Join New England Watercolor Society signature watercolorist Michael E. Vermette for a painting journey that focuses on 5 different technical and compositional approaches in painting the Maine landscape. Each lesson is taught over a two weeks block of time. The first week is devoted to instruction and the week that follows is devoted to artists painting in the studio classroom. Each class is 2 1/2 hours long with two classes devoted to each of the 5 lessons.

Michael will demonstrate his sheer enjoyment of painting no smaller than half sheet size watercolors and no larger than 18 x 24 inches to the create exciting landscapes. He describes painting as a place where he can let go, have fun, yet still be in control of the medium. From painting lost and found edges, to floating washes wildly to create interesting treatment, watercolor is perfectly approachable in representing visually what the artist sees and experiences. The course will show artists how to set up a home studio and will provide studio space in a classroom environment.

A supportive group critique will happen each week to help develop the power for artists to talk about and represent their landscape paintings. No previous experience is needed for this class and yet experienced artists will benefit as well with Michael’s friendly and open style of teaching. You will love just how much this inspiring course will teach you about painting larger watercolor Landscape paintings, while developing a full and interesting portfolio.

Watercolor Supply List The instructor will go over materials on the first class.This is what I would suggest you think about purchasing for the workshop, although you may want to bring what you have and add what you don’t have after the first class.

1. Watercolor Paper, buy a minimum of 5 sheets of 22” x 30" or a block no larger than 18”x 24" (they hold 20- sheets or so). I have used Arches, Fabriano and Gemini watercolor brands. For handmade papers I’ve used Twinrocker, Indian Village and vintage Whattman all 140 lb to 300 lb press (cold press is preferred, but you can also experiment with hot press or rough).

2. Watercolor paints in tubes or cakes/pans- a warm and cool statement of each primary color plus secondary, grays, blacks, white for a total of no more than 12-14 colors. I use Holbein, Grumbacher, Winsor & Newton, Daniel Smith and Old Holland watercolors because I love color. Only Holbin has no ox gall in the paint, just pure gum arabic as the binder. It is more affordable than most brands. I recommend the following colors: Cadmium Yellow Light Cadmium Yellow Deep Cadmium Orange Yellow Ochre Cadmium Red Light, Alizarin Crimson Chinese White Burn Sienna Viridian Green Hue Cerulean Blue Cobalt Blue Ultramarine Blue Deep Manganese Blue Prussian Blue Permanent Magenta Ivory Black Indigo.

3. A large Studio Palette, with mixing areas separate from the paint wells.

4. Three watercolor brushes, I use the Balmoral Kolinsky brand, but cheaper Langnickel brushes will also do. Choose a small round no. 6 or 8, a no. 12 and a Large 1" to 2 “ Flat.

5. Cotton Rags or roll of paper towels.

6. Painted light weight board or light weight plexi-glass or formica board that is Waterproof and no smaller than 20 x 26 inches.

7. Portfolio, large enough to fit your paper and painting board. No smaller than 20 x 26 inches(You can make your own portfolio out of cardboard).

8. Graphite Pencils, 6B or HB or H depending on preference and how much you want the graphite line to be seen in your work.

9. Paint Box, to hold all of your paint tubes, brushes, and miscellaneous supplies.

10. Miscellaneous Supplies: Sketch book, a roll of 1" masking tape (I use white Artist Tape), a sponge (natural are the best), 2 collapsible cups for holding water, a kneaded eraser, ex-acto knife, and extra media to add to watercolor such as ink, liquid watercolor or watercolor pencils and even watercolor pastels.

Jim Lagasse will take you on a fun journey with watercolors. In this ongoing class, beginners will explore different watercolor painting techniques, styles, and tricks in watercolor painting. Beginners will learn basic steps to painting watercolor landscapes, animals, and abstracts. You don't need any experience at all. Please join us for the fun. Experienced watercolor painters are welcome. No class on February 19.

Join Michael E. Vermette for a studio oil painting experience that presents 5 different technical and compositional approaches that are devoted to 5 hours of painting instruction per painting lesson. Students will be encouraged to paint larger 18 x 24 inch oils with a course structure that allows for one lesson to be taught In-class that will be carried over to two class sessions 2 1/2 hours long.

The first part of the lesson will be devoted to 2 1/2 hours of instructional presentation and demonstration by the instructor, and the following class will be all devoted to studio time. Students will also be taught how to set up an Out-of-class studio in their own home to be used over the two-week lesson given.

Michael will demonstrate his sheer enjoyment of painting in an impasto palette knife and brush application technique to create exciting landscapes, each week, painting with his students. He describes reaching a place in oil painting , where “the work takes on a life of its own.” The classes will feature 5 new focuses every other week over the course of ten weeks and will including color theory, making beautiful lines, Describing weight and solidity through form, adding texture, the illusion of depth, creating lost and found edges, and how to use oil supplies such as Black Oil Wax and other mediums to improve the viscosity of the paint.

The course will feature weekly assignments and supportive group critiques each week to help the studio artists develop the power to represent and talk about their work. This class is perfectly suited for the beginner or the more advanced painter alike, who are interested in representing visually the landscapes they are drawn to. Studio artists my choose their own landscape subjects. No previous experience is needed and yet experienced artists will benefit as well from Michael’s friendly and open style of teaching. You will love just how much this inspiring course will teach you about creating an amazing landscapes portfolio.

Art Supply List

1. A minimum of 5 substrates including stretched canvases, boards, Masonite or woodpanels, and canvas panels. Recommended minimum size no smaller the 16 x 20 inches andno larger than 18 x 24 inches.

2. Paint Box and or combination box and easel or separate easel large enough to containyour palette as well as paints, brushes, palette knives, etc.

3. A can or original GO JO or sim ulan hand cleaner found in automotive stores (for cleaningbrushes,) do not buy turpentine. I would recommend a bottle of sun thickened linseed oil. Iwill make available an old Venetian medium to be mixed with oil paint called: Black OilWax medium, that I make myself. This medium makes the oil painting process virtuallysolvent free. You may also use Liquin if you'd rather go with a resin based medium.

4. Oil Paint; including a warm and cool of each primary color and black and white.Depending on how much paint you use, paint with the best you can afford, a paint tubepacked with pigment with only linseed oil as a binder. The brands I use are Willamsburg,Blockx, Old Holland, and Sennelier oils in 35 ml tubes. Less expensive brands includeGrumbacher, Winsor & Newton, Graham, and Daler-Rowney. The colors I recommend arefollowing colors:Cadmium Yellow Light or Aureolin, Cadmium Yellow Deep, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Orange,Cadmium Red, permanent Alizarine Crimson or Quinacridone Magenta, BurntSienna, Cobalt Violet Deep or manganese Violet, Manganese Blue, UltramarineBlue, Prussian or Phthalo/or thalo Blue, Viridian Green , Indigo, Lamp or Ivory Black, and aLarge tube of Titanium / or Flake White is preferred.

5. Brushes; round, flat or filbert oil painting brushes from sizes no.6 to a no.12. Choose atleast three (one small, one medium, and one large). You might also be able to use asmallbrush for detail or your signature.

6. Palette Knives. I use different sizes as with my brushes, from a small 1- inch to a large 4”one. I also use assorted widths from a narrow size to a wide flat to smooth my shapes.

7. A large Oil Painting Palette made of glass or wood.

8. Rags(one per painting); preferably cotton rags because they soak up paint and clean thepalette better than polyester. You can also use paper towels for a cheeper option.

9. Charcoal, graphite or Nero pencils or sticks, or vine charcoal.

10.Wet canvas carrier system, clips or foamboard strips. (They can be made of foamboardstrips and made into a frame taped around the panel or canvas and then duck taped on tothe back of the painting and stacked upon each other with a foamboard divider, stored in asmall cardboard mailer or pizza box for multiple small studies. Refer to my website underinstruction at www.michaelevermette.com.

11. Miscellaneous Supplies, including: a roll of 2" duck tape, foam board strips 1 inch by 16½ inches long, (natural are the best), Sketch book . 2 cups for holding solvents or Black Oil,ex-acto knife and GO-JO hand cleaner.

12. A table top easel large enough to hold your painting.

I’m thrilled to invite you to an inspiring art course designed to offer dedicated time and space for diving deep into a variety of art-making techniques. Over the course of seven weeks, we’ll explore watercolor, batik, and printmaking, culminating in a final week dedicated to mixed media where we’ll blend all of our newfound skills. Each part of the course is thoughtfully structured to support mindful and intentional creation, allowing you to slow down, connect with your inner artist, and develop your skills. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just beginning your creative journey, this course is designed to inspire exploration, deepen your practice, and unlock new forms of expression. Course Breakdown: 1. Watercolor (Weeks 1-2): Immerse yourself in the soothing flow of watercolor, exploring techniques such as washes, blending, and layering to create vibrant and expressive pieces. 2. Batik (Weeks 3-4): Dive into the ancient art of batik, working with wax resist and fabric dyes to craft richly textured, layered designs on fabric and paper. 3. Printmaking (Weeks 5-6): Discover the fundamentals of printmaking, including monoprints and relief techniques (gelatin and linoleum) to develop your own series of unique prints. 4. Mixed Media (Week 7): In our final week, bring everything together by combining techniques from the previous sessions. We’ll explore new ways to layer materials, integrate collage, and experiment with found objects, allowing you to create complex, multi-dimensional artworks that reflect your creative journey. Each session will include demonstrations, guided exercises, and plenty of hands-on time to explore the techniques. By the end, you’ll have a portfolio of work and a toolkit of new skills to continue creating on your own. Plus, you’ll be part of a supportive community of fellow creatives to share inspiration and ideas with along the way.

In this seven week course learn to create several types of hand bound books and journals. Explore concertina and other folding methods and stitching techniques such as coptic, French link and others. Weave visual storytelling, nature and more into your books. Experiment with dry and wet mediums, textures, paper and fabrics as you discover your own unique and creative voice.

Paint flower portraits realistically. You will paint pictures of flowers in detail, but more painterly than a scientific illustration. We won’t count veins, but we will count petals! Painting flowers is a wonderful exercise in observation. Learn brush stroke and value White on white flowers Leaves, long and short Iris, narcissus, orchids, tulips, and other spring flowers. Materials list; We will paint on smooth paper; Strathmore Series 500, one hundred percent cotton paper, either plate or vellum. This paper can be bought at Artist and Craftsman in Portland in large sheets, which we will cut up. Bring a #2 round brush and a #6 round brush, pencil, palette, tube watercolors in the 3 primary colors and perhaps a green. Paper towels and water container. And bring a plant or flower specimen with no more than 9 petals. This is a slow and careful process and 9 petals and some leaves is enough happiness for us all.

Your instructor, Mary Laury is an accomplished watercolorist and highly esteemed teacher. She encourages all her students to believe they can be successful. Painting is an exciting medium; it flows and moves and does beautiful things. If you have never painted in watercolors, we will start at the beginning. If you have painted before, you will pick up some new tips and tricks as well. We all learn together! Step back to a time when President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor, and their family escaped to their “beautiful little island” in the Canadian Maritimes, Campobello Island. We will be exclusive guests of the international park, staying in historic Victorian cottages. Workshop participants will explore and paint the same coastal scenery enjoyed by the summer residents at the turn of the 20th century. All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops. Register for the retreat then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations. Acadian Arts Retreats participants will have exclusive overnight accommodations in the park. Feedback from recent Acadian Arts Retreats participants: “Mary is a wonderful guide and a gifted teacher.” “Very helpful watercolor instruction."