Watercolor Workshop
With
International Artist, Hilmar Gottesthal
September 24-26, 2010
Watercolor Workshop artist Hilmar Gottesthal (see his entire biography) has impressive credentials but also has a gentle informal manner when working with watercolor artists of all levels of experience. He graduated from the University of Vienna and the Fine Arts Academy of Vienna in Austria with the two highest prizes. Then he chose to follow his interest in Byzantine art to Istanbul, Turkey living there and in Greece for 30 years. Turkey gave him a medal for his cultural contributions and National Greek television made a movie of his life as an artist. He has exhibited at Rockefeller Center NYC, London, Paris, Hamburg, Athens, and Vienna and his art work is in several European museums and the White House.
He occasionally agrees to work with a small group of artists of all levels and ages touring them around to different locations and letting them work while he walks between them encouraging, sometimes making suggestions and answering technical questions. He will assist each person on a personal level with solving problems as they arise.
On Friday evening the group will first check in at Town Hill B & B but then travel five minutes to his nearby woodland studios for a wine & cheese gathering to get acquainted, observe his watercolors and techniques which he will demonstrate. You will see watercolor not only on paper but on canvas. While Gottesthal works in watercolor, oil, ink, and sculpts in marble, stone and wood this workshop will concentrate on traditional watercolor used in a contemporary manner. He will discuss “thinking different”.
The group will meet again on Saturday morning after breakfast when each artist will seek out a vista or motif of forest, buildings, pond, or nook that catches their eye. Individuals are responsible for providing their own easel, watercolors, and any other materials needed. There will be lunch at noon and then resume painting with Gottesthal doing his rounds until 5 p.m. when Saturday’s session will be finished in time for an all you can eat buffet.
Town Hill B. & B. is located on the First National Highway which is Scenic 40 just a mile or so off I-68W. This is an historic inn nearly 100 years old recently renovated as a bed and breakfast offering single, double, and triple rooms with or without private bathrooms each uniquely furnished. Non-painting spouses will enjoy reading in hallway sitting rooms; glass enclosed garden room, stone fireplace gathering area and a gift shop or walking the mountain pathways. Town Hill has become known for their gourmet breakfast and the all you can eat buffet featuring Town Hill Chicken. (Special dietary needs should be made known in advance)
Immediately across the road is a famous scenic overlook, featured on turn of the century post cards as the “beauty spot of Maryland”. There is a very large covered roof area in case of inclement weather. The B. & B. itself may be a choice subject for a painting with it’s a rambling building nestled next to tall pines, or take the path leading into Green Ridge State Forest where you can find some old ruins, or check out the interesting side buildings. In the back there is a lovely gazebo, the perfect wedding location, stone pond and a covered pavilion with tables for painting. So not only are there plenty of painterly images but cover from rain or sun with restrooms at the hand.
Sunday after yet another famous Town Hill breakfast the artists will gather to display their watercolors and Gottesthal will review and discuss the various works. The owners of the B. & B. will select their personal favorite piece for a prize. Artists who wish to stay and paint for the rest of the day or spend an additional night or nights may make arrangements.
The price for the entire weekend, classes with Hilmar Gottesthal, lodging for two nights (double occupancy), two breakfasts, lunch and dinner Saturday and the wine and cheese gathering, is just $275 per person, double occupancy.
Watch for these coming events:
Spring Bird Watching and Counting Weekend
Personal Retreat Weekends
Pottery Weekends