Your instructor, Chris Toy is the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian-fusion cooking for several Maine community education programs. Cooking students will learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created.

An award-winning Grand Victorian sea captain's home, The Homeport Inn and Tavern has 9 private suites tastefully updated with comfortable furnishings.  There is live music each evening in the tavern. 

The $495 tuition includes all lunches and dinners (beverages can be purchased through the tavern). Specially discounted rates including breakfasts, are available by contacting the Inn. 

Feedback from recent participants: 

“I learned so much from Chris that I can use immediately at home in my own kitchen"  "Great kitchen hints!'

Your instructor, Mary Laury is an accomplished watercolorist and highly esteemed teacher. She encourages all her students to believe they can be successful. Painting is an exciting medium; it flows and moves and does beautiful things. If you have never painted in watercolors, we will start at the beginning. If you have painted before, you will pick up some new tips and tricks as well. We all learn together!  

An award-winning Grand Victorian sea captain's home, The Homeport Inn and Tavern has 9 private suites tastefully updated with comfortable furnishings.  There is live music each evening in the tavern. 

The $495 tuition includes all lunches and dinners (beverages can be purchased through the tavern). Specially discounted rates including breakfasts, are available by contacting the Inn. 

Feedback from recent participants: 

“Great instructor!-Mary acts as a guide to develop our own style."  "Easy, no stress instruction." 

This course introduces students to the techniques and methods of the depiction of the human figure through direct observational drawing.

We will be working from models online to investigate movement, volume, and anatomy of the human form. We will learn perspective to draw the figure in space. Students will practice with a variety of subjects such as themselves, people with whom they live, family members, or pets. Students will be given assignments and documents such as illustrations of anatomy, references to art history and artists’ works.  Makeup class, if needed, 04/26/24.

For supplies we will use large drawing pads, pencils, pens and charcoal.

France Hilbert has taught classes at College of the Atlantic since 2018. She is a professional artist and art educator with an extensive resume of training and experience including major commissions and installations. Her artistic education began at the age of seven, when she was taught by her grandfather, the late artist Jaro Hilbert. From him, she received a thorough education in the classical tradition. She pursued her formal education at the National Fine Art Academy of Paris, France, (ENSBA), was an artist in residence in Copenhagen, studied German Expressionism in Berlin, and traveled extensively to paint and study around Europe and abroad. At the Art Students League of New York, she received a Merit Scholarship to master portraiture in painting and completed a Certificate in Sculpture. She was selected for “Model to Monument”, a sculpture program at The Academy of Art, Newington Cropsey Foundation, Hastings on Hudson, NY and received an Edward G. McDowell Travel Grant from the Art Students League of New York. Of her many public and private commissions, some are permanent installations. “Talma”, a 7-foot bronze sculpture is installed in the public square of the Theatre of the Valley of L’Yerres, in Brunoy, France. A pair of 4-foot bronze relief sculptures entitled ”The Calling” are installed at the Georgetown University Medical School building in Washington, DC.

Students will learn the fundamentals of portrait drawing. They will study individual features, learn proportions, and anatomical structure.  Students will be challenged to make decisions as they work to express their perspective and personal interpretation, culminating in a life-size portrait. This class will also involve sketching from a live model, drawing the full forms, learning about movement, volume, and composition. This is a live, online class using ZOOM.  Makeup class, if needed, 03/25/24.

For supplies, we will use large drawing pads, pencils, pens and charcoal.  

France Hilbert has taught classes at College of the Atlantic since 2018. She is a professional artist and art educator with an extensive resume of training and experience including major commissions and installations. Her artistic education began at the age of seven, when she was taught by her grandfather, the late artist Jaro Hilbert. From him, she received a thorough education in the classical tradition. She pursued her formal education at the National Fine Art Academy of Paris, France, (ENSBA), was an artist in residence in Copenhagen, studied German Expressionism in Berlin, and traveled extensively to paint and study around Europe and abroad. At the Art Students League of New York, she received a Merit Scholarship to master portraiture in painting and completed a Certificate in Sculpture. She was selected for “Model to Monument”, a sculpture program at The Academy of Art, Newington Cropsey Foundation, Hastings on Hudson, NY and received an Edward G. McDowell Travel Grant from the Art Students League of New York. Of her many public and private commissions, some are permanent installations. “Talma”, a 7-foot bronze sculpture is installed in the public square of the Theatre of the Valley of L’Yerres, in Brunoy, France. A pair of 4-foot bronze relief sculptures entitled ”The Calling” are installed at the Georgetown University Medical School building in Washington, DC.

 You can draw! Anyone can learn to draw. This 4-week class will teach you how to draw what you see. This class will give you a jump start to drawing accurately and give you confidence to draw for pleasure or as a base for your painting. Get ready for a whole world of seeing details that you have never noticed before!  This is an in-person class.​  To see the supply list, click here.

Makeup date, if needed, 3/5/24.

​Mary Laury served as the founding Executive Director of Schoodic Arts for All, an award winning non-profit organization celebrating the arts and culture in Downeast Maine for over 20 years. The botanical subjects and dynamic nature of Maine are Mary's passions. An experienced teacher, she has taught painting and drawing in classrooms and in the field for many programs throughout her career.

Watercolor Painting is an exciting medium; it flows and moves and does beautiful things. Instructor Mary Laury has been recognized for her work by the Maine Arts Commission.  Participants will do landscapes and seascapes in this 4-session course. If you have never painted in watercolors, we will start at the beginning. If you have painted before, you may pick-up some new tips and tricks as well. We all learn together!   This is a live online course using ZOOM.  To see the supply list, click here.

Makeup class, if needed, 03/05/24.

Mary Laury served as the founding Executive Director of Schoodic Arts for All, an award winning non-profit organization celebrating the arts and culture in Downeast Maine for over 20 years. The botanical subjects and dynamic nature of Maine are Mary's passions. An experienced teacher, she has taught painting and drawing in classrooms and in the field for many programs throughout her career.

By focusing first on what you see and then on how to capture your own vision of what’s before you, you’ll be well on the road to making your camera work for you. It’s easier than you might think! If you’re ready to explore how you see what’s around you, learn and share with others, and experiment, this is the course for you. If you’re intimidated by all the settings and functions on your camera and wondering if these mysteries will be solved - indeed, it will be one of the keys to capturing what you see. Three evening sessions, followed by an early morning Saturday field trip and a wrap-up sharing and learning session.

There will be assignments, as experimenting is critical to the journey. You don’t need a fancy camera for this course, whatever device you have on hand will be just right. Do you know how to share photos by email or using a thumb drive? If not, contact our program before the course begins and we will teach you how to do this.   This is an in-person course. 

Join percussionist Tom Rush in exploring rhythm that’s good for your heart and soul.  You’ll learn rudimental  drumming rhythms as a tool to open the mind and meditation.   If you’re looking for a formal drumming workshop this isn’t for you. Tom’s journey has been influenced by African and Indian rhythms and he’s been exploring their impact on his meditation and spiritual path.  He’s hoping you’ll join with intention, in the Shamanistic traditions,  and find your own meditation and spiritual path.  Each person’s journey will be unique.   If you have a drum, bring it along. If you don’t have one, Tom will have some to share.