Supported by the Friends of the Monmouth County Library

Presented by Teaching Artist Jenny Santa Maria

Unearth a Story: An Adult Studio Series Inspired by Prehistory: Pines in Pencil: Turtle & Orchid Study 

Registration is limited. Please Register for either the AM or PM session. If signed up for both and spaces fill, you may be asked to drop a session.
All materials will be provided.   

New Jersey’s protected Pine Barrens—one of the East Coast’s largest preserved forests—becomes the focus of our final lesson. We’ll pay homage to our home state’s distinctive landscape, an ecosystem ancient in geological terms and shaped by sandy coastal plain deposits and fire ecology. Using Prismacolor pencils, participants will create colorful renderings of two beloved inhabitants: the Eastern box turtle and the native lady slipper orchid. The turtle belongs to a lineage that first appears in the fossil record more than 220 million years ago, making it a living link to the prehistoric world. Participants can expect step-by-step guidance, references, a warm and encouraging environment, and quality supplies. No prerequisite skills required- all are welcome.

About the presenter: Jenny Santa Maria is a multifaceted talent as a teaching artist, art coach, and exhibiting artist from Farmingdale, NJ. Her work has garnered recognition in various esteemed publications, including Jersey Shore Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Throughout her extensive career, Jenny has touched the lives of a wide-ranging audience, both within traditional classroom settings and beyond. After a decade of teaching, she drew on her experience in special education to become an art coach, empowering individuals who struggle with perfectionism, self-doubt, and anxiety to see their creative potential. Her dedication to creative empowerment has led her to work in diverse environments, from retreat centers and libraries to art museums and galleries nationwide.