Join us at Barn Gallery in Ogunquit, Maine on Tuesday, August 12th for a “Vinegar Painting Workshop” (from 10AM-3PM) led by Ogunquit Art Association artist-member Pamela Bearor-Amiralian.

Suggested Workshop donation: $75 PLUS *materials fee $20.00.

Preregistration recommended. Call Barn Gallery: 207-646-8400.

LEARN MORE: https://barngallery.org/event/vinegar-painting-workshop-by-pamela-bearor-amiralian-ogunquit-art-association/ 

Come join professional artist Pamela Bearor-Amiralian as she presents a workshop focused on bringing Vinegar Painting into the 21st century. The workshop will be an exploration of the historical folk-art finish (Vinegar painting) used in the colonies during the 1700’s/1800’s. This painting method was popular during this time partly because of the shortage of paint coming from Europe. It was used primarily on furniture and wood decorating items in the home (doors and trims), and storage boxes. The technique was a way to imitate woodgrain and well as fantasy designs. The lack of resin can be an advantage, it allows the artist to play, manipulate until satisfied.  Painted by a novice or serious painter, each piece shows the pleasure and joy this method offers.

Workshop objective:
In this workshop, students will begin by familiarizing themselves with the various materials used in folk-art painting, including artists’ pigments, learning how to handle, purchase, and store them properly. They’ll explore the techniques needed to achieve the distinctive folk-art finish and apply their skills by creating practice boards, building a portfolio of different styles for future reference. By the end of the course, they’ll be able to craft a finished piece on a Masonite board, incorporating all they’ve learned.

Throughout the process, there will be opportunities to discuss their creative exploration and problem-solving. Additionally, they’ll master the use of shellac — learning that while most materials can be cleaned with water, shellac requires ammonia, which is reused in a dedicated container before a final water rinse. This hands-on experience will equip them with both the knowledge and confidence to continue their artistic journey.

All skill levels are welcome.

Vinegar Painting Workshop (w/ Pamela Bearor-Amiralian)
Tuesday, August 12th (from 10AM – 3PM)
Suggested donation: $75 PLUS *material fee $20

Preregistration recommended. Call Barn Gallery: 207-646-8400.

About The Workshop Instructor: Pamela Bearor-Amiralian

Come join professional artist + educator Pamela Bearor-Amiralian as she presents a Vinegar Painting workshop at Barn Gallery in Ogunquit, Maine.

Pam’s career has spanned a variety of mediums, designs, and creative concepts. ?She has created contemporary and eclectic interior designs ranging from elegant condominiums at The Intercontinental Residences Boston to community-focused work for the Essex Art Center and Our House Lawrence.??Pam received her BFA from Massachusetts College of Art with post-graduate work at RISD, New Hampshire Institute of Art, and Kendall Center for the Arts. She works out of her studio in North Andover, Massachusetts.

Artist’s Statement
My background in design helps to inform all of my work. The principles of design (balance, unity, harmony, contrast, emphasis, scale, and rhythm) and elements of design (point, line, plane, texture, and color) combine together to give my art substance. My canvases and panels blend contemporary design with vinegar paint, a late 18th century, American technique of combining artists’ pigments and apple cider vinegar with dish soap or sugar. I discovered this form of painting when studying decorative finishes, and it took hold of my imagination. Vinegar paint provides a phenomenal degree of detail and precision. Intricate, sharp lines and patterns pop from the pigment, creating the optical illusion of depth. These patterns maintain a curious originality that is deepened by texture and the illusions of movement throughout my art. These thoughtful juxtapositions work symbiotically to create a peaceful complexity. I pull from the macro view of the cosmos to the microbiology imagery in nature. My work almost always starts from the smallest element to the largest. I’m passionate about the way this process allows the work to unfold as a meditation; shapes first emerge from a colored pencil sketch then continue to evolve through this exploratory paint process. As the vinegar dries the only thing left on the panels is the pigment. There is no suspension matter to interfere with the pigment. There is nothing between the viewer, the textures and the colors. The final works, with their intricate detail, organic or geometric shapes, and rich tones, recall life’s impressions, experiences, and relationships. My most recent panels have been a conscious connectedness to the spiritual process of meditation and the creation of art.

LEARN MORE: https://barngallery.org/event/vinegar-painting-workshop-by-pamela-bearor-amiralian-ogunquit-art-association/