SAMO Field Institute Presents: Drawn to the Wild

Step into a living landscape where art becomes a way of seeing and ecology becomes something you can feel.

Drawn to the Wild is a three-hour immersive experience that brings together biologists, artists, and community to explore the natural world through both science and creative practice. Designed for all skill levels, this gathering invites you to slow down, observe closely, and translate what you see into something tangible.

Throughout the day, you’ll have the opportunity to move between guided Art + Ecology classes, each centered on a specific species or element of the ecosystem. Each session begins with a 20-minute talk from field experts—including National Park Service biologists, the SAMO Fund restoration team, and a professor from Pasadena City College offering insight into the life, behavior, and role of each species within the landscape.

These scientific insights will then be made into art through a 30-minute guided art session led by artists, where you can choose your medium and approach:

• Watercolor pre-drawn wildlife illustrations
• Clay impressions of animal tracks
• Linocut and stamp printing (on paper or clothing you bring)
• Freehand sketching and observational drawing

Beyond the classes, the space will also come alive with:

• Live plein air painters capturing the landscape in real time
• A chalk artist transforming the ground into a living canvas
• An open community drawing table with reference materials and space to create freely
• A curated art gallery + marketplace, featuring work by local artists available for purchase

We encourage you to bring:

• Clothing or fabric to print on
• A blanket to sit and settle into the landscape
• Your sketchbook or art materials (optional—supplies will also be provided)

This event is free and open to all ages. Proceeds from art sales support both participating artists and ongoing wildlife research and restoration efforts.

Come as you are! Curious, creative, or simply looking for a new way to experience the wild.
Leave with new knowledge, new skills, and a deeper relationship to the living world around you.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Santa Monica Mountains Fund