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Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education



Arts & Crafts

Artist-in-Residence Program

$5

with Merrymeeting Staff

Calendar Current session started Mar 1, 2024 at 8 am

For the Fall 2024 season, Merrymeeting will be hosting our second annual artist-in-residence program for Maine artists. In fact, we will be supporting two residencies this Fall; one based out of Topsham/Bowdoinham and the other based out of the Bath/Wiscasset region. As our arts community has expanded over the last few years, we have recognized the need to support Maine artists in a more direct way. Maine artists and the local arts communities we serve are the backbone of our cultural footprint. The more we promote them, by developing opportunities to showcase their work, the stronger our communities will be for it.

Eligibility: Any visual artist living and working in Maine may apply. All types of studio practices are welcome. Current students in accredited post-secondary fine art programs are ineligible to apply.

NOTE: AIR application will be emailed directly to you after registration.

Quick Details:

  • Partnering Art Gallery: Merrymeeting Arts Center (Topsham/Bowdoinham residency)
  • Partnering Art Gallery: Chocolate Church Arts Center (Bath/Wiscasset residency)
  • Type of Residency: Day program for working Maine artists (no living space provided, only studio space)
  • Length of Residency: 4 weeks (Sept 2024 for Topsham/Bowdoinham residency, Oct 2024 for Bath/Wiscasset residency)
  • Studio space for Topsham residency will be at 35 Republic Ave, 04086; Studio space for Bath residency will be at 34 Wing Farm Pkwy, 04530.
  • Artist Stipend: $1,000.00
  • Materials Stipend: Up to $250.00 (via reimbursement)
  • Marketing Budget: Up to $150.00 (used by Merrymeeting)

AIR Artist Commitments:

  • Artist Talk (one night) in the 1st week of residency.
  • Public Engagement Activity (one night) in the 2nd week of residency.
  • Culminating Project (solo show) in the 4th week of residency.
  • One-time donation of one piece from solo show to Merrymeeting.

FMI: Contact Jose Rodriguez Jr. at rodriguezj@link75.org

Application period: 2/1-6/1

Intro to Narrative Arts: Level 3

$125

with Vance Bessey

Calendar Next available session starts Apr 1, 2024 at 6 pm, runs for 12 weeks

This 12 week course continues where Narrative Arts 2 left off - working with the drawing techniques used to create your own: Comic Book or Graphic Novel Series, Single Panel Gag Cartoons, Comic Strips, 3D Animation, Children’s Books, Storyboards for Movies or Video Game Design. This Class is open only to students that have already completed both Narrative Arts 1&2, OR students with enough artistic ability to work at this level. Consultation by phone with Instructor Vance Bessey will be necessary before signing up for students who haven’t yet had Level 1 & 2 training. Contact me through Merrymeeting Adult Education. Taught by Vance Bessey, a graduate of The Joe Kubert School of Comic Book Illustration and local Illustrator, Cartoonist, Novelist and Art Teacher. ***NO CLASS: 4/15, 5/27.

Watercolor Using Decalcomania
Registration Unavailable

Watercolor Using Decalcomania

$120

with Linda Murray

Decalcomania is a technique that was first used by the surrealists to make fine art images.This technique is fun and playful, allowing the student to work spontaneously. It can be used to create trees, landscapes, flowers, abstract images or even portraitures using watercolor and plastic wrap. Decalcomania provides wonderful texture which we will learn to develop further once it's dry. For the beginner, it is advised to use a tree or stump as your subject; one with interesting bark, moss and gnarly roots is a good choice. For this class we are only concerned with the bottom portion of the tree. We will not be painting foliage. Bring your reference photos in if you want to paint a tree or landscape. There will be a demo of creating a tree and landscape during the first class. Class is 6 sessions. Materials list will be provided upon registration. Participants should already be comfortable painting with watercolors to get the most out of this experience.

10x10 Art & Artists: Women Who Rocked the Art World!

$185

with Jennifer Linskey

Calendar Next available session starts Apr 2, 2024 at 1 pm, runs for 10 weeks

Rachel Ruysch enjoyed great fame during the Dutch Golden Age, in a career spanning over 6 decades. Artemisia Gentileschi, an Italian Baroque painter, was the first woman to become a member of the Academy of Art and Design in Florence. Hear these women’s, (plus 8 more), incredible stories! Expand your knowledge of artistic time periods and make a piece each week utilizing ideas the “female artist of the week” thought about. This class is part art history, part looking at an artist’s work in-depth, and part synthesizing the learning. We will discuss what inspired our female artist of the week, learn interesting tidbits and facts about their art and working methods, and the remaining ⅔ of class will be your studio project. Beginners have made wonderful pieces in this class. Every student’s work looks different–and the ideas we look at will translate, and be helpful to, further art exploration. Most of this class is drawing and painting. However, there will be a week of sculpture and a week of printmaking to give you a taste and appreciation for these media. Join us for a look at 10 fascinating female artists! *No Class: 5/21 + 6/11.

Painting From Observation

$165

with Jennifer Linskey

Calendar Next available session starts Apr 4, 2024 at 1 pm, runs for 10 weeks

Each week we will work from a still life set-up and you will be exposed to basic painting concepts. You will learn about underpainting, color palettes, and color mixing. There is drawing in observational painting. If you haven't had any drawing experience or training, you are still welcome. I will show you drawing basics, and you'll need to have patience with this process. As you look you will gradually see more and more nuances, connections, and color variations. Your weekly painting will convey this looking experience. Even if you are interested in working from imagination or abstraction, this way of painting will give you information about how colors behave, how color affects form, and ways to compose: all helpful tools no matter what art direction you choose moving forward. *No Class: 4/18 and 5/16.

Drawing with Wool
Registration Unavailable

Drawing with Wool

$135

with Megan Franasiak

In this course, we will explore two-dimensional felting techniques including wet felting and needle felting. Students will learn how to create fiber works incorporating wool while focusing on color usage and basic drawing techniques. Students may also incorporate other fiber media if desired. No experience is required! Materials will be provided.

Acrylic Pour 101

$120

with Linda Murray

Calendar Next available session starts Apr 5, 2024 at 9:30 am, runs for 6 weeks

This class is designed to accommodate those that are new to acrylic pouring and those that would like to fine tune their pouring techniques or learn a new technique. It is not crucial that you have drawing or painting skills, but we will discuss composition and color theory in the first class. Students will learn how to do a Dirty Flip Cup Pour, Ring Pour, Dutch Pour and Pearl Pour in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Developing a painting after it is dry, varnishing and preparing a piece for hanging will also be demonstrated at the end of the class. Students are responsible for purchasing their own materials for this class and will be given a materials list upon enrollment. Class is 6 sessions.

Book Binding for Beginners

$75

with Joelle Webber

Calendar Next available session starts Apr 9, 2024 at 5:30 pm, runs for 3 weeks

Join us for this introductory class in craft book binding. This 3-week class will cover various techniques and materials including Decorative Calligraphic Papers, Pamphlet Books, and Pocket Books. Each class will focus on a different topic. Materials & Tools provided.





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