Nora Sherwood
Portraying Nature to Educate and Inspire
​
"In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand,
and we will understand only what we are taught." – Baba Dioum
Meet Nora and learn a little about her approach.
Nice things said by nice people...Â
“Studying with Nora continues to increase my observational skills. She is very generous with sharing techniques.”
– Mary Jo
“Nora is extremely knowledgeable and also fun! She is well prepared and responsive to the students in her classes. She can cater to a wide range of skill levels, from beginner to advanced. I highly recommend her!”
– Bernadette
“Nora classes are packed with creative skills that she shares with enthusiasm and skill. We learn specific skills and then she enhances each class with wonderful tips and artist tricks. She has a way of encouraging us as artists, and finding all the best features of our work. Motivating”
– Ginevra
“I absolutely loved Nora's class. She was well prepared and enthusiastically shared her knowledge. I cannot wait to do another class with her.”
– Ria
“I have taken a number of classes from Nora, some in person and some on Zoom. Her zoom classes were so inspirational during lockdown of Covid. Not only did we learn new skills, but she incorporated the social aspect of in-person classes. I’m looking forward to more of her classes on Zoom this winter and classes at Sitka next summer.”
– Cathy
Nora’s workshops are for everyone; beginner and pro alike. No matter if you’ve never held a paintbrush, or if you’ve been an artist for 40 years, there is always something new to learn from each class. She makes it fun and easy for everyone!
– Lorrie
“I have been extremely fortunate to be able to take many workshops from Nora in person and by zoom. I always learn such interesting information and skills. Nora is a skilled teacher and provides great materials and clear instruction. It is just a delight to learn from Nora.”
– Debbie
Upcoming 2026 workshops
Botanical Illustrations in Watercolor
Botanical subjects are perfectly suited to the luminous beauty of watercolor!
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to harness the unique strengths of the medium to create elegant and expressive plant portraits.
Topics include the characteristics of watercolor—such as staining, transparency, granulation, and pigment behavior—and how understanding your paints can elevate your illustrations. You’ll also explore the value of graphite studies and how they support the planning and composition of your artwork.
This three-day workshop welcomes anyone interested in refining their skills in traditional botanical illustration. Through hands-on practice, you’ll develop techniques in composition, working from live specimens, layering and glazing, creating convincing three-dimensional form, and capturing natural curls and overlaps with precision and grace.
​
Registration will be available for the workshop on forest subjects and textures in late February. Here's a little preview of what will be offered:
​
From an illustrator's perspective, forests are a collection of textures and surfaces on objects big and small, just waiting to be captured. From little spruce cones, shiny mushrooms and soft moss to bushes and enormous trees, there's a lot of artistic inspiration in Oregon's coastal forests that surround the Sitka Center's campus. You'll have an opportunity to observe and collect subject matter right outside the studio door. This workshop is an opportunity to learn how to combine observation skills, watercolor techniques and a love of the forest into nature portraits that capture the feeling of being in the woods.
Many people benefit from personalized help in their learning journey. Here is a basic package that includes one-on-one instruction (most likely via Zoom as we probably live in different places, but in-person is great, too, if you can make it my studio), feedback, coaching, etc. The sessions provide enough flexibility and structure to offer the opportunity to level up your technical abilities. Includes:
1. Meeting to discuss your goals and challenges
2. A customized program of exercises and projects based on your needs
3. Five subsequent weekly meetings that will include working together on your projects, critiquing your work, and giving technical assistance to help you level up
4. Email help through the week while you work on your projects
5. Open studio/drop in group session every Wednesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Pacific most weeks of the year
​
In order to manage my own bandwidth challenges and make sure quality remains high, I only take on two people for 1:1 coaching at a time. Each of you will be on your own, individual track, and I will be meeting with you separately. You can sign up at any time, but we'll work together to schedule your sessions to accommodate everyone's schedule. Cost is $360.
​
(Materials will vary for different workshops, but this is a comprehensive list of most of the materials I use.