Watercolour workshop – Naturalist Illustration in the Ecuadorian Choco

Early morning in Quito, where we will meet with the rest of the students and teachers and take the transportation to our first stop. During the trip, we will have an introduction to the profession of naturalist illustrator.

This day, the Guayllabamba Zoo will be our study site. We will easily observe some species accustomed to human presence to understand the basics of naturalist drawing.

We will start with a guided exploration of these techniques for drawing wildlife, while learning to observe and represent the characteristics of different species. First we will focus on drawing, working on proportions and volumes, and then explore the use of color and watercolor.

At the end of the day, we will continue our journey north toward the city of Otavalo.

On this day we will visit the Condor Park, a bird of prey sanctuary that houses a great diversity of samples in rehabilitation or rescued from the illegal market. It will be an excellent opportunity to deepen our ornithological drawing techniques.

We will observe emblematic specimens of various owl and eagle species, including the famous harpy eagle. The park will allow us to study the anatomical details of these species as well as their movements and behaviors, alternating between quick sketches and detailed studies.

An introduction to watercolor nuances will enrich our drawings through studies of patterns and colors specific to each species.

If time and weather allow it, we may visit one of the region's large lagoons to enjoy a relaxing afternoon while sketching these vast open landscapes. We will then head to Antisana Park, where we will spend the night.

The majestic Antisana Volcano will be an ideal setting for drawing high-altitude wildlife in its natural habitat. We will attempt to sketch Andean condors in flight, as well as white-tailed deer, Andean ibises, caracaras, and other species typical of these landscapes.

We will also create our first landscape compositions, inspired by the ochre and beige tones of the wind-swept steppes. Weather permitting, we will draw near La Mica Lagoon to experiment with telescope-based observation techniques.

In these landscapes explored by the famous Humboldt, we will reflect on how such long observations may have inspired some of the most revolutionary scientific theories!

This morning we will head to the Pululahua Volcano and its cultivated crater. From its slopes, we will find the perfect spot to focus on landscape illustration. Facing this epic panorama, we will learn to create depth by layering watercolor tones.

After lunch, we will visit a botanical reserve in Pahuma to study and paint local orchids. The reserve’s collection will allow us to concentrate on the delicate details of these fascinating flowers.

Finally, we will head to the Bellavista Reserve, where we will spend the next few days.

We will begin our exploration of the cloud forest at the Bellavista reserve. This region is one of the world’s richest in biodiversity, offering endless subjects to illustrate.

The day starts with a hike along the reserve's trails to sketch some of the most iconic bird species of this area, such as toucans, quetzals, and motmots. We will also make the most out of the hummingbird feeders to work on advanced techniques for capturing movement and iridescent colors.

It is not uncommon for some mammals, such as the olingo and the tayra, to appear near the feeding stations. We will use this opportunity to practice proportions with expert guidance from our guide.

We will have the morning to continue enjoying this unique place and its abundance of life to illustrate. Depending on our progress from the previous day, we may focus more on techniques to capture the dense vegetation and misty atmospheres of the region.

After lunch, we will take the road to Mindo for our next stop.

The day will begin with a hike to the heights of the town, which gives us an opportunity to observe additional bird species for our sketchbooks. We will then visit the Nambillo Waterfall, where we will learn how to represent the movement of the river’s water using pigments in our sketchbooks.

The afternoon will be dedicated to studying butterflies at the butterfly farm, where we will explore their anatomy, patterns, and unique colors through drawing and watercolor. We will practice specific techniques for illustrating these insects.

This morning we will complete our final illustrations and add finishing touches to our travel sketchbooks. Teachers will be available to answer any last technical questions.

By late morning, we will board our bus back to Quito, concluding this unique experience.