When should I arrive?

Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your start time and check in at the Welcome Desk.

Are supplies provided?

Yes — all graphite and colored pencils plus basic paper and materials are provided for the workshop.

Do I need prior drawing experience?

No — the workshop is suitable for all skill levels; the instructor covers foundational techniques.

What is the minimum age?

Participants must be at least 14 years old; those ages 14–17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Is the facility accessible?

Yes — the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center is wheelchair accessible; request accommodations when registering.

How do I reserve a spot?

Reserve through the provided booking link; space is limited and materials are allocated per registrant.

Drawing Sandhill Cranes at Rowe Sanctuary: MONA Workshop with Lois Smith | Workshop | Museum

On a crisp Platte River morning, the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary, 44450 Elm Island Rd in Gibbon, Nebraska, becomes a classroom where sky and paper meet. The MONA Art Workshop - Wings of Elegance: A Study in Line and Color with Lois Smith - is a hands-on, two-hour drawing session that transforms field observation into refined studio technique. Using graphite to build structure and colored pencils to layer hue and texture, participants learn to capture the long-necked poses and wing shapes that define Sandhill Cranes. The workshop is held inside the center's studio adjacent to river-view trails and observation blinds, so artists can move between looking outdoors and working at the easel. Key features of the scene include the Platte River's broad sandbars, the marshy backwaters that host roosting birds, and the crane's distinctive silhouettes against open sky. Geologically this region is part of the Great Plains river plain, where seasonal flows shift sandbars and create habitat; ecologically it supports migratory corridors and waterfowl concentrations that artists can study on-site. Lois Smith, a Nebraska studio artist and past president of the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs, teaches practical techniques for proportion, feather layering, and color relationships influenced by the local landscape. All art supplies are provided, so you can travel light and focus on learning. The class accepts students ages fourteen and up; youths must be accompanied by a guardian, and the facility is wheelchair accessible with accommodations available upon request. What makes this workshop special is the convergence of art instruction, museum-level perspective from the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA), and immediate access to living subjects during crane season. Rowe Sanctuary's longstanding role in Sandhill Crane conservation turns the lesson into a deeper encounter with a migratory phenomenon - the nightly lift-offs, the layered calls, and the river channels that sustain them. That sense of place elevates a studio exercise into a sensory study of movement, texture, and composition. Practical tips: check in at the Welcome Desk 10-15 minutes before start, plan for a two-hour session, and bring layered clothing - mornings along Elm Island Road can be brisk. Consider pairing the workshop with an early-morning crane viewing or a walk on nearby trails to gather reference sketches. Whether you're a visiting birder, a student of natural history, or an artist seeking new subject matter, Wings of Elegance offers a clear, place-based path to improving observational drawing while honoring the Platte River's seasonal rhythms. Tickets are $30 per person (ages fourteen and up); space is limited, so reserve your spot through the registration link provided by Rowe Sanctuary and MONA to ensure materials and seating. Arrive early to browse exhibits and stretch before class; the center's staff are happy to help during visits.

About Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon, Nebraska, is a conservation and education site operated by Audubon dedicated to protecting the Platte River ecosystem and its migrating Sandhill Cranes. The center manages habitat restoration, scientific monitoring, and public programs that connect visitors with river, wetland, and prairie species.

Rowe Sanctuary hosts seasonal Crane Season events, offering guided crane viewing from accessible indoor and outdoor vantage points where thousands of Sandhill Cranes funnel along the Platte River at sunset. Programs include art workshops, accessible nature journaling, and special cultural events that blend storytelling, conservation, and hands-on learning.

Rowe Sanctuary partners with artists, researchers, and community leaders to present experiences such as the MONA Art Workshop: Dances of the Cranes with Susan Hart; Birdability Indoor Crane Viewing Experience; Birdability & Rowe: Accessible Nature Journaling Workshop; and Braided in Unison, a public event featuring author Amy Tan and conservation experts. Each offering emphasizes habitat preservation, visitor accessibility, and interpretive education about migratory birds and river dynamics.

Facilities at the center are designed to welcome diverse audiences, with accessible viewing areas and inclusive programming led by trained staff and volunteers. Education programs serve families, students, and conservation supporters, while fundraising events support ongoing land stewardship. Visitors can expect expert interpretation, panoramic river views, and opportunities to support the protection of the Platte River’s braided ecosystem.

The visitor center includes interpretive exhibits, educational displays, staff-led programs highlighting local ecology and research initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and ways for visitors to support ongoing conservation efforts.

Drawing Sandhill Cranes at Rowe Sanctuary: MONA Workshop with Lois Smith

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