Plein Aire Painting and Garden      

 Workshop   

Appledore Island                      

I have not scheduled a 2008 workshop on Appledore Island.  A Long Weekend workshop in September could occur if space becomes available in Cornell University's schedule for use of the facilities.  Format shows workshop as given in 2006.

Elizabeth Greaf organizes this very special art and garden workshop to be given on an historic island a few miles into the Ocean near the Maine / New Hampshire Coastline.  The workshop begins with an optional afternoon in the historic district of Portsmouth, NH on a Thursday.

About the location:  Appledore Island is known for the Gardens so carefully tended by Celia Thaxter in the 19th Century.  The former hotel and gardens became a very popular get away for artists and writers of the period.  Most well known of the artists is Childe Hassam whose American Impressionist paintings of the gardens are very popular today and can be found in the collections of many museums.  The gardens have been restored in keeping with Mrs. Thaxter's garden plan and plant materials.  The gardens will be just coming up in May and in full bloom later in the summer.  In May, the island is alive with large numbers of nesting sea gulls nesting near pathways as well in the more remote areas.

Appledore Island has a three mile coastline and covers 95 acres, making it the largest island in the Isles of Shoals. It is a registered Historic Site and a State of Maine Critical Natural Area, as a nesting site of herons and a rocky intertidal and subtidal area.  Today the island serves primarily as a marine science research and learning laboratory and is now maintained by Cornell University's Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML).

The workshop will focus on art and on the Appledore Island garden of Celia Thaxter. 

Elizabeth Greaf will be available to teach watercolor and drawing techniques as well as to help artists who may prefer to paint in oil.  She will also talk about the artwork of Childe Hassam and hopes to have access to facilities to show slides of his work and possibly art related video tapes in the evening.  There is additional information about the her artwork and teaching elsewhere in this website.

Island Views

If you have access to Power Point, click on photo to see Power Point Photos of Appledore.  Double click to open, then click to change views, it is a large file and may be slow to open.
All Photos in this slide show are by Elizabeth Greaf who holds the copyright  thereto.

Plan for the workshop:
We will assemble in Portsmouth, NH to paint and get acquainted the afternoon prior to departure for the Island.  This will enable us to assure that everyone is ready for the boat that will leave from a local dock the following morning.  The boat is operated by SML staff to support the various activities on the island.  They are very gracious in permitting us to paint on the island and use their buildings.  They will have to integrate our schedule with their own plans for use of their facilities.  We greatly appreciate the Laboratory giving us the opportunity to conduct a workshop on this very special island. 

During the Workshop, you may participate in any of the sessions that you chose.  If you prefer to just sit back and relax during some of the sessions, go ahead.

Workshop Plan (subject to change depending on weather and SML schedule):

Requirements:

Art Experience:  Both beginners and more advanced art students are welcome.  Detailed watercolor instruction will be available for those who need it and more general guidance for the advanced participants. Instruction in drawing, composition, and oil as needed.

Physical Requirements:  This is a rugged island, the boat is intended for transporting materials, staff, and students, it is not a ferry with seating.   You must be able to climb on and off the boat, stand during the trip, and walk over rough, rocky terrain on the island.  You must be able to handle any baggage and equipment that you take to the island and personally transport any painting materials to painting sites.  There is poison ivy on the island of which you will need to be cautious.  You must take personal responsibility for your own safety and health.  Health care resources are quite limited on this island campus and any significant medical problem would require transport back to the mainland at a time when the boat is scheduled to run or can operate safely, depending on the need and weather.  The life style is similar to that in a college dormitory with emphasis on fresh water and electric conservation due to the remote location.

No vehicles may be transported to the island. There are parking lots available in Portsmouth, NH. 

Materials and Equipment:  A materials list, packing suggestions and additional information about Portsmouth and Appledore Island will be provided upon receipt of your registration.  You can learn much about the area by following various links in this web page.

Appledore Island Today:

The following are some excerpts copied from the Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) website. 

SML is a seasonal field station located on Appledore Island. Lying six miles offshore from the Maine/New Hampshire border, this splendid 95 acre island is secluded, yet accessible.

Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) offers a unique opportunity to study marine science in the field with exceptional faculty from institutions throughout North America.

Appledore Island is a near-pristine, isolated environment. The island's facilities are simple, attractive and designed for utility. SML generates its own electricity and maintains systems for sewage disposal and fresh and salt water distribution.

The SML island operating staff of about twelve provides dining services and facilities support for our island campus and waterfront.

Program participants are housed two or four to a room in four modern dormitories with washroom facilities in each dorm. SML does not provide linens (certain exceptions apply). Fresh water is at a premium, so showers are limited, but salt water bathing is encouraged.

The kitchen is noted for its hearty cuisine, particularly fresh, local seafood dishes. For an extra $10 you can enjoy the region's most famous delicacy, lobster. Those with dietary preferences, such as vegetarians, generally find it easy to satisfy their needs. Meals are served three times daily, and twice on Sunday.

Click for more information about the Isles of Shoals.

Workshop Contacts: