Reconnect with your creativity through Summer Camp at the Stevie, a five-part workshop series that invites adults (age 16+) to experience art making through the senses. Set in the Wende Museum’s Stevie Artist Residence garden oasis, each Sunday workshop explores one of the five senses through a different creative practice, from watercolor painting and basket weaving to ceramics, botanical incense making, and traditional food preservation.

Inspired by the spirit of summer camp, the series encourages participants to slow down, notice the world around them, and engage with natural materials in meaningful ways. Together, we’ll observe the colors of the landscape, listen through handmade instruments, weave with plant fibers, create fragrances from botanicals, and preserve seasonal ingredients, discovering how creativity can deepen our relationship to the environment and one another.

Designed for artists and beginners alike, Summer Camp at the Stevie celebrates making by hand as a pathway to mindfulness, curiosity, and community. Whether you attend a single workshop or join us for the full series, you’ll leave with new skills, meaningful connections, and a renewed appreciation for the beauty found in the natural world.

What is the Stevie?

Tucked away on the southwestern side of the Wende Museum’s Community Center, the Stevie is a “tiny house” turned creative outpost. Surrounded by palms and desert landscaping, it serves as both an artist residency space and an intimate venue for programs, gatherings, and experimental events on its expansive outdoor deck. The Stevie was made possible by a transformative contribution from Steve and Jadwiga Markoff.

Workshop Description: SIGHT | Watercolor & Nature Observation with Anne Pearce

Slow down and see the garden with fresh eyes. Guided by artist Anne Pearce, participants will explore watercolor as a tool for observation, creating paintings inspired by the colors, textures, and forms found throughout the Wende Museum’s garden. Through simple exercises in color mixing, composition, and mark making, this workshop encourages careful looking and mindful creativity. No prior painting experience is required.

Artist Bio

Anne Pearce is a Los Angeles-based artist whose work explores memory, ecology, and our evolving relationship with the natural environment. Working primarily in watercolor and drawing, Pearce creates contemplative works that invite viewers to notice the quiet details of everyday landscapes. Her teaching practice emphasizes observation, experimentation, and the joy of creative discovery.