener’s designation from Purdue and University of IL and is currently a horticulture student at Hennepin Technical College.
Sponsor Information
Minnesota Master Naturalist
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