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."