Drawn to Wild
Fill Your Sketchbook with Wonder
Transform your artistic journey with 52 wildlife sketching lessons designed to build your skills, nurture your creativity, and deepen your connection to the natural world—all at your own perfect pace.
One lesson, one wild being, every week for a year.
Drawn to wild is a transformative, gentle, course that guides you through creating a complete sketchbook of 52 realistic wildlife portraits.
Develop the confidence, techniques, and joy that come from consistent, compassionate creative practice.
No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to explore.
All you need is:
A sketchbook
+
A pencil.
That’s it. Truly.
The supplies are not what makes the magic, that, dear one comes from you.
Hello there! I’m Natalie, an Australian Wildlife artist and self-professed strawberry connoisseur :)
I help wild-hearted creative souls longing to connect with nature go from believing they "can't draw", feeling overwhelmed by perfectionism, and missing the joy of artistic expression, to skilfully rendering realistic wildlife with simple tools, embracing imperfection as part of the journey, and finding profound peace in regular creative practice.
When you join Drawn to Wild, you will learn to confidently honour wildlife with pencil and paper, finish a complete portfolio of 52 wildlife portraits, and see the natural world with newly awakened artist's eyes.
You also get me as your biggest cheerleader!!
I enrolled in Natalie's Drawn to Wild course and it has transformed not only my drawing, but also my mindset about my art journey.
Natalie's gentle teaching style is always warm and patient. She takes you through the process of each tutorial in a step-by-step pattern that helps the student develop a way to approach each subject.
While that is wonderful and has helped me improve my drawing immensely, the biggest thing I have learned is to appreciate all the life on this planet, regardless of what it may be - wildlife, human, or plants.
She instills in her students curiosity about the wild beings she draws, and that curiosity gives us a connection to each creature we draw. I will be forever grateful to have discovered Natalie, her courses, and her wonderful Hedgerow community.
~ Sherie M
Beautiful sketches by Sherie M
Who Will Thrive in Drawn to Wild?
This gentle, year-long sketching journey welcomes you if:
You're a beginner who has always wanted to draw but finds blank pages intimidating
You're returning to art after years away and seeking structure to rebuild your confidence
You're an intermediate artist looking to develop a consistent wildlife sketching practice
You love wildlife and yearn for a deeper connection to the natural world
You're seeking a mindful practice that combines creativity with the calm focus of nature observation
You desire a sustainable creative routine that fits into your busy life—just one hour per week
Drawn to Wild meets you exactly where you are. With step-by-step guidance and a compassionate approach, you'll discover that creating beautiful wildlife sketches isn't about innate talent—it's about patient observation, gentle practice, and showing up for your creativity.
Beautiful sketches by Cynthia Z
DTW took me from the basics to confident wildlife sketching with Natalie’s gentle guidance, clear instructions, and generosity of sharing. At the end of the year, what appeared from my humble pencil, is a sketchbook honoring the wild creatures.
Drawn to Wild was a year's worth of drawings that led me from can I do this(?) to I CAN do this!
~ Cynthia Z
What Your Year of Wild Creativity Includes:
52 Complete Wildlife Sketching Lessons - One wild being each week, carefully chosen to build your skills progressively
Over 55 Hours of Real-Time Video Instruction - Watch every pencil stroke with detailed narration that explains not just what I'm doing, but why
Comprehensive Downloadable Workbook - Reference guides, technique explanations, and mindset prompts to support your journey
Curated Reference Collection - High-quality reference photos for each wildlife subject
Lifetime Access - Work at your own perfect pace, revisit lessons, and continue your practice for years to come
All you need to begin is a sketchbook and a pencil. The magic isn't in expensive supplies—it's in your willingness to observe deeply and connect with your wild heart.
From Blank Pages to a Completed Wildlife Portfolio -
for less than $3 a week.
Imagine flipping through your sketchbook a year from now, seeing page after page of wildlife brought to life by your hand. Each sketch tells a story—not just of the wild being you've portrayed, but of your own growth, patience, and developing artistic voice.
This is the journey Drawn to Wild offers: a steady path from blank pages to a complete body of work that showcases both technical skill and heartfelt connection to the natural world.
"I never expected a simple sketching course to change my relationship with nature so profoundly. Now when I see wildlife, I notice details I would have missed before. It's like I've developed a new way of seeing the world." — Cheryl
A *self paced* year long journey of curiosity and compassion. Create a body of work by filling a sketchbook - 52 realistic wildlife portraits, one lesson per week for a whole year. Work at a gentle pace to grow your skills through consistent practice. Gentle, compassionate, but comprehensive guidance, and endless inspiration to unleash your creative freedom, and connect your wild heart with wildlife.
Being part of DTW was a life changing and affirming experience for me in every way. It allowed me to claim more deeply and profoundly my birth right as an artist. It gave me the discipline to work every week to create something precious and magical with others who were also creating magical preciousness. It showed me that by showing up and doing I could draw in a way I never imagined I could do - and trust me, I have a really good imagination!!
I would encourage anyone who has thought about dipping in a toe to jump in all the way. It will deepen and expand in a profound way how you perceive the Wildworld around you, whether you live in the city or suburbia or the country.
There can never be enough creativity in the world. Be a part of it. Contribute to it. Join the celebration!!
~Aurora S
Beautiful sketches by Aurora S
The Drawn to Wild experience is designed to build your skills gradually while keeping each week fresh and inspiring.
What You'll Learn:
Fundamental Observation Skills - Discover how to truly see wildlife, noticing the details that bring your sketches to life
Structural Drawing Techniques - Learn to find the basic shapes that form every creature
Value and Shading Mastery - Develop your ability to create depth and form through thoughtful shading
Texture Techniques - Capture fur, feathers, and skin with realistic textures
Expressive Mark-Making - Build a vocabulary of pencil strokes that bring personality to your subjects
Composition Skills - Frame your wildlife subjects for maximum impact and interest
Creative Confidence - Perhaps most importantly, you'll develop trust in your own artistic voice
Beautiful sketches by Ria K
Drawn to Wild deeply connected me to each of the animals I have drawn. It almost felt like I have this super power of bringing them to life on my pages. The moment I was done with the drawing, I got this big smile on my face, knowing that these creatures have a new home. I love every stroke of my pencil from beginning to end!
~ Ria K
A Glimpse Into Your Weekly Practice
Each lesson follows a gentle, effective structure:
Connection & Introduction - Meet the week's wildlife subject and learn about their unique characteristics
Observation Guidance - I'll show you exactly what to look for in the reference photo
Step-by-Step Drawing Demonstration - Watch in real-time as I create the sketch, explaining every decision
Technique Focus - Each week highlights specific skills, from basic shapes to complex textures
Mindset Moment - Brief reflections to nurture the emotional aspects of creative practice
Completion Celebration - We finish each sketch together, appreciating the journey and result
"The weekly format makes this course so approachable. I never feel overwhelmed, and I'm amazed at how much my skills have developed through this gentle, consistent practice." — Liz
I loved every minute of DTW, in the beginning I was in shock especially when the gorilla with baby came. Never thought I could do this! Surprised myself. I did them all on A4 size and with different paper, white/toned and black. Loved the way they turned out. Also the not knowing what was comming that week was a lovely surprise.
~ Dieny
Beautiful sketches by Dieny T
Transform Your Artistic Practice, One Wild Being at a Time
The Power of Consistent, Gentle Practice
Drawn to Wild isn't about rushing to create perfect artwork. It's about showing up consistently for your creativity, developing both skills and mindset through regular practice. Just one hour a week—52 hours over a year—creates profound transformation.
Many students begin Drawn to Wild doubting their artistic abilities. By the halfway point, they're amazed at their progress. By completion, they've not only filled a sketchbook with wildlife they're proud to have honored, but they've also cultivated a sustainable creative practice that brings them joy.
Unfurl your wings here, beloved, you are home.
Your Artistic Journey Unfolds
Take lesson one to learn the basics, then dive in!
Set yourself a reminder to log in and do a new lesson each week, or do them whenever you have some time - work at the pace of you! All you need to do is show up for the self care practice that this is, and have compassionate courage to keep going.
A *self paced* year long journey of curiosity and compassion. Create a body of work by filling a sketchbook - 52 realistic wildlife portraits, one lesson per week for a whole year. Work at a gentle pace to grow your skills through consistent practice. Gentle, compassionate, but comprehensive guidance, and endless inspiration to unleash your creative freedom, and connect your wild heart with wildlife.
Frequently asked questions
-
Each lesson requires just 45-60 minutes of focused attention. The self-paced format means you can fit your sketching practice around your life—whether that's weekly, twice weekly, or whenever you have a quiet moment. There's no falling behind in Drawn to Wild.
-
Realistic wildlife drawing isn't about talent—it's about observation and practice. I'll show you exactly what to look for and how to translate what you see onto paper. Many of my most successful students began convinced they "couldn't draw a straight line."
-
Guess what? That is normal. But I know you have the courage and curiosity to keep going anyway! Every lesson is designed with potential roadblocks in mind. I guide you through challenging areas step by step, and my detailed real-time demonstrations show you not just the successful marks, but how to recover from the less successful ones too. This course embraces imperfection as part of the creative process.
-
Truly, just a sketchbook and pencil to start. While I love sketching with a single coloured pencil, and I demonstrate the final lesson with a few coloured pencils, all techniques work beautifully with just graphite. I believe the magic lies in your practice, not your supplies. A graphite pencil, or a few inexpensive kids coloured pencils from the grocery store are perfect!
-
Absolutely not! If you can hold a pencil and have access to paper, this class is for your wild heart
-
Certainly! If you could also credit me as inspiring your creation, and tag me so that I can cheer you on, that would be wonderful!
-
The nature of this course means that all content is accessible immediately. While I wouldn’t want you to be unhappy, I cannot offer a refund on these courses. Contact me so we can chat about how to support you best.