I can provide both in-person and live, online presentations for both youth and adult audiences for meetings, festivals, and conferences. If your organization would like to inquire about inviting me to speak at your event or to give a workshop, please CONTACT me. You may also find my official bio and high-resolution images for publicity on my MEDIA page. My fee is on a sliding scale starting with a suggested honorarium of $250 plus travel expenses.
Selected organizations I’ve spoken for
- Toucan Rescue Ranch, Costa Rica
- Audubon Society Chapters in Oregon, Nevada, California
- Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference, California
- Flyfishers of Central Oregon
- Western Field Ornithologists, California
- BirdsCaribbean, Jamaica
- California Native Plant Society, California
- Vallarta Bird and Nature Festival, Mexico
- Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society, California
- Guild of Natural Science Illustrators; Washington, Wisconsin, and Montana annual conferences
Sample Presentation
Title: From Stick Figures to Songbirds: Mastering Quick Techniques for Nature Sketching
Can’t draw a stick figure or a straight line? Great, because there are very few of those in nature! All kidding aside, join naturalist and artist Christine Elder, who believes that anyone can learn the basics of realistic drawing. It doesn’t take ‘talent’ or years of practice. Christine will teach you her ‘Six-step Roadmap to Sketching Success’ that will give you the skills and confidence to start sketching realistic plants and animals in a jiffy. Whether you’d love to sketch songbirds in your backyard or wildflowers in a meadow, the tips you learn in this workshop will serve you well. Even if you’ve never tried sketching before, by the end of this workshop you’ll have learned practical and easy to remember techniques for capturing the essence of nature’s beauty.
Who this workshop is for: This is a great workshop for any nature lover who would enjoy sketching in nature. It’s also great for environmental educators, science teachers and homeschooling parents who’d love to incorporate observational drawing activities into their curricula as a way to deepen their understanding of the biology, ecology, and anatomy of that which they’re studying.
Testimonials
Christine Elder has a refreshingly welcoming approach to teaching about birds through art that reflects her obvious passion for wildlife and conservation of our natural environment. Whether at her home in Oregon or visiting us deep in the tropics at the Vallarta Botanical Garden, she has a marvelous potential to connect people with birds in a rich and meaningful way.
-Neil Gerlowski, Executive Director, Vallarta Botanical Garden
Christine gave excellent presentations at the 2022 Winter Wings Festival in Klamath Falls Oregon. Our attendees gave us very positive feedback on all her offerings, and we would be thrilled to have her participate again at our festival.
-Anne Wenner, Winter Wings Birding Festival
Christine’s classes are inspiring and informative. With each topic, she engages her students with information and connection to the topic and then she shows us how to draw the animal or plant in a way that is applicable to other organisms as well. I really appreciate her enthusiasm and passion for learning about nature. I highly recommend her classes.
-Rima Givot, Sisters High School, Oregon
