If youâre like me, you canât handle one more project right now, but my early bird discount expires on January 1.
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| Becky Bense among the rocks at Schoodic Point. |
Several people have told me theyâre registering for next summerâs Sea & Sky workshop but havenât sent their deposit. It will cost you $100 more if you wait until after January 1 to register.
I was once a student, too. I clearly remember my frustration with too much theory and not enough technique. I resolved then that Iâd do my best to send my students away with tangible technical help.
Students tell me that Iâm the first teacher whoâs ever given them a consistent system for putting paint on canvas in a way thatâs bright, clean and clear. There are some basic steps in making paintings. Theyâve worked for centuries. I do my best to teach them through my blog, but itâs really better to see for yourself.
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| You’ll see the giant lobsterman of Prospect Harbor. |
I know painters at all levels. Itâs sometimes frustrating to see them stuck for months or even years on the same painting problems. Thatâs especially true when I know the problems are easily corrected. Take the question of muddy, grey, paint. 90% of the time, it’s caused by how you lay down the underpainting, not your paint mixing.
What helps me break through problems like these is radical change, something that shakes up my routine enough for new ideas to sneak in.
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| And paint at this untouched Maine harbor. |
Coming to Schoodic is as radical a change as youâre likely to get. Youâre out of your environment, in one of the earthâs great beauty spots. You eat, laugh, and play with like-minded fellow painters. And you learn. I implore my students: âYou donât have to do this forever; just give it one week.â Usually, they incorporate those changes into their âforever.â
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| In a world of incredible atmospherics. |
Here are the most common questions I hear:
How do I get there?Fly into Bangor or Portland, ME, rent a car, and drive over to Acadia National Park. Itâs simple. Or, you can carpool.
Iâm not very experienced. Is this workshop for me? Yes. We take such a small group that everyone gets individual attention. We meet you where youâre at.
Where are we staying? At the Schoodic Education and Research Center. You don’t just book a room there; you have to be part of an educational program.
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| Michael and Ellen practice their loafing skills at Blueberry Hill. |
Can I bring my spouse?Please do. A non-painting partner sharing the same room is $475. That includes all meals, including our lobster feast. There’s lots to do in the area–hiking, biking, photography, birdwatching, fishing, or just quiet meditative time in nature. Sometimes non-painting spouses just like to hang out with the class, too. That’s fine with me.
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| Pastels are a beautiful medium for the Maine coast. And, yes, I should have been wearing gloves. (Photo courtesy of Claudia Schellenberg) |
What mediums can I bring? Oils, acrylics, watercolor, pastel. And of course your drawing supplies.
Is that a good price? Even at $1600, my workshop is a fantastic deal, since it includes your meals, accommodations instruction and insider knowledge of the Schoodic Peninsula. Next year, the price is going up, since my costs rose this year.
But the Early Bird discount makes it a ridiculous bargain. So, if youâre planning on signing up, send me a check and the registration form, pronto, and save yourself $100.