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A Year of Drawing Birds with Julia Posey (Jan. 30, 2025) • John Muir Laws
What would happen if you drew a bird a day for a year? Julia Posey joins John Muir Laws to share her experiences.
In 2020, as the world was shutting down and humans were staying put, birds kept right about their business, following migrations and great journeys, stopping in our yards and lingering outside our windows. Inspired by an online class by John Muir Laws and something artist Calida Garcia Rawles said, Julia Posey decided to observe birds more closely and challenge herself to translate her observations to the page. She took on A Year of Drawing Birds in 2020, drawing a bird a day. That was the only requirement. The drawing did not need to be “good”, it just needed to be done. To all those who are curious about taking on a sustained project or already have a project under their belt, please join us in conversation. We’ll explore how to stay motivated. Tips on showing up. And the surprising growth and revelations enjoyed when we challenge ourselves to a sustained project and stick with it.
Julia Posey is a writer and artist living in Los Angeles who maintains a studio practice. She wrote the guide book 111 Things You Must Not Miss in Los Angeles, which of course includes some bird nerd things to experience in the City of Angeles. When asked her favorite bird, she alternates between Bewick’s Wren, California Thrasher and The One I’m Looking at Right Now. She is at work on an illustrated biography of Theodore Payne, a champion of California native plants.
An important message from Julia:
Instead of donating to me today, please consider helping one of these families that have been impacted by the Eaton Fire. These are all friends of Julia Posey from Work, Preschool to High School who have been impacted by the fire.
Melissa “Lyssa” Valentine De La Torre Multigenerational Family