Friday, August 28, 2026
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Hoffman Center for the Arts and Manzanita Beach
Slow down, look closely, and spend an afternoon sketching the coast with artist, educator, and naturalist Dorota Haber-Lehigh. In this workshop, participants will walk together from the Hoffman Center to Manzanita Beach, where Dorota will guide the group through close observation of the shoreline. You will practice outdoor sketching techniques while paying attention to movement, weather, light, water, and the changing shapes of the coastal landscape.
After sketching outdoors, the group will return to the Hoffman Center to develop field sketches into finished or substantially developed artworks using watercolor and sepia ink. Dorota will offer instruction and support throughout the process, with an emphasis on curiosity, observation, and expressive mark-making. No experience is necessary. This workshop is a good fit for beginners, returning artists, nature lovers, and anyone who wants to practice ways of seeing!
All materials are provided. If you have your own sketching or watercolor supplies, you're welcome to bring those.
Please dress for changing coastal weather. A weatherproof jacket or windbreaker, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and a water bottle are recommended. You may also want to bring snacks or lunch.
A small folding stool, beach towel, or portable seat is optional, especially if you prefer not to sit or kneel on the sand.
This workshop includes a walk of several blocks between the Hoffman Center and Manzanita Beach, plus time working on sand or near the beach entrance.
If weather makes the beach walk less feasible, Dorota will lead an indoor version of the workshop.
Teens aged 15 to 19 attend free with coupon code YOUTH.
About the artist
Dorota Haber-Lehigh is an artist, educator, and naturalist with a passion for the native plants of the Pacific Northwest. Born in Poland, she often depicts regional flora, drawing attention to its sculptural beauty and to the fragility of nature and human life.
She holds degrees in art and international studies with a focus on Indigenous cultures, a master’s degree in teaching, and a graduate bilingual certificate in teaching English as a second language. She taught art and English as a second language for 27 years. In 2019, Dorota earned a Diploma in Botanical Illustration from the Society of Botanical Artists in London. She is a member of Oregon Botanical Artists, Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists, and the American Society of Botanical Artists.
Hoffman Center classes and events are often photographed or filmed, and we love sharing those moments on our social media, website, and newsletter so people can get a feel for what it's like to create and connect here. By registering, you agree to be included in images of the event you have registered for. If you would prefer not to appear in images, please tell a staff member when you arrive.
Friday, August 28, 2026
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Hoffman Center for the Arts and Manzanita Beach
Slow down, look closely, and spend an afternoon sketching the coast with artist, educator, and naturalist Dorota Haber-Lehigh. In this workshop, participants will walk together from the Hoffman Center to Manzanita Beach, where Dorota will guide the group through close observation of the shoreline. You will practice outdoor sketching techniques while paying attention to movement, weather, light, water, and the changing shapes of the coastal landscape.
After sketching outdoors, the group will return to the Hoffman Center to develop field sketches into finished or substantially developed artworks using watercolor and sepia ink. Dorota will offer instruction and support throughout the process, with an emphasis on curiosity, observation, and expressive mark-making. No experience is necessary. This workshop is a good fit for beginners, returning artists, nature lovers, and anyone who wants to practice ways of seeing!
All materials are provided. If you have your own sketching or watercolor supplies, you're welcome to bring those.
Please dress for changing coastal weather. A weatherproof jacket or windbreaker, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and a water bottle are recommended. You may also want to bring snacks or lunch.
A small folding stool, beach towel, or portable seat is optional, especially if you prefer not to sit or kneel on the sand.
This workshop includes a walk of several blocks between the Hoffman Center and Manzanita Beach, plus time working on sand or near the beach entrance.
If weather makes the beach walk less feasible, Dorota will lead an indoor version of the workshop.
Teens aged 15 to 19 attend free with coupon code YOUTH.
About the artist
Dorota Haber-Lehigh is an artist, educator, and naturalist with a passion for the native plants of the Pacific Northwest. Born in Poland, she often depicts regional flora, drawing attention to its sculptural beauty and to the fragility of nature and human life.
She holds degrees in art and international studies with a focus on Indigenous cultures, a master’s degree in teaching, and a graduate bilingual certificate in teaching English as a second language. She taught art and English as a second language for 27 years. In 2019, Dorota earned a Diploma in Botanical Illustration from the Society of Botanical Artists in London. She is a member of Oregon Botanical Artists, Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists, and the American Society of Botanical Artists.
Hoffman Center classes and events are often photographed or filmed, and we love sharing those moments on our social media, website, and newsletter so people can get a feel for what it's like to create and connect here. By registering, you agree to be included in images of the event you have registered for. If you would prefer not to appear in images, please tell a staff member when you arrive.
