In-person Art Class: Sketching Birds 101 with Jess Michetti, April 8th

 

Sketch: Sketching Birds 101 by Jess Michetti

Wednesday, April 8, 2026
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Fee: Members $12.00, Nonmembers $23.00

National Wildlife Federation Building
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190

Click here for Registration and Sign-up

About the course:

In the spirit of Draw A Bird Day (04/08/2026), students will use pencils, pens and copy paper to enjoy drawing birds – together! This event celebrates drawing birds as a way to enjoy the challenge of putting pencil to paper and learn something about our subject along the way.

Draw A Bird Day began in the UK in the 1940s when a young girl asked her wounded uncle to draw a bird for her while visiting him in the hospital. He obliged, and the girl told him he was not a good artist and laughed. The simple act of drawing and sharing lifted his spirits, and from then on, he and others in the hospital drew birds together every time the girl would visit, taking their minds off their injuries and bringing a bit of joy to the hospital ward. Draw a Bird Day is celebrated every year on her birthday, April 8.

Students will talk about materials and techniques along the way as we draw an American Robin together, step-by-step. Absolutely no experience is required, and all skill levels are welcome!

About the Speaker

Jess Michetti is the graphic designer and artist behind Good Goose Graphics. She’s an avid bird watcher, and birds are her favorite subject to draw. She shares her highly detailed colored pencil drawings online and at northern Virginia area art shows throughout the year and hopes that her work inspires viewers to slow down, notice and care for the beauty of nature all around them…to choose wonder.