For those who are eager to step into the world of painting (or advance a practice that is already underway), this class breaks it all down into specific color assignments (8) that address painterly issues — composition, mixing pigments, understanding how light affects color, how to work with transparencies, translating observations into working color relationships, how to apply paint, prepare substrates (painting surfaces), with explanations about the manner of methods and materials. As important as anything is learning the language that defines color behavior that will be an integral part of weekly critiques.

Come to class empty-handed. Materials for the first session will be provided. A materials list will be handed out and reviewed when we first meet.

About the instructor: Kris Engman "I’m drawn to various subjects and materials as a painter of the land and life in Maine; my palette imitates the seasonally shifting behaviors of the terrain in and around Waldo County. The paintings are an expression of color in some sort of balance that feels connected to daily routines and observations. The role of the ‘story’ is minimized; attention is directed past what is going on in the painting toward how things relate visually to each other. The body of work is about color behavior and the arrangement of information; images are manipulated until a certain light condition is struck and a sense of territory is explained."

Kris received her MFA from the University of Pennsylvania and a BFA from the Maine College of Art. Since 2003, she has taught in the University of Maine Art Department, JanPlans at Colby College, and was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Colby for the 2022-23 academic year. As well as showing locally, Kris has exhibited at the Arden Gallery in Boston, the Schmidtberger Fine Arts Gallery in Pennsylvania, The Geras Tousignant Gallery In SanFrancisco CA, and at the Harbor Square Gallery in Rockland.