2025-07-20 – Rosemaling: A Cupboard, a Brush and Hans Belle (In-Person)
Schedule:
July 20-23 (9:00 am-5:00 pm CT)
Instructor:
Pam Rucinski
Location:
This is an in-person class held at Vesterheim Folk Art School.
This four-day in-person class will paint a Bostkast (comb cupboard) specially designed for us by woodworker extraordinaire, Mike Lusk, using the Hans Belle cupboard in the museum for inspiration. The class will be taught in oils.
During the class, we will explore the origins of the Lesja school of rosemaling with a deep dive into its differences as found in the Gudbrandsdal Valley, centered in Lillehammer.
Level of Instruction:
Students should have a working knowledge of basic rosemaling strokes and color mixing with appropriate skill levels ranging from intermediate to professional.
Acrylic painters with a good understanding of their colors and properties are welcome.
Supplies:
- Woodenware
- The Bostkast from Mike Lusk of Scandia Woodworks will be available for purchase through Vesterheim. The cupboard should be finished with two coats of Skugan Green—a deep, black-green hue—with light sanding between coats for a smooth finish.
- OPTIONAL: You may prefer to paint on a backgrounded mat board. If so, use Skugan Green paint, applied in two coats with sanding between each coat. Choose mat board sizes similar to those of the cupboard for consistency.
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Brushes – We will use round and liner brushes. Any brand that works well for you is acceptable.
- Rounds #2, 4, 6, and 8.
- Script liner #2
- Short Liners #1 and 2
- 2-inch foam brush for backgrounding
- Paints
- Boiled Linseed oil
- Odorless Paint Thinner (Pam prefers the Mona Lisa Brand with almost NO odor)
- Pam uses Rembrandt Oils unless otherwise noted:
- Prussian Blue
- Titanium White
- Light Oxide Red
- Ivory Black
- Yellow Ochre
- Mars Yellow (Old Holland brand)
- Raw Sienna (Grumbacher brand)
- Raw Umber
- Burnt Umber
- Cadmium Red Light
- Other supplies
- Pencil and notebook
- Kneaded rubber eraser
- Viva paper towels (This brand is the softest and most absorbent to be kind to your brushes.)
- Wipe out tool
- Disposable waxed paper palette
- Press-n-Seal
- Yellow chalk or an Aquarelle Watercolor Pencil – medium gray or yellow
- Green Frog tape, 1" wide
- Tracing paper, 11" x 14"
- Transfer paper
- Stylus
- Ruler
- Circle template
- Small T-square
- Gloves to protect your hands if we paint any textures
- Extra fine (120 grit) sandpaper
- Sponge makeup wedges
Enrollment Deadline:
Click here to learn more about instructor Pam Rucinski.
Please read our COVID-19 Policies here.
Rosemaling classes are supported in part by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Susan and George Louthain and The Wilma A. Anderson Endowment.