Symbolic Birds

We are delighted to welcome back to Dora House our friends from Wildlife Drawing for 'Symbolic Animals', their latest drawing workshop.

Take flight and join us for a magical class, drawing beautiful birds and learning about the symbolism connected to each species. We are delighted that for this special session, we will be joined by Jen Cownie- one half of Litwitchure- who will enlighten us on the mysteries of the tarot, and the roles that birds play within the cards. We will discuss avian mythology and folklore from around the world, and how the stories we humans tell about animals can impact their conservation. 

We will also be joined by our expert falconer Paul, who will bring three mesmerising birds, each of symbolic significance. 

An Eagle: In cultures across the world and throughout the centuries, these apex predators represent power, bravery and freedom. To dream of an eagle can be a sign of good fortune on your horizon.

A Hawk: With their keen sight, hawks often symbolise clarity, insight and ambition. In ancient Egypt, the Sun God Ra was often depicted as a human with a hawk’s head, while the Cherokee people regard Red-Tailed Hawks as sacred, protective spirits. 

An Owl: Depending on the culture, owls are lucky or loathed. They are often associated with death and the afterlife. While this is sometimes interpreted as a bad omen, they can also be seen as messengers, bringing wisdom from the ancestors. 

Artist and illustrator Jennie Webber will be leading the class, and will begin with some fun warm-up exercises, and her top tips of drawing our feathered friends. While we sketch, Jen will be on hand to pull cards from from the deck, inspiring you to add some symbolism to your work, or help you approach the creative process in a new way. 

While this class certainly has a symbolic slant, it will all be very light-hearted. We will simply be using the tarot to spark conversation, and there won't be any pressure to get involved with that side of the class if it’s not your thing. If you just want to get up close with the birds, that’s cool with us! No prior art experience is needed to join the session- whether you’re a dab hand or an absolute beginner we are confident that with a bit of creative guidance, we will have to sketching away in no time. 

Animal welfare is at the heart of everything we do at Wild Life Drawing. We are a small team of animal lovers who are dedicated to conservation, and we strive to make each of our classes a positive experience for the animals we draw. We only ever work with the finest handlers who treat their animals with respect and care, and animals who are healthy and happy being around humans. The falconer who is bringing along the birds for the class is part of several breeding schemes for endangered species, and raises awareness of conservation through education projects.