“In the Footsteps of Frederic Church”
With Evelyn Dunphy
Church’s original camp on Millinocket Lake, Maine
July 26 -30
August 16 – 19
September 27 - 30
One of America’s most famous landscape painters, Frederic Church traveled the world to paint the scenic wonders of the American west, South America, Europe and the Canadian North and yet he chose to have a rustic camp built in here in Maine. He had fallen in love with Katahdin. Wonderful accounts of his trips describe his first view of “alpen glow” on Katahdin
as “like opening the book of Revelation”.
He and his wife Isabel, spent each autumn here for twenty years with family and friends. A large room was added to the original camp by Church’s son, Lewis, in 1898.The camps were purchased from the last Church heir in the 195O’s.
Join us in this historic series of painting workshops. Stunning views of Katahdin, comfortable rustic camps, small groups with lots of individual attention. An unforgettable experience in a historic setting. Demonstrations will be in watercolor; other mediums are welcome.
You may sign up for a private cabin, a private lean-to or share a room upstairs in the main camp. Our lean-to’s are screened and can be completely enclosed. All have full-sized beds, battery operated lamps and are right on the lake. There is no running water or electricity at the camps, just as it would have been in Church’s time. Everyone uses the pump in the kitchen for washing, and it’s the custom to take a pitcher and wash basin to our camp at night to wash up in the morning. We also have a new shower cabin with hot water. Be prepared to use a charming outhouse! The outhouses are new and near each camp.
The main camp with its big fireplace is the most wonderful place to gather in early morning with coffee; invariably everyone is up early to see the sun come up on the lake. At the end of the day we gather for a critique and conversation before dinner. Meals are planned so that we can take advantage of the best light of the day.
Breakfast is at 8:00 am so that those who wish to be up early and paint or photograph while the sun is rising and the skies are usually so beautiful may do so, and others can sleep a little longer. The workshop officially begins at 9:30 am. We break for lunch at noon. Dinner is planned for 6:30 pm as that generally means that we have the best of the light before sitting down. Since we have our “happy hour” around 5:00 -5:30, there is little chance that anyone will get too hungry!
In the event of a rainy day, the main camp is immediately turned into a studio, the big table is up and the generator provides light. I have been told by workshop students that
“even if it doesn’t rain, you should plan a rainy day event”! Everyone finds that a day of intensive painting instruction in various elements of the landscape is so helpful.
You may enjoy reading a story on the workshops that was published in the Bangor Daily News last March. Here is the link:
http://bangordailynews.com/2011/03/14/living/camp-of-american-landscape-artist-frederic-church-pulls-painters-back-in-time/
You can also watch a short clip of a 30 minute film that was made at the first workshop at the camps. It is at the bottom of the “NEWS” sidebar on my website: http://www.evelyndunphy.com/.
Workshop Description
Plein air painting is exhilarating, and challenging! This workshop will teach you how to simplify shapes, exaggerate your passion, minimize the unessential, crop, compose, and build a strong composition that enables you to enjoy seeing pigments mix and dance on your paper. Be a poet rather than a reporter, paint light and color, and shadow, and develop your ability to really “see”.
“If you want a workshop with a talented, dedicated teacher who is also a beautiful painter, sign up with Evelyn Dunphy. She is the best”. A student at a recent workshop at Frederic Church’s camp on Millinocket Lake, Maine.
“I am just now realizing how much I learned from you during the workshop at Milford House. Things that I thought I knew, but really did not understand have come to life to me, and my work shows it”. A student in the 2011 workshop at Milford House, Nova Scotia.
Come and be in this beautiful place, water and sky and woods, rocks and deadwood, light and clouds, and all the wonders of the great outdoors! You’ll learn to simplify shapes, exaggerate, crop, compose, and build a composition that enables you to enjoy seeing pigments mix and dance on your paper. Be a poet rather than a reporter, paint light and color, and shadow, and develop your ability to really “see”. There will a demonstration each day, aInd lots of individual attention, with critiques and conversation in the evenings around the fire.
What to Bring.
A complete materials list will be sent upon registration, along with travel information and meeting place.
Workshop Rates – includes lodging, meals and tuition (beginning with dinner on first day and ending with lunch on last day).
Private Cabin $735.00
Private Lean-to $700.00
Shared Room $675.00
Non-painting spouses/companions $255.00
The camps are only a few miles from Baxter State Park with 200,000 acres of wilderness for camping and hiking. Gorgeous views of Mount Katahdin, rushing streams, moose sightings, rafting, canoeing, kayaking – lots to do for anyone who comes along with a painting partner. Or plan your vacation to include the workshop and a camping trip – or stay for a few days longer in an inn and do day trips in the park.
A non-refundable deposit of $150.00 must be received with registration by January 15th, 2012. The balance is due on March 30th, 2012.
Cancellation Policy
No one wants to cancel a workshop but sometimes it is unavoidable. A refund of all except the $100.00 deposit will be issued for a cancellations up to one month before the start of the workshop. After that time, a refund will be issued only if the space can be filled.