Art of Tracking: Seeing Through the Artists Eyes
July 3 - 4, 2021 York County Maine UsA $250
Saturday 8:00 - 4:00pm Sunday 8:00 - 3:00pm
The tracker need not to be an artist to see the world through the artists eyes.
For millennia trackers have cultivated an exquisite vision of the world far surpassing their original function of providing sustenance and safety. Similarly, artists have long-developed acute observation skills, expressing, and reproducing what they see. Over this weekend workshop, your ability to see the natural world as a tracker and naturalist will be enhanced to new levels. Experience a release from the ruts of the typical ‘dirt time’ practices. Entirely new approaches to perception await you.
Historically, wildlife and tracking are widely considered among the earliest inspirations for humanity’s artistic expression. The artists' eyes have always been keenly perceptive and trackers can glean much more in the field by observing nature using elemental principles of artistic observation. Line, texture, light, color, and form will be explored individually as well as holistically. We will take time to orient to these elements; expanding the tracker’s ability to see more in the field.
We will practice track interpretation, observation of wildlife signs, and movement on animal trails. Exercises & practices will be within the context of the artist's eyes; enhancing the skills of the wildlife tracker, increasing your ability to perceive more of what's there, and presenting ways of seeing with greater ease & clarity.
Through discussion, hands-on instruction, and observation exercises we will hone our skills in ways that have much relevance to all disciplines of wildlife tracking. With knees in the sand, sculpt the animals on their trails and gain understanding of track patterns & gaits. Learn to sketch what you actually see without judgement; counteract your patterning on images of “perfect tracks” exhibited in the field guides. Explore track characteristics without scale; break free from your ruler -and return to it with fresh eyes. View tracks from alternative perspectives; release yourself from seeing tracks as “upside-down” or “right-side-up.” Orient to the subtlety of color baselines; key into chromatic cues, and follow them along the animal’s trail.
While open to beginners, this course is designed to support and take those already practicing wildlife tracking further in their development. Little focus will be dedicated specifically to tracking basics. So study up, bring a field guide, and get ready to adjust your vision to see far more and with greater insight!
COVID 19: All courses run in accordance with regional corona virus restrictions & protocols. If the number of registered participants exceeds official recommendations, those with the earliest registrations will receive priority.
Daniel Hansche is an expert tracker and a passionate educator with over two decades of intense field experience. He has mentored hundreds and has taught many more through workshops, trainings, and seminars. A certified Track & Sign Specialist in desert and forested regions of the US, he is adept and ready to contribute in most any environment. Daniel creates an inclusive and thoughtfully challenging space for trackers and naturalists to grow within. He is ever enthusiastic in fostering the natural wildlife tracker -rooted in awareness, driven by curiosity, and called to adventure by track, sign, & trail.
Annika Tara Hansche is a lifelong visual artist and skilled naturalist. She is trained and active in media that include illustration, sculpture, painting, textiles, instillation, song, and storytelling. Her visual art has been shown professionally in the US and Europe. As a mentor, her work with naturalists & trackers has expanded minds from Northeastern US to South Africa. With gifts for seeing pathways to integrating nature awareness, personal reflection, visual acuity and facilitating artistic expression, Annika’s presence will lend a great deal to participants of this course.