Workshops

Workshops & Demonstrations

A Fresh Vision in Watercolors

Saturday, May 4 - Sunday, May 5 9a.m. – 3:00p.m.

Led by Gary Eckhart
Registration Required »register now

Join Gary Eckhart on May 4 and 5 from 9 am - 3:30 pm at the Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville, VT to expand your watercolor skills and techniques.

Learn to breathe fresh life into watercolor paintings! In this workshop, we will practice deconstructing reference materials to create fresh, exciting pictorial compositions.
We will develop new and vibrant color palettes that better express the mood and atmosphere of your subject. We'll also explore color in greater detail, experimenting with color harmony, the play of color temperature and the manipulation of values to create a more cohesive and dynamic finished painting.

Artists at any stage of their development are welcome. However, participating artists should be comfortable with the watercolor medium.

Upon receiving your registration, a materials list, a daily schedule and recommendations for accommodations and restaurants will be sent to you via email.

Participants are responsible for their own art materials and their own meals and accommodations.

USE "BMGMEMBER" TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTED MEMBER PRICING, IF YOU ARE A CURRENT BMG MEMBER

Flowers, Light, and Color in Painting

Friday, May 10 - Saturday, May 11 9:00am - 4:00pm

Led by Michael Walek
Registration Required »register now

Michael has been painting for years in acrylic, gouache, and watercolor. This workshop will reference the group of paintings that he is currently showing in the Small Members' Group Show. Bring the medium with which you are most comfortable using; acrylic, gouache, watercolor, oil, or even pastels. A couple orchids or flowering plants and an oriental carpet will be the subject on display.

The primary focus for this period is the directional lighting and the oriental carpet that everything is set upon. The lighting will be like sunlight through a window. Observation is so important in how we find our direction in our work. The plants are not just the subject. It is how the light illuminates the carpet and passes around the plants; defining form and space. As you work in your medium, Michael will guide you in developing observational skills to compose a complete composition.

Artists are welcome to participate at any level of their artist journey! If you are a new artist and have questions about medium or materials, please reach out to the Gallery and we can get you in contact with the instructor.

Location: Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, Vermont.

USE "BMGMEMBER" TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTED MEMBER PRICING, IF YOU ARE A CURRENT BMG MEMBER

Impressionist Portraits in Pastel or Oil

Saturday, May 18 - Sunday, May 19 9:00am - 4:00pm

Led by Karen Meneghin
Registration Required »register now

Following on the heels of the MANET DEGAS Exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum in New York, we’ll work primarily in pastels “in the manner of” Edouard Manet during our two-day workshop, producing two “master copy sketches” and one original portrait working from a live model over two afternoons. Although the emphasis will be on pastels, the loose sketch approach is applicable to both pastel and oils and we encourage you to try each, i.e., a morning warmup “color sketch” in pastel and afternoon sustained oil portrait, as you wish.

Each morning would begin with a 1-hour demo of Manet’s approach to portraiture: 1) GEORGE MOORE (pastel) and 2) BERTHE MORISOT (oil or pastel) followed by 2 hours of a pastel or oil block in “in the manner of Manet” per the demo. In the afternoons we would work from the same model “in the manner of Manet.” We would need one costumed model in the same pose for both afternoons which gives participants one full day to work on their portraits.

Location: Bryan Memorial Gallery

Duration: Two Days, 9 AM Noon and 1PM to 4PM (six hours each day.)

SCHEDULE
DAY 1 DEMO: 9–10 AM (George Moore, PASTEL)
–Master Sketch: 10 AM – Noon (2 hrs)

–Lunch Break: Noon to 1 PM (1 hr)

–Painting w/Live Model: 1–4 PM (3 hrs)

DAY 2 DEMO: 9–10 AM (Berthe Morisot, OIL)
–Master Sketch: 10 AM – Noon (2 hrs)

–Lunch Break: Noon to 1 PM (1 hr)

–Painting w/Live Model: 1–4 PM (3 hrs)

USE "BMGMEMBER" TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTED MEMBER PRICING, IF YOU ARE A CURRENT BMG MEMBER

Cartooning Class with Robert Waldo Brunelle JR

Friday, June 7, 2024 - Saturday, June 8, 2024 9a.m. – 3:00p.m.

Led by Robert Waldo Brunelle JR
Registration Required »register now

In this class students will learn the basics of creating cartoons. Topics covered include: designing characters, caricaturing famous people, how to set up panels, writing speech balloons, inking and pencils, adding color, and creating cartoons using digital technologies. Students will also learn a bit about the history of the various genres of cartoons and comics.

Materials needed: drawing paper, pencils, erasers, ink pens, colored pencils, straight-edge (ruler or triangle).

This workshop is geared to youth aged 15+.

USE PROMO CODE "BMGMEMBER" TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTED MEMBER PRICING, IF YOU ARE A CURRENT BMG MEMBER.

Robert Waldo Brunelle is a painter, kinetic sculptor, book illustrator, art educator and political cartoonist who has actively exhibited his work in this region since 1978. He was the art teacher at the Browns River Middle School from 1981 to 2012. He served as the president of the Northern Vermont Artist Association from 1995 to 2012, and now serves as the NVAA’s Vice President. He is a founding member of the Vermont Comic Creator’s Group, and his cartoon strip Mr. Brunelle Explains It All appeared weekly in Seven Days, and monthly in Funny Times. To see more of his work, visit www.mrbrunelle.com.

Palette Knife Painting En Plein Air

Saturday, June 29 - Sunday, June 30 10:00am - 4:00pm

Led by Melanie Barash Levitt
Registration Required »register now

The focus of this workshop will be on how to paint an entire painting in oils with a palette knife creating interesting marks and textures while capturing the light and shadow of the scene. Through demonstration and individual attention, students will learn how to distill the important information from the landscape and translate it onto the canvas. Melanie will address the importance of sketching/composition, how to create depth & light in a painting, color mixing, energetic mark making, and how to choose a stain color for your scene. All this will be taught in an understandable step by step process which will lead students to improve their ability to simplify the landscape and create a dynamic painting in a short time.

This class is suitable for the beginner or the intermediate student who want to loosen up and learn how to paint with a palette knife. We will meet at Bryan Memorial Gallery and then we will head outdoors. Painting locations TBD. In case of inclement weather, we will paint at the gallery. Artists at any stage of their development are welcome. Students are responsible for bringing their own supplies.

Suggested Supply List

-Sketchbook & Drawing Pencils or black Sharpie

-Two to Three panels (around 12x16”): I use Ampersand Archival board but you can use any smooth surface board. You need a hard surface to push the palette knife against. Recommended size 12x16” and don’t go to small. You can also bring a panels sized slightly smaller or larger

-Oil Paints: Limited Palette of a Warm & Cool of each primary color

(I use Gamblin brand oil paints)

Suggested Colors:

Titanium white

Ultramarine Blue

Pthalo Blue or colbalt blue

Cad yellow Light or Lemon yellow

Cad Yellow Medium

Cad Orange

Cad Red Light

Alizarin Crimson

Optional: Transparent Red Oxide, Yellow Ochre or any other colors you like to use

-Brushes for sketching (I use flats/brights size 4,6,8)
Bring what you have and what you like to sketch with

-Palette Knife - I use a 2.5” palette knife with bent neck and pointed tip.

-Color Shaper Tools-(clay sculpting tools)

These pick up paint, I will bring a few to class

-Brush washer and odorless turpentine (Gamasol only please)

-Palette to mix on

-Paper towels or a box of tissues

-Plastic bag for trash

-Studio Easel with side table or plein air easel. (Melanie has some French plein air easels for rent for $35 for two days if needed. Please email in advance at melanie@jacksonartnh.com if interested

-Umbrella to block sun

-Water & lunch

Registration required.

Upon receiving your registration, a materials list, a daily schedule and recommendations for accommodations and restaurants will be sent to you via email.

Participants are responsible for their own art materials and their own meals and accommodations.

USE "BMGMEMBER" TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTED MEMBER PRICING, IF YOU ARE A CURRENT BMG MEMBER

Key Elements in Plein Air Painting

Saturday, July 13 - Sunday, July 14 9:00am - 4:00pm

Led by George Van Hook
Registration Required »register now

Join George Van Hook, a nationally recognized artist who has won numerous PleinAir competitions and awards from around the country for his oils and watercolors, for a 2-day plein air workshop. George stresses allaprima painting and using a loose and fast approach to capture the landscape in the first try. Participants will be meeting on location and painting all day from 9am-4pm with a lunch break. Workshop includes live demos and individual attention. Please bring your own plein air equipment, supports, and media (oil, pastel, watercolor, acrylic).

We will begin each day with a demo by the artist. At that time, he will discuss composition, laying out the pallet, proper use of materials and all other aspects of plein air painting. We will then break up into groups and paint individually. He will then provide individual instruction helping solve the issues for each artist. After lunch, he will do a quick demo to refresh the ideas presented at the start. Painters will start a second painting for the afternoon with additional individual instruction.

After 4 pm we can simply paint as a group. George has found this to be the most congenial and beneficial experience of the day. Evenings can be spent enjoying one another’s company in conversation about their experiences of the day.

Artists at any stage of their development are welcome. However, the participating artist should have an understanding of and be comfortable with the oil medium.

Upon receiving your registration, a materials list, a daily schedule and recommendations for accommodations and restaurants will be sent to you via email.

Participants are responsible for their own art materials and their own meals and accommodations.

Use promo code "BMGMEMBER" if you are a current member of the Gallery to recieve 10% off!

2024 Artist Fall Retreat

Sunday, October 20 - Saturday, October 26 All Day

Led by T.M. Nicholas & Leo Mancini-Hresko
Registration Required »register now

We are thrilled to be bringing back the annual Fall Artist Retreat this year after such a wonderful and successful retreat in 2023!

Are you ready to surround yourself with other likeminded artists in the beauty of Northern Vermont’s landscape, as so many artists have over the past 100 years?

Join us from October 20-26 for art-filled learning, painting, lectures, demonstrations, community, and fun! Located in Jeffersonville, VT, this intensive plein air retreat will have you ending the week with a deeper command of your artistic style. You don't want to miss this retreat!

Retreat Price Includes:
Daily Meals: 6 breakfast, 5 lunches, 6 dinners.
Artist Demonstrations/Instructions by T.M. Nicholas & Leo Mancini-Hresko
Daily group critiques.
Epic group of new friends!
All of the creative inspiration you can handle!
Not Included:
Airfare
Ground Transportation
Lodging
Traveler’s Insurance
Equipment

Retreat Pricing:
Member Pricing . . . . . . . . $1400.00 USD
Starts Friday, January 26

Non-Member Pricing. . . $1500.00 USD
Starts Friday, Janauary 26

After we have received your registration you will be emailed with a confirmation of your registration along with an additional form to fill out.

Cancellation After June 11: 50% Refund
Cancellation After August 13: 25% Refund
Cancellation After September 22: No Refund

We have partnered with Smugglers' Notch Resort for lodging during the retreat.

USE "BMGMEMBER" TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTED MEMBER PRICING, IF YOU ARE A CURRENT BMG MEMBER

Cancellation Policy:

To make a reservation contact Smugglers' Notch Resort Group Vacations at 1-800-521-0536

Participants are welcome to lodge at another location of their choice.

The 2024 Fall Artist Retreat is open to artists' at all levels of their artistic journey. All that is needed is a basic understanding of oil paints.