Classes for 2022

Thank you to our classes season sponsor

Please register for all classes by mailing a check with your contact info and name of class until we can resolve a technical issue. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

MAY 12 and 13: SKETCHING ON THE GO

THIS CLASS IS FULL. THANK YOU!

1pm to 4pm

Instructor: Diane Dubreuil

Capacity: 8

COST:

Member $50

Non Member $65

Location:

Start at the Maine Art Gallery, then move to sketching locations in Wiscasset.

This is an introductory course about sketchbook journaling “on the go”. While walking around town (or in the studio, if weather is inclement), the instructor will guide students through a series of exercises designed to enhance or improve their drawing skills, learn about new materials, and use sketchbooking as an art form. This comprehensive beginner sketchbooking program is a quick start to help students understand the benefits of sketching and note taking ... and to give them tools and ideas to keep them growing artistically! At the end of each session, participants will share what they have done and have an opportunity to ask questions. All public health restrictions current at the time of class are applied.

Download Materials List

About Diane Dubreuil:

Born in Lewiston, Maine, Diane graduated from the University of Maine at Orono, and currently lives in New Milford CT. For nearly 25 years, she was Director of Coloring, then Art Director for children's author Mercer Mayer’s various companies. During that time, Diane volunteered as Chairwoman of New Milford Commission on the Arts in New Milford, CT, and then Director of Gallery 25, and retiring from that position in 2019.

Diane is a Signature Member of NEWS, as well as the International Plein Air Painters WORLDWIDE (i-p-a-p). She is also a member of the CT Plein Air Painters (cpaps), NH Plein Air Painters, Plein Air Painters of Maine (PAPME) and other arts organizations. Her work has won numerous awards, and is cherished by collectors.

Diane spends much of her time between Connecticut and Maine. She continues to paint en plein air and in the studio, demonstrates watercolor painting, and teaches classes and workshops. To learn more about Diane, you may visit her website. You can also find her on Instagram, @diane_pleinairpainter, and on Facebook.

May 27: PLEIN AIR DEMO: Painting from Life - Flowers

10 am - 12 pm
Instructor: Deborah Chapin

Capacity: 12

COST:

Members $5

Non-Members: $10

Location:

Start at Maine Art Gallery, then on to demo site in Wiscasset

Artist Deborah Chapin will be painting for 2 hours, giving a broad outline of how she paints florals from life in the garden. All levels are welcome to watch and learn whether you are an artist or not.

**Rain Date: May 28**

"Poppies and Cornflowers" By: Deborah Chapin

About Deborah Chapin:

As a child, Deborah's father introduced her to a world of culture through his love of music and art. He also taught her a love of nature (since he was a forester and manager of lands with the BLM) and gardening. These early experiences evolved into Deborah's love of expressing nature in fine art.

Deborah has exhibited her work for more than three decades, all over the country and internationally. In 2007 she was invited to give a lecture and Plein Air Demo for the Smithsonian. In 2018, Deborah moved to Maine, and currently creates and lives in Bristol. You can learn more about Deborah on her website.

June 4: PLEIN AIR CLASS: Catching the Light

8:30 am - 4:30 pm (break 12pm to 1pm)
Instructor: Deena Ball

Capacity: 5

COST:

Members $80

Non-Members: $95

Location:

Start at Maine Art Gallery then on to painting location

Catching the Light is a plein air painting workshop that concentrates on catching the light and essence of a scene and a day.

Students will work on compositional planning, using the practice of notan and value studies to get everything down before the light shifts.

We will be at one location in the morning and another in the afternoon. The goal is that with careful planning and a clear focus, students will be able to paint a successful painting as the light shifts.

**Rain Date: June 5**

Deena Ball paints plein air

Download Materials List

About Deena Ball:

Deena S. Ball is a nationally renowned landscape painter. After 35 years of painting in the beautiful Brandywine Valley of Pennsylvania, she returned to painting the mountains and shore of Maine. She holds a BA in Art History and Studio Art from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and continued her studies at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and Tyler School of Art. Her paintings have been exhibited throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region and can be found in “Watercolor Artist” and several annual publications of “Splash”.

Deena is an active teaching artist for both adults and children. Recent presentations have been for Philadelphia Watercolor Society, Onodaga Art Society and Salem County Art Society. She has been teaching workshops and classes on Zoom for RiverArts in Maryland, Mendocino Art Center in California, Community Art Center and Wayne Art Center in Pennsylvania, and Artascope in Maine. Deena is also a signature member of Philadelphia Watercolor Society, Baltimore Watercolor Society, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society and is a Pennsylvania Guild Master Craftsman.

A brief demo will be followed by students creating several of their own quick paintings in acrylic on paper. As time permits we will also discuss the exhibit in the gallery.

During class, students will be asked: Is this a landscape? Why or why not? What clues do you see? What choices has the artist made? How does this image make you feel? Class will conclude with an informal critique.

Materials List:

Pencils (and erasers if desired)

9x12 sketchbook

Teacher will provide large paper and acrylic paint.

September 21: Abstraction and the Landscape

10 am - 1 pm
Instructor: Karen Jelenfy

Capacity: 12

COST:

Members $20

Non-Members: $35

Location:

Wiscasset; site address will be shared with students

Using book illustrations and a piece of instructor's original work, students will reflect on artists’ use of abstraction as a response to the landscape. Artists to be explored include Andrew Wyeth, Vincent Van Gogh, Joan Mitchell, and Arshile Gorky.

"Early Spring 2021" Karen Jelenfy

Sept 30 - Oct 1, Oct 7 - 8: IMPRESSIONIST PHOTOGRAPHY: Creative Way of Seeing the World

Time TBD; Zoom classes are 1 hr, field trips are 1.5 hrs each.
Instructor: Olga Merrill

Capacity: 7

COST:

Members $115

Non-Members: $130

Location:

Possible locations for field trip portions include Brunswick, Harpswell, Popham Beach, or Bath

For photographers who want to explore new creative possibilities. We will create beautiful artistic images with your camera, without complicated software.

"Softness" By Olga Merrill

Olga will teach you how to think of your photography as an artistic journey, and how to create the best possible images in your style. This class is for anyone who believes in themselves as a creative person, and who wants to learn something new to expand their own life to the fullest.

What we will do:

Olga will show, and you will learn the ideas and techniques of Impressionist Photography. Students will learn simple in-camera techniques that turn ordinary scenes into captivating impressionist

photographs. You will be ready to take expressive pictures anytime and anywhere. You will learn to see the world differently and practice expressing your real artist self.

Each Module contains 1 hour presentation via zoom (history of impressionist photography, techniques, practical exercises, tips and tricks) followed by a 1.5 hours practicing in the field (weather permitting). Participants will get an assignment after the first Module, to be completed in 5 days.

9/30/22: zoom class

10/1/22: field trip

10/7/22: zoom class

10/8/22: field trip

Materials List:

Digital camera
Lenses (standard 135mm will do, preferably bring any telephoto lens as well)
Filters (optional)
Computer with camera and mic for Zoom sessions

About Olga Merrill:

Olga Merrill is an award-winning Maine-based visual artist primarily using the medium of photography. She uses photography as a tool – like an instrument to make music or a brush for painting – to create an image of her vision, with a dreamy and indirect relationship to external reality.

Merrill’s work has been part of group shows and festivals nationally and internationally, including NYC Center of Photography (USA), Davis Orton Gallery (USA), Foto-Foto Gallery (USA), Griffin Museum of Photography (USA), Praxis Gallery (USA), PH21 Gallery (Hungary), Malta Postal Museum (Malta), Fondazione de Matalon (Italy), Rockport Art Association & Museum (USA), Blank Wall Gallery (Greece), online shows at Center for Photographic Arts (USA), Center for Fine Art Photography (USA), among others.

Merrill was the 1st Place Winner, International Juried exhibit ” Black and White 2020″, NYC4PA; 1st place winner, 15th Annual National Photography Competition at Foto-Foto Gallery, 2019; Silver Award at San Francisco Bay International Photography Competition, 2019; Juror’s Choice Award at International Exhibitions, Praxis Gallery, 2018. She was featured in l’Oeil de la Photographie, Dodho and YourdDailyPhotograph, Edge of Humanity, Shadow and Light magazine, Fine Art Photo (N29) among others. You can learn more about her by visiting her website, or follow her on Instagram, @merrill.olga.