Magic Valley Nonprofits

MVAC: Watercolor Safari Art Class Series
2026-02-18 17:30 - 2026-03-18 19:30 (America/Boise) | Magic Valley Arts Council, 195 River Vista Place, Twin Falls, Idaho, 83301
Watercolor Safari: Painting Animals of the African Wild
with Leslie Lambert
Wednesdays, February 18 – March 18 | 5:30-7:30pm
$120 / MVAC Members
$150 / Non-Members (membership begins at on $25/year! Click here to join or renew your membership and save.)
Register online here, or call 208-734-ARTS (2787) to sign up!

Learn to paint the expressive beauty of animals found on the African savannah. Each week we’ll focus on one animal – from elephants and giraffes to lions, zebras, and birds – using simple shapes, layered watercolor washes, and clear step-by-step guidance. You’ll learn how to suggest fur and texture, capture personality through eyes and posture, and create lively color palettes that bring your animals to life.
This course is designed for all levels, including beginners who have always wanted to paint animals but didn’t know where to start.
All are welcome – no drawing experience necessary.
Please bring your own watercolor supplies (suggested supply list below), or purchase a complete beginner supply kit from Leslie for $75 – optional, pre-order is recommended. Call MVAC at 208-734-2787 to reserve your kit.

Suggested Supply List

Paper: 1 full sheet (22×30”) of 100% Cotton 140 lb cold press watercolor paper. Alternatively, you may bring a pad of watercolor paper, or a watercolor journal or sketchbook with watercolor paper.
masking fluid (Winsor & Newton is best)
assortment of watercolor brushes such as a #6 round brush with a good point, a #12 round brush and/or ½” cat’s tongue brush, Scrub brushes (soft and hard), and any other brush that you love to use
pencil and kneaded eraser
palette
transfer paper
watercolor paints – suggested colors listed below. Pan or tube watercolors are fine, bring what you like to use!

Cobalt Blue
Winsor Blue (green shade), also called Thalo Blue or Intense Blue
Burnt Sienna or Quinacridone Burnt Orange
Winsor Yellow or Cadmium Yellow Light/Pale
Raw Sienna (Winsor & Newton)
Quinacridone Rose, also called Permanent Rose

Supplies not included in the watercolor kit (please bring):

board to tape quarter sheet of paper on
masking tape
spray bottles (soft mist and one with a harder spray)
old towel or cloth

About the Instructor

Leslie Lambert (also known as Leslie Redhead) is a celebrated artist known for her innovative poured watercolors. With a keen eye for detail and a mastery of color, Lambert skillfully pours and manipulates pigments on paper, resulting in stunning and dynamic compositions of the West. Her artwork, characterized by vibrant hues, has garnered widespread acclaim and has been exhibited in prestigious galleries and exhibitions worldwide. Lambert’s ability to push the boundaries of traditional watercolor painting has established her as a trail blazer in the arts.
In addition to signature status with the Cowgirl Artists of America (CGA), Lambert is a signature member of Northwest Watercolor Society (NWWS), and the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolor. She is also an associate member of Women Artists of the West (WAOW). Lambert is the author of Watercolor 365: Daily Tips, Tricks, and Techniques and the illustrator of the children’s book, Island in the Salish Sea, by Sheryl McFarlane. Her work has been published in Western Art Collector, Plein Air Magazine, Western Art & Architecture, Watercolor Artist, The Artist’s Network, and Splash 10: The Best of Watercolor.
Lambert is an adjunct professor of art at the College of Southern Idaho and teaches workshops throughout U.S., Canada, Spain, and Morrocco. She is represented by Trails End Gallery in Chewelah, Washington and Horizon Fine Art in Jackson, Wyoming. Lambert currently divides her time between Burley, Idaho and Colville, Washington where she creates works of art portraying vast expanses of the western landscape. More of her work can be viewed on her website at leslielambertart.com.
Refund Policy: all ticket, table, or seat purchases are NON REFUNDABLE from date of purchase.
