Greenwich Historical Society is excited to offer a hands-on outdoor painting workshop experience this fall. Inspired by the painting traditions of Cos Cob art colony artists like John Henry Twachtman, Theodore Robinson, Childe Hassam, J. Alden Weir, and other American Impressionists influenced by Holley boarding house and its surroundings, Echoes of Impressionism workshop takes painting into the great outdoors.
Join instructor and master Impressionist Dmitri Wright for a day of painting on the historic Greenwich Historical Society campus. Step into the world of the Cos Cob Art Colony and learn to capture light, color, and atmosphere in the tradition of America’s great Impressionists who painted en plein air – or outside in the open, natural world. This open-air painting style allowed Impressionists to capture their own unique views of the landscapes around them. Participants will have the opportunity to actively engage in the technique and practice of the school of Impressionism through creation of their own artwork and relive the experience of the first Impressionist artists who were inspired by this historic landscape.
To further explore the world and works of the Impressionist masters, don’t forget to visit the upcoming exhibition The Holley Boarding House: Inspiring American Impressionism, open October 8th. This exhibition explores the life of the Holley family and their boarding house in Cos Cob, which attracted artists, writers, and others and became first Impressionist art colony in Connecticut during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Students will be required to supply their own materials and refreshments. Suggested art materials include a portable easel, canvas, and medium of choice (including watercolor, acrylics, and oils).
Artist Biography
Instructor Dmitri Wright walks in the footsteps of a long line of American Impressionists. His mentor Samuel Brecher studied under Charles W. Hawthorne, founder of the Cape Cod Art School and a student of artist William Merritt Chase. Wright studied under Reuben Tam as a Max Beckman International Scholar at the Brooklyn Museum and, while attending Cooper Union, studied under Wolf Kahn and Will Barnet.
He has taught as the Master Artist/Instructor at Weir Farm National Historic Site for American Impressionists and taught Impressionism at the Silvermine Art School. Wright’s work embodies the representational method of integrating impressionist and expressionist schools with an influence rooted in classic art.
He is the current curator of Then and Now at the Cos Cob Library, featured in the 120th Anniversary of American Impressionism one-man pop-up show, and with plein air gear and Impressionist painting demonstrations on permanent display at Weir Farm.
Registration
Please note registration and payment for this program is non-refundable. In the event you must cancel, we will consider your purchase a donation and will happily issue you a donation receipt. Please contact Director of Public Programs Lauren Ackerley at lackerley@greenwichhistory.org with any questions.