There's no better way to draw a landscape than to experience and observe it in person. Learn about the tools, materials, and techniques plein air artists use to capture their natural surroundings using pencil and wash on paper. The initial class will take place inside where observational drawing, composition, approach, and supplies will be discussed. The following three classes will take place at selected locations within five miles of the WRAE classroom. A suggested supply list will be provided.

Take home a beautiful piece of living art.  We’ll be making moss wall art - all materials are included.  Come enjoy an evening of creative DIY fun.

gemlounge

Join master wood carver Ken Wise and cooking instructor Chris Toy for a fantastic weekend of hands on Carving and Cooking instruction. Learn how to carve cooking utensils such as chopsticks, spatulas, and spoons. Then use them to prepare, cook, and eat some tasty Asian fusion recipes from Chris Toy’s cookbooks! The retreat happens on the shores of Merrymeeting Bay in the Butler Head Nature Preserve. A limited number of Air BNB style overnight accommodations with shared bathrooms are available for $100/weekend. Contact Chris Toy at christoy.net@gmail.com FMI.

We love to receive a delivery of those artfully crafted bouquets, don’t we? Inspired by their beauty, we think “I could do that... I could make a beautiful arrangement like that...” And then, the reality... an awkward cluster of drooping blooms that just doesn’t quite “get there.” If that sounds familiar, put this night on your calendar and register early to get your spot! Using fresh flowers, Courtney will wow us with basic floral arranging techniques as well as some interesting points about the flowers we’re using. The end result will be a beautiful bouquet to take home! Materials fee of $20 (cash please) is payable to the instructor at class.

 Join Jenn from Candlewood for a fun and creative evening making two crafts! We will use dried flowers to create stunning, decorative pieces that add a touch of nature to your home and make the perfect gift. You will learn to craft beautiful, aromatic candles using delicately dried flowers, soothing scents, and natural ingredients to make unique and charming dough bowls. You will also learn the art of Decoupage, transforming a simple glass jar into a stunningly adorned and scented lantern. Students will take home both beautiful and functional pieces. 

Enjoy a weekend retreat with Mary Laury, 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'll 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 plus specially planned 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.  Only Acadian Arts Retreats will be allowed to reserve overnight accommodations in the park.

​Please note: Included in the registration is a $40 non-refundable fee should you have to cancel.

WRAE is excited to offer a series of summer pottery classes! Our classes cover the basics of handbuilding and/or throwing on the potter’s wheel. Create fun and inspiring pieces. Enjoy your time and let your creativity flow while you experience something brand new! Classes will be held in the air-conditioned pottery studio at Field Allen in the early evenings.

Each class will run Monday through Friday for one week. Each class can accommodate 12 students.

Our first week (July 21-25) will be geared toward beginning students; the second (July 28-August 1) will focus on students with some experience; the third week (August 4-8) is designed for more intermediate students or those wanting open studio time. Students are expected to purchase and bring a pottery tool kit - see Amazon for many options.

Specify session when registering. Course Fee includes 25# of clay, limited glazes and firing. Students are expected to purchase and bring a pottery tool kit - see Amazon for many options in the $15-$25 range.

Painting Flower Portraits in Watercolor

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.

Escape to a Grand Victorian Inn, the Harbor View House in Prospect Harbor on the coast of Maine, with an intimate group of artist, cooks and creatives! All meals are included in the workshop fee plus special activities to extend your learning from the day’s workshops, including a private house concert by Grammy balloted singer-songwriter, storyteller, and author Gordon Ward. Day students are welcome.

For more information about the workshop, call Mary at 207-632-2251. To book your stay at the inn call 207-963-9122 or visit https://harborviewhousellc.com/.