Photo of a woman in a purple shirt holding a sketchbook while sitting in a desert environment

Painting and Drawing

Painting and sketching in nature is possible at nearly all sites open to the public. Nature journaling can be a novel way to connect to the National Wildlife Refuge.

Please note: the painting and leaving of decorated rocks is PROHIBITED. 

Desert NWR also hosts an Artist in Residence Program. This program allows artists to spend a period of time living at the refuge, finding inspiration, and creating art in exchange for creating a unique work of art for the refuge to use. Artists in Residence are then able to display their art in the rotating gallery inside the visitor center. To apply to become an artist in residence at the refuge, please contact Jennifer Heroux, Visitor Services Manager, jennifer_heroux@fws.gov.

For 2025-26, we welcome Tala Cox, Las Vegas local, as our Artist in Residence. Tala is a mask maker and is working on a series of Mojave animal, bird, and insect masks. She hosts a demo table 1-2 times/month at the Corn Creek Visitor Center. 

Learn more about our past Artist-in-Residences:

  1. Rosalie Haizlett (2021)
  2. Nathalie Aall (2022)
  3. Pamela Sue Johnson (2024)
  4. Jessica Moore (2025)