Shows and Upcoming Teaching

Want to study on your own?Check out my YouTube recordings here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTEzK_8g814Questions about your work or class recording?Email me!

Drawing and Painting the American Beauty Rose10:30 am to Noon Saturday, April 18th, 2026

Suitable for All Teen and Adult Learners
Beginners and experienced artists can discover the beauty of roses! In this workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of botanical drawing by working with line, shape, and value to create the illusion of form. Tricks for accurate visual measurement, revealing botanical anatomy, and creating balanced compositions will be demonstrated. And don’t worry, we will discuss how to avoid beginner mistakes and the fear of the blank sketchbook page. We will even take a peek at color basics! So grab your pencils and sketchbook, and let’s spend the morning drawing beautiful roses together!

Upcoming Online through the United States Botanic Gardens:Part of their Newest On-Site Exhibit: Fierce Flora

Drawing Carnivorous Plants10:30 am to Noon Saturday, March 21st, 2026

Suitable for All Adult Learners
Beginners and experienced artists can discover the weird and wonderful world of carnivorous plants! Their unique botanical structures make carnivorous plants terrifyingly terrific drawing subjects. Despite their ferocious appearance, these drawing subjects don’t bite or move very fast, and provide a great opportunity to develop your artistic eye for detail, proportion, and balance. In this workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of botanical drawing by working with line, shape, and value to create the illusion of form. Tricks for accurate visual measurement, revealing botanical anatomy, and creating balanced compositions will be demonstrated as well. And don’t worry, we will discuss how to avoid sticky artistic problems and the monstrous fear of the blank sketchbook page. We will even take a peek at color basics! So grab your pencils and sketchbook, and let’s spend the morning drawing fierce flora together!

Autumn at Jefferson Patterson Park: Part of their Art in the Garden Series

Drawing and Painting Autumn LeavesSaturday, October 25th, 9am-2pm

Immerse yourself in the beauty and history of Patterson House and Gardens with our Art in the Garden workshop. Begin with a guided tour of the gardens, uncovering their historical significance, diverse flora, and sustainable practices. Following the tour, enjoy a hands-on art session where Mary Ellen will guide you in capturing the fall essence through watercolor. This workshop welcomes artists of all skill levels, with all materials provided. Leave inspired, with your own artwork and a deeper connection to this enchanting landscape. Appropriate for ages 16 and up. Pre-registration required.

Spring 2025: Animal Drawing Workshops at the Calvert Marine Museum

The Art of Drawing Mammals2 pm- 4 pmSunday, March 9th, 2025

Learn about the lives and habits of our native mammals with a naturalist talk, followed by an art workshop where you can learn how to draw our local animals! Beginner and experienced artists, 16 years and older, will enjoy this workshop! All supplies and instructions are included. Participants will be able to take home their original drawings at the end!

The Art of Drawing Warblers7 pm- 9 pmThursday, April 3, 2025

Learn about the lives and habits of our native warblers with a naturalist talk, followed by an art workshop where you can learn how to draw our beautiful warblers! Beginner and experienced artists, 16 years and older, will enjoy this workshop! All supplies and instructions are included. Participants will be able to take home their original drawings at the end!
The Art of Drawing Warblers, is held in cooperation with the Southern Maryland Osprey Festival event.

Summer 2025: Art in the Garden at Jefferson Patterson Park

9 am- 2 pmSaturday, June 7th, 2025

Immerse yourself in the beauty and history of Patterson House and Gardens with our Art in the Garden workshop, led by acclaimed artist Mary Ellen Carsley. Begin with a guided tour of the gardens, uncovering their historical significance, diverse flora, and sustainable practices. Following the tour, enjoy a hands-on art session where Mary Ellen will guide you in capturing the garden’s essence through watercolor. This workshop welcomes artists of all skill levels, with all materials provided. Leave inspired, with your own artwork and a deeper connection to this enchanting landscape. Appropriate for ages 16 and up.

The Basics of Botanical Watercolor10:30 am- 12:30 pmSaturday, June 8th, 2024from the United States Botanic Gardens OnlineFeaturing the Black-Eyed Susan!For preview check out my Workshop Resource Page.The program is free but, pre-registration is required.

Want a seek preview?
Check out My Workshop Resource Page and scroll down

The Basics of Botanical Drawing

10:30a.m.-12:30a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2024
United States Botanical Gardens Online

Beginners and experienced artists can celebrate the beauty of spring by learning the basics of botanical drawing and the practice of keeping a sketchbook. Drawing botanical subjects is one of the best ways to develop your eye for form, composition, and color, but it can be challenging to find the time and space for practice. In this online art workshop, participants will learn how line, shape, and value work together to create form as well as develop skills with measurement, proportion, and composition. We will even take a peek at color basics! This is an exciting new way to stay engaged with your artistic practice, grow your skills, and create a sketchbook that will bloom before your eyes.
Suggested materials list:<ul style="color:rgb(99, 99, 99)"><li>A multi-media sketchbook or drawing paper, at least 9"x11"</li><li>2B or 4B lead pencil, and a 2H pencil</li><li>1 small pocket pencil sharpener </li><li>1 pink eraser</li><li>1 small kneaded eraser</li><li>1 "stump" or tortillon </li><li>Optional: Basic Watercolor Set (art student grade will be fine; please avoid "grade school" kits)</li></ul> Intended Audience: Adult Beginners: Suitable for budding learners, this program contains introductory level information for getting started on the topic.

The Art of Drawing Birds of Prey

An In-Person Workshop at The Calvert Marine Museum

Sunday, January 28, 2024
Learn about the lives and habits of our native birds of prey with a naturalist talk followed by an art workshop where you can learn how to draw birds of prey! Beginner and experienced artists, 16 years and older, will enjoy this workshop! All supplies and instructions are included. Participants will be able to take home their original drawings!

Drawing and Painting Hummingbirds andTrumpet Flowers10:30am to NoonSaturday, November 4th, 2023An online workshop through theUnited States Botanic Gardens

Drawing and Painting Orchids10:30 am to NoonSaturday, April 22, 2023An online workshop through the United States Botanic Gardens

Drawing Plants and Pollinators10:30 am to 12:30 pmSaturday, May 20, 2023An online workshop through the United States Botanic Gardens

Delaware Valley Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers Show: Blue

Blue Book Project: Blue is many things; a color with lots of variety, a mood, a style of music, a political party. Everyone, even the nonsighted, possesses a special receptor that senses blue light. Blue light sets our circadian rhythm, our waking hours regulated by blue.

So excited to have a book I created (including calligraphy and illustration) accepted into a Guild Show! If you are in the Philadelphia area, stay tuned for physical location of the show.

Artist's Walk and Talk
5pm, Friday, June 9th, 2023
City of Philadelphia, Office of the Arts
City Hall

Blue Jays
is a traditional Japanese album with metallic flecked and grass with petals mulberry paper on 90 lbs. Arches watercolor paper with silk tie. Original watercolors of birds are painted over hand calligraphed Poem 51 by Emily Dickinson. Each panel is 16"x 4"

Online United States Botanic GardensWinter Workshops 2023Drawing and Painting Pine Trees and Branches10 am to Noon, Saturday, January 21, 2023andDrawing and Painting Pinecones10 am to Noon Saturday, February 18, 2023

Beginners and experienced artists alike can celebrate the winter season by learning how to draw and paint pine trees and branches! In this online workshop, you can discover fundamental drawing skills, gain confidence in representing the natural world on paper, and learn basic watercolor techniques and a few pro tips to help you capture the beauty and vividness of these enchanting evergreens. You can continue to explore pines in the upcoming related program, How to Draw a Pine Cone, on February 18th. 

Please review the reference materials for are workshop here:
/workshops-resource-pages.html

Celebrate the Holiday Season withMaryland Master Gerdeners'Online Workshop:Drawing and Painting The Amaryllis

This two hour program will include a brief introduction to to medium of watercolor with demonstration of how to paint a flower in watercolor. Participants are encouraged to “draw and paint along.”
Fun facts about the amaryllis as well as advice on different watercolor techniques, basic composition, and keeping a “Gardener’s Sketchbook” will be included. The demonstration will be followed by a question and answer
session.

Please review the reference materials for are workshop here:
/workshops-resource-pages.html
It is recommended that you prepare one or two pencil sketches on watercolor paper as described on the workshop web reference page ahead of time. These will be available by the end of
November.

Online Workshop with US Botanic Gardens: 11:30 am- 1pm Saturday, June 11Basic Watercolor with Summer Flowers

Learn the fundamentals of watercolor media and techniques, as well as color theory while celebrating the beauty of summer's showy blooms. This workshop is for beginners, but those with some watercolor and drawing experience may enjoy it too. How to establish a regular artistic practice and keep a garden sketchbook will be presented as well. Students are strongly encouraged to review the instructor's website for Workshop Resources including recommended supplies, and introductory videos as preparation for the online experience since our time together online is limited!
/workshops-resource-pages.html

Learn Mokuhanga this Summer!Discover Graphics Atelier at the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA

Mokuhanga is the art of Japanese woodblock printing using water-based inks. Of all the traditional arts and techniques of Asia, these vibrant prints are probably the most widely known to the Western eye through their profound influence on the 19th Impressionist painters. This class is designed for beginner/intermediate students. Through the use of simple, natural, non-toxic materials students will learn the time-honored techniques of carving woodblocks and creating single and multi-color prints as well as how to print small editions.

Time: Saturdays 10am-2pm (4 hours)
Dates: June 18, June 25, July 9, and July 16 (four sessions)

Saturday, May 14th 2022:Drawing Bonsai WorkshopWorld Bonsai Day at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, DC

World Bonsai Day celebrates peace, friendship, and the beauty of bonsai. Bonsai can seem mysterious to both the admirer of these living works of art, and to the practitioner learning the art of shaping a tree. Both admirers and practitioners can benefit from the mindful practice of drawing. Join me in this hour-long in-person workshop to learn fundamental drawing skills and some of the principles which are used to help shape bonsai. All levels of experience in the visual arts are welcome, however, this workshop is focused upon the complete beginner. So don’t worry! No prior drawing or experience working with bonsai is necessary. All supplies are provided. We will be working together in the Yoshimura Center, rain or shine!
All you need is a willing hand, and an open heart to enjoy the practice of drawing as a way to deeply discover the beauty of bonsai.

Saturday, January 29th, 2022:Mitchell Gallery Ukiyo-e Exhibit and Workshop at St. John's College Annapolis

This workshop will provide in introduction mokuhanga, Japanese woodblock printing technique, used by the master artists in this exhibit. This is an in person workshop with limited enrollment.

2022 Winter Trees Workshop from the US Botanic Gardens is back!

Saturday, February 5th 11:30am-1 pm
DRAWING WINTER TREES this time with Water Soluble Pencils!

Drawing trees in winter is a great way for beginner and experienced artists to understand structure, scale, and proportion. Join me for this online art workshop as I demonstrates how to develop your style through compositional principles and techniques, from both Eastern and Western traditions, using water soluble pencils to create both beautiful lines and subtle washes!

2021 Fall Workshop Online from the US Botanic Gardens

Saturday, October 23rd 11:30 am-1 pm
Drawing and Painting Autumn Leaves
Beginners and experienced artists alike can celebrate the season by learning how to draw and paint autumn leaves! In this online workshop, you can discover fundamental drawing skills, gain confidence in representing the natural world on paper, and learn basic watercolor techniques and a few pro tips to help you capture the beauty and vividness of autumn.

To learn about what will be covered check out my on going updates on my Botanical Workshop Reference Page!

2021 Summer Workshop Online from US Botanic Gardens

Saturday, July 10th 11:30 am-1 pm
Drawing Cacti and Succulents in Colored Pencil
Beginner and experienced artists alike can learn how to draw their favorite houseplants in color! In this online workshop with Mary Ellen, discover fundamental drawing skills, access confidence in representing the natural world on paper, and learn techniques for working with color to help capture the beauty and vividness of cacti and succulents.

Peonies, 2019 Woodblock Reduction Print with hand painted Monotype details

Upcoming Virtual ExhibitINK IT: CONTEMPORARYPRINT PRACTICES at BlackRock Center for the ArtsFEB. 27 - APR 10, 2021

Biennial Printmaking Exhibit Juried by Susan J. Goldman Highlights Works by Artists from Across the Region
https://www.blackrockcenter.org/visual-arts

2021 Winter and Spring Workshops Online from US Botanic Gardens

Saturday, March 20th 11:30 am-12:30 pm
EARLY SPRING FLOWERS IN WATERCOLOR
Beginner and experienced artists can celebrate the beauty and color of spring during this online art workshop. Join me as I demonstrate how to create vibrant and lively paintings of field and garden favorites in watercolor. Discover watercolor and compositional techniques that will help you paint like a pro.

Saturday, February 6th 11:30am-12:30 pm
DRAWING WINTER TREES IN PENCIL AND INK
Drawing trees in winter is a great way for beginner and experienced artists to understand structure, scale, and proportion. Join me for this online art workshop as I demonstrates how to develop your style through compositional principles and techniques, from both Eastern and Western traditions, using both pencil and ink. I will also share pro tips on how to make media from botanical sources and create stained papers.

Couldn't make the workshop? Don't be disappointed! check out my Botanical Art and Design Page on this site!
Want to learn more? Contact me!

Corporate Connections at Maryland Federation of Art: Fall 2020

Two Upcoming Online Workshops from US Botanic Gardens

Celebrate Spring and learn to draw without ever having to leave home by attending one or both of these workshops! For details and registration click on the links below:

All you need are simple drawing materials for both workshops:
1 sketchpad 9”x 12” or acid-free drawing paper
1 2H pencil; 1 B pencil; 1 F pencil
1 set of permanent black ink drawing pens, nib sizes 01-07
Assorted sizes paper tortillions and/or stumps for blending
1 small pocket pencil sharpener
1 “pink pearl” or similar type eraser
1 kneaded eraser
1 colored pencil blender
1 set of 12 colored pencils

Questions? Contact me!

Six Works Three Digital Shows

View these shows digitally by clicking on the links below:

Art League Student Faculty Show at the Torpedo Factory

Dawn to Dusk, a wood block reduction print 20"x30"
will be on display from February 19th to March 1st, 2020
in Old Town Alexandria in the Art League Gallery, Room 21 in the Torpedo Factory.

Winter Workshop atUnited States Botanic Garden in Washington DCfeaturing the Camera Lucida

Saturday, February 22 10:30-4:30pm
Day-Long Workshop: Learn the Drawing Fundamentals using the Camera Lucida
See the world of plants and flowers from and entirely new perspective! Learn draw using a camera lucida! This optical device has long been an aide to scientists and illustrators since the early 17th century. Used alone or with a microscope an entirely new universe of beautiful detail is revealed. This age old tool also will boost your drawing confidence, improve your artistic eye, and your drawing skill! This is a day long workshop for both complete beginners and experienced artists who love plants and desire to improve their drawing and visualizing skills.

Can't make the full day workshop in February?
Saturday, March 21 2-4pm
Drop In and Try It! Drawing with a Camera Lucida
Enjoy one of Washington DC's treasures, the cherry blossoms from and entirely new perspective through a camera lucida! Learn about how this optical device has long been an aide to scientists and illustrators since the early 17th century. Complete beginners and experienced artists will enjoy seeing an entirely new universe of beautiful detail through its lens while boosting your drawing confidence and skill! No registration required, just drop in and try it!

Back Again In Annapolis, MD in The Circle Gallery!

My artistically inspiring feline is getting lots of time in the lime light this month! If you miss him at Gallery 564 you can see him at Maryland Federation of Art’s Circle Gallery on State Circle in Old Town in the Small Wonders Exhibit on view from December 4th-29th.

Gallery 564, Severn Park, MD:Two Works on view in November

Highlights from local fine artists. Exhibit is from November 7th through November 29th.

Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education: Character and Arts Event

Art and The Soul
The Creative Arts as a Tool for Character Development:
A Day at the National Gallery led by Artist and Art Educator Mary Ellen Carsley

Thursday, November 14, 2019
10:00am-3:30pm

Throughout the centuries, Art has been regarded as the soul of humanity. Aristotle defines The Soul as both potentiality and actuality. It is alive and real. Art is that aspect of the human soul which both reflects and defines growth, potential, values, and form in human culture. It both reflects and shapes the soul of a culture.
Spend the day exploring the National Gallery of Art’s permanent collection as you learn strategies to encourage positive character development through the visual arts. In addition to touring highlights of the collection, this will be a hands-on day of discovery and learning how to better foster student engagement in exploring art as both a mirror of and shaper of societal ethical values. These are activities you will be able to take back to your teaching studios to help your students develop critical seeing, thinking, and listening skills, as well as practice in civility and making cross curricular connections. Tips for navigating difficult topics, building cross curricular units, and creative lesson planning using a wide variety of museum resources that are budget and time friendly will also be presented.
1. To encourage Visual Arts teachers to integrate ethical values into their current curriculum into order to foster student engagement, critical thinking, and civility skills, and practice in listening, observing and perceiving.
2. To provide teachers with simple strategies in employing the visual arts into a student driven conversation regarding ethical values as well encouraging cross curricular connections.
3. To introduce teachers to easily accessible resources that they can use to create a new lesson plan, rework an old lesson plan, or introduce a new cross curricular unit in an engaging and logistically feasible way.

Summer 2019 Workshops and Classes:

A NEW COURSE!!!
Design, Draw and Paint Your Dream Garden
Date: Saturday & Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, August 10-11
Location: United States Botanic Garden

This course is designed for the gardening enthusiast who also enjoys sketching and would like to try their hand at garden design. The course will include an overview of the history of gardens, particularly gardens in America as inspiration. Fundamentals of design drawing, landscape sketching, and garden design strategies will be introduced. Each student will leave with a garden design and “dream’ garden vignette sketch all in color.

The Traveler's Sketchbook
Date: 9am-3pm, Sunday, June 9th, 2019
Location: Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD

Fundamentals of Calligraphy
Date: 9am-3pm, Saturday, June 15th, 2019
Location: Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD

Upcoming Class: How to Draw and Painting Orchids at US Botanic Gardens DC

Date: Sunday, January 27, 2019
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
This course is designed for beginning and intermediate students interested in developing their drawing and painting skills with botanical subjects. In this course, we will focus on orchids, a diverse and beautiful group. The workshop will include a careful study of line, light, shade, shadow, basic color theory, and botanical anatomy. We will cover basic compositional principles, from both Eastern and Western traditions, and an exploration of dry and wet media, including pencil, ink, colored pencil, and basic watercolor.

We will also explore how to make media from botanical sources, creating stained papers, and using the media in a field sketching environment.

St. John's College, Annapolis, MD:Community Art Exhibition 2019Two Works on View,including the completed Sparrows and Doves.

Circle Gallery, Annapolis, MD: Two works on view in Art on Paper 2019

Exhibit opens March 28th, 2019

In Annapolis, MD: One work on view in December 2018

Small Wonders
14th annual small works show at the Maryland Federation of Art's Circle Gallery, 18 State Circle.
Over 100 works from artists around the country, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico.

Exhibition Dates: December 1-December 22
https://mdfedart.com/

In Elmira, NY: Three works on view November thru December 2018:

Portobello received Honorable Mention!

Small Works 2018
A National Juried Exhibition of Artwork 12 inches or Smaller
Our fifth annual Small Works, juried by Rick Pirozzolo, executive director and curator at the Arnot Art Museum in Elmira, NY, is a national juried exhibition of work 12 inches or smaller. The exhibition features the work of 103 artists from 26 states.

Exhibition Dates: November 16 – December 15, 2018
http://www.mainstreetartsgallery.com/