Arts & Crafts

Join Michael E. Vermette for a painting journey that explores the human figure using new skills and techniques in watercolor that depict boldly the figure in the landscape. Michael will demonstrate his method of painting in sheer enjoyment of the figure in the landscape and through portraiture; a place, he describes, where you can let yourself 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 especially for the beginner. No previous experience is needed for this class and experienced artists will benefit as well with Michael’s friendly and open style of teaching.  You will love how much this inspiring course will teach you about painting the active figure in watercolor.

Supply List

I recommend that you use what you have and add essentials as you can afford. I am more focused on working with you right where you are rather than imposing my personal material preferences on you. That is why the following is only what I would suggest you think about purchasing for the workshop. 

  1. Watercolor Paper, by 4 to 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 mold made papers and Twinrocker, Indian Village and vintage Whattman for handmade watercolor papers all 140 lb to 300 lb press (cold press is preferred, but you can also use 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. Studio Palette, with mixing areas separate from the paint wells.

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

5. Cotton Rags or roll of paper towels.

6. Paint board or light-weight plexi-glass or formica board that is non-absorbent at least 2" larger than your paper.

7. Portfolio, large enough to fit your paper and painting board. (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" maskin tape, a sponge (natural are the best), 2 collapsible cups for holding water or a cool whip container,  kneaded eraser, ex-acto knife, and extra media to add to watercolor such as ink, liquid watercolor or watercolor pencils and pastels.

Instructor:

Michael E. Vermette double majored in Painting and Printmaking at the Maine College of Art, receiving his B.F.A in Painting degree in 1980. He has been a certified K-12 Art Educator for 35 years. A full-time artist and part-time teacher, Michael has been painting in watercolor for over fifty years and has won numerous awards for his figurative paintings, including the Loran Coleman, Beverly, and Marilyn Sabin Awards at the New England Watercolor Society where he is a NEWS Signature member. Michael was also a two time first place winner of the Castine Plein Air Festival in Castine, Maine and a participant of several Cape Elizabeth Land Trust, Paint for Preservation art auctions at Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  His watercolors are in private collections throughout the country and internationally. In Maine, he is represented at the Gleason Fine Art Gallery in Boothbay Harbor, The Frame and Art Gallery in Falmouth, and the Lupine Gallery on Monhegan Island, all in Maine.

Have you ever wanted to paint a thick oil painting that revealed textural expressive strokes that laid down like frosting on a cake? This fun-filled oil painting class takes you beyond the guilty pleasure of painting thick to a place where you will get quality results technically and compositionally. Using the oil painting methods of the Venetian and Italian master painters, Michael will show you how to use mediums to make the paint brighter, adding a luster appearance; and improve the viscosity of the paint, that spreads on the substrate like peanut butter. For the beginner or experienced artist, alike, participants will learn how to use different size and types of palette knives and brushes and how to load them with paint. Michael will demonstrate and put you at ease with his approachable teaching style as he reveals the painters in history who painted using the impasto oil painting method. This course inspires students to participate through in-class painting assignments that are meant to innovate, demystify and clarify the impasto oil processes. Artists will also be encouraged to participate in out-of-class assignments that give opportunities to reinterpret what was learned in class and apply those skills to personal painting ideas at home. Group critiques will be featured to offer constructive suggestions and provide the artist with a supportive opportunity to develop their powers to represent their work. Participants may choose instructor resources or their own subjects from drawings, experiences from memory, photographs or from direct observation to develop their own painting themes. The course gives technical insight through visual aid presentations of oil painting movements and artist trends that define modern impasto oil painting today. This course will give the artist a solid base from which to build oil painting experiences upon and will include at least one plein air (paint-out) field trip near the end of the course. Come and experience a new course that develops in you the confidence to paint in this versatile medium. SUGESTED ART MATERIALS FOR OIL PAINTERS 1. Stretched canvas, boards, Masonite or wood panels, or stretched canvases. Recommended maximum size 8 in. x 10 in. or 11 in. x 14 in., [not much larger for in-class studies] and bring a minimum of 1 substrate surfaces per class and one for out-of-class assignments, mere size is depending on personal preference and goals. 2. Paint Box and/or Pack; preferably large enough to contain your palette as well as paints, brushes etc. 3. Bottle or small pint can of liquin or Black Oil Wax Medium (That you can buy from the instructor) and a bottle of sun thickened linseed oil. If you mostly use Black Oil Wax medium as the Venetian and Italian Masters did, you will essentially be painting solvent free. 4. Oil Paint; at least a warm and cool of each primary color and black and white. You may want to bring small 35ml tubes for compactness Depending on how much paint you use. I use quality paints packed with pigment with only linseed oil as a binder. The brands I use are Willamsburg, Blockx, Old Holand, and Sennelier oils in 35 ml tubes. I recommend the following colors: Cadmium Yellow Light or Aureolin Cadmium Yellow Deep Yellow Ochre or Italian Yellow Ochre Cadmium Orange Cadmium Red Deep or Mars Red Permanent Crimson or Quinacridon Magenta Burnt Sienna Cobalt Violet Deep or manganese Violet Manganese Blue Ultramarine Blue Prussian or Phthalo Blue Viridian Green Indigo Lamp Black or Ivory Black Large tube of Titanium /Zinc White 5. Brushes; round, flat or filbert oil painting brushes from sizes no.6 to a no.12. Choose at least three (one small, medium, and large). You might also be able to use a small brush for detail or your signature. 6. Palette Knives. I like to use a very small 1 inch, a medium and large palette knife for small studies and a larger one for bigger sized paintings. 7. Palette (It can be a folding palette or a wooden studio palette, even ¼ inch glass). 8. Rags (one per painting); preferably cotton rags because they soak up paint and cleaner better than polyester. You can also use paper towels. 9. Charcoal, graphite pencils or sticks, or vine charcoal. 10.Wet canvas carrier, clips or foamboard strips. (They can be made of foamboard strips and made into a frame taped around the panel or canvas and then duck taped on SUGESTED ART MATERIALS FOR OIL PAINTERS Contunued… to the back of the painting and stacked upon each other with a foamboard divider, stored in a small cardboard mailer box for multiple studies or even larger. 11. Miscellaneous Supplies, including: a roll of 2" duck tape, a foamboard strips 1 inch by 16 ½ inches long, (natural are the best), Sketch book and Camera. 2 cups for holding solvents or Black Oil, ex-acto knife.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make simple earrings, bracelets and necklaces? This is the class for you. A variety of beads will be available, or you can bring your own beads. If you were part of the polymer clay bead class, you can bring those beads as well. Beginners are welcome and all materials will be provided

In this class, students will construct star suncatchers. No cutting or grinding required. Suncatchers are made using diamond bevels and precut stained glass. Students may choose from three patterns, and may also choose their preferred color of stained glass. Beginners are welcome and all materials are provided.

Zentangle is an easy to learn and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Anyone who can write can do Zentangle. In this class, students will learn how to draw botanical patterns (tangles) to create a lovely garden. Beginners and experienced tanglers are welcome. All materials will be provided. For more information about Zentangle, visit the website zentangle.com.

This course is designed for individuals who have been painting and drawing for two years or more and want to learn more about composition, color mixing, new techniques, and other related art issues. This class will focus on specific art interests and expand knowledge about painting and drawing. Participants will work in the medium of their choice: watercolor, acrylic, pastel or charcoal/graphite. Instruction will be individualized to meet specific needs. A group critique of art work will follow at the end of each class.