This reflective creative workshop invites participants to slow down and observe the desert landscape through writing and drawing. Set against the backdrop of changing light at Live Oak, the experience will encourage mindful engagement with the environment as participants explore plant life, geological forms, and the subtle textures of the desert. Artist and graphic novelist Aidan Koch will guide participants through exercises to strengthen observation skills and help translate sensory experiences into personal creative expression.

Whether sketching or journaling, participants are encouraged to interpret the landscape in their own style rather than focusing on technical accuracy. The experience is designed to be calming, inspiring, and accessible, offering a meaningful way to connect with the desert at sunset.

The workshop takes place at Live Oak Picnic Area in Joshua Tree National Park.
Anyone may attend! No expertise or experience is required. Youth under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Entry to Joshua Tree National Park is not included in the cost of enrollment. Please purchase your park pass ahead of time by visiting the NPS website.
No meals or equipment are provided.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation; carpooling with other participants is encouraged.

This class is leisurely. It requires less than 2 miles of walking, limited shade, uneven terrain, and little elevation gain. Hiking and walking are not required and can be modified to accommodate participants.

Required Items:

Water (a minimum of 1 liter per person)
Appropriate hiking attire: Layers are recommended for low temperatures
Food and snacks
Closed-toe athletic shoes
Sun protection: A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are recommended
Daypack
Notebook or sketchbook
Preferred writing and/or sketching utensils
Camera (optional for taking reference shots)
A full tank of gas (or full charge for EVs) prior to arriving at the meeting location

Discount Policy: Only one discount may be applied per registration. Discounts cannot be combined. Eligible discounts include Friends & Family, Teacher, Veteran, Active Duty Military (and spouses), Park Lover Member, and Student discounts. The highest applicable single discount will be applied at checkout.

Meet Your Instructor: Aidan Koch is an artist and graphic novelist based in Landers, California. Her work is focused on ecological storytelling. Koch has exhibited across the United States and Europe, and her most recent book, Spiral and Other Stories, was published in 2024 by New York Review Comics. www.aidankoch.com | @aidanalexiskoch

Photo Credit: NPS/Hannah Schwalbe

Contact the host of Sunset Journaling & Sketching Field Workshop