HSEAD teachers will be presenting workshops at the Farmers' Museum in August and September as part of their More House Master Craft Series. Interested members can contact the Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown at 1 888-547-1450 Ext. 410 for more information and to register.
Country Tin Painting
with Anne Dimock
August 10, 11, 12
Decorative artist and teacher
Anne Dimock of Trumansburg, New York, whose many years of training reflect the
standards of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration, will guide
students through techniques including background preparation, the brush stroke,
paints and colors found in designs and finishes. You will learn about the
history of the craft, see some original examples and will work toward completing
a practice piece during our time together.
Country Tin Painting is one of the few decorative painting arts truly indigenous
to America. Tin Peddlers of the early 1880s began having their wares painted,
often employing family members to brighten up the housewife's kitchen shelves.
What began in Connecticut quickly spread to tinshops throughout the Northeast.
Cooperstown's neighboring village of Fly Creek was home to Stephen North, one of
the tradition's most important early artisans.
Introduction to Theorem Painting
with Alice Smith
August 24, 25, 26
This class is intended for those who
have never tried Theorem Painting and for those Theorem painters who wish to
review or enhance their Theorem Painting skills. The complete series of skills
and techniques required to become a theorem artisan will be introduced: cutting
stencils, mounting velvet and applying color plus instruction in proper framing.
Enjoying a revival along with other early folk art and early New England
School girl art forms (those taught in young girl academies in early 1800s) is
Theorem Painting. Theorem Painting involves a process of using oil tube paints
and a set of overlay stencils to create a picture.
Family Record Workshop
with Helga Johnson
September 7, 8, 9
This class will introduce basic
calligraphy and simple design options for creating various types of family
records. The workshop will be led by Helga Johnson, a member of the Historical
Society of Early American Decoration who has been a certified instructor for the
organization for many years. One of her interests is the art of the Fraktur
which is associated with the Pennsylvania Germans. She has done many adaptations
of Wedding, Baptismal, and House Blessing Frakturs.
Hand-drawn and colored Family Records were both important documents and
delightful decorative arts in Early America.