Paint the Peaks: Free Watercolor Classes at Wichita Mountains

Most visitors to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge come prepared for the expected: hiking boots, mountain bikes, picnic baskets, and camping gear. But if you’re lucky, you might spot something less common—a brush-wielding artist capturing the refuge’s rugged beauty in watercolor, right there on the trails.

That’s the vision Katherine Liontas-Warren brings to the refuge through her free watercolor workshops, offered in partnership with the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. For anyone in the Lawton area who’s ever wanted to try painting but thought it required expensive lessons or fancy studio space, this is a game-changer. You get expert instruction, a world-class outdoor classroom, and zero price tag.

What makes this setup genius is the fusion of two things that don’t always go together: structured art instruction and genuine wilderness immersion. You’re not sitting in a fluorescent-lit community center staring at a still-life arrangement. You’re outdoors, surrounded by the actual landscape you’re trying to capture, learning how watercolor responds to natural light, wind, and the raw textures of mountains and wildflowers. The refuge becomes both your studio and your muse.

Katherine Liontas-Warren’s presence matters here too. Having a local artist who understands both the technical craft and the specific character of the Wichita Mountains means the workshops aren’t generic—they’re rooted in place. She knows the light patterns in those canyons, the colors that emerge at different times of year, and how to guide beginners through the unpredictable magic of watercolor without making it feel intimidating.

This kind of partnership between a wildlife refuge and a working artist also reflects something quietly powerful about our community: the recognition that art and nature belong together, and that access to both shouldn’t be reserved for people who can afford it. If you’ve been curious about watercolor, or if you’re looking for a reason to spend more time in one of Lawton’s most beautiful spaces, it’s worth checking out what’s happening at the refuge.