2026-02-05 – Rosemaling in the Style of Ole Heimvågsåsen (Online)
Schedule:
Four Thursdays, February 5-26 (6-8:30 pm CT)
Instructor:
Louise Bath
Location:
This is an online class hosted on Zoom.
Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag produced a wide variety of rosemaling painters and styles. In this class, Vesterheim Gold Medalist Louise Bath will focus on Ole Olsen Heimvågsåsen, who was a prolific and distinguished rosemaler. He lived in Snåsa, Nord-Trøndelag, around 1800. He became known for reddish-brown painted cupboards with green rosemaling panels. He also painted trunks, usually blue with red bands. Perhaps he also made these pieces of furniture himself – in the census of 1801 he is listed as a carpenter and painter.
Heimvågsåsen had a distinctive style with tulips, roses, fruits, and small flowers in red, orange and white growing from urns, and vases or on swaying stems swinging up from a volute at the bottom left. A rhythmic multitude of black brushstrokes make up the foliage. He used small flower stencils throughout the painting and to surround the green panels. In an exhibition by the Snåsa Historielag in 1979, the majority of the rose-painted chests and cupboards were thought to have been painted by Ole Heimvågsåsen between 1790 and 1820. His style is elegant, flowing, and unique.
In this class we will paint a box showing the variety of flowers and foliage he used. A limited palette is used to create the variations in those flowers, and the foliage stands as black shadows tossed on playfully. Louise hopes students will enjoy this interpretation of the style of a unique Rosemaling Master.
Level of instruction:
Intermediate to advanced rosemaling experience.
Supplies:
NOTE: Students will provide their own supplies for this class – no kit is included in the cost of registration. A complete supply list is included below, with options for both oil and acrylic painters. Please email folkartschool@vesterheim.org with any questions.
- The wood piece is a box with lid and key available from Vesterheim Museum. It measures 8 ¼ x 7 x 4 ¼ inches. You can purchase the box here.
- Background paints:
- Jo Sonja Norwegian Orange Series 1
- Jo Sonja Background Color Forest Green
- Jo Sonja Background Color Linen
- Folk Art Matte Mossy Meadow 6456
- Oil Palette:
- Titanium White
- Yellow Ochre
- Raw Umber
- Burnt Sienna
- Cadmium Orange (or can use Cadmium Red Light and Cadmium Yellow Medium)
- Cadmium Red Light
- Mars Black
- Mediums: M. Graham Walnut Alkyd, or Linseed Oil and Gamblin Galkyd Gel
- Jo Sonja Acrylic Palette:
- Titanium White
- Yellow Oxide
- Raw Umber
- Burnt Sienna
- Carbon Black
- Suggestions for an orange color are Naphthol Red Light plus Yellow Light or Norwegian Orange plus Jaune Brilliant. An Alternate Orange Color is Tiger Lily
- Mediums: Jo Sonja Gel Retarder and Retarder, Magic Mix or any JS Medium to blend colors.
- Brushes: #2 and #4 Filberts (or #2 and #4 Rounds), 10/0 script liners, and # 1 or #2 script liner. A large flat brush to background.
- General Supplies are: Waxed Palette Paper for Oils, Prepared Acrylic Palette to keep paint moist, Tracing Paper, Dark Graphite paper to transfer design, Palette Knife with sharp point, Scotch Tape, Brush Holder, Fine Sandpaper, Soft Paper Toweling, Clear Food Wrap such as Glad Wrap, a small Hair Dryer, Backgrounded Cardboard to practice on, Your Favorite Brush Cleaner.
Additional Supplies:
Students will need to provide a computer, laptop, or tablet with a camera and mic as well as a fast, reliable internet connection.
Special Instructions:
When registering for the class, please make sure to use the mailing and email addresses you'd like the Zoom meeting invitations sent to. You will receive links to the Zoom sessions by email sometime during the week prior to the class. If this class is a gift, please sign up with the recipient's mailing and email addresses or be prepared to forward the kit and all communications.
Enrollment Deadline:
January 22, 2026
Click here to learn more about instructor Louise Bath.
Rosemaling classes are supported in part by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Susan and George Louthain and by the Wilma A. Anderson Endowment.