Rosemaling Classes

Vesterheim Museum Folk School

This class will be an in-depth study of the Telemark style of rosemaling with an emphasis on design. Students will study different examples of Telemark discussing the elements involved and how a design is composed. Try your hand at creating a design under Nancy's guidance if needed. The class will paint a piece from start to finish, selecting color and technique and finishing with antiquing.

Bring pieces you would like help creating a design for and painting. There will also be a design for a 18-inch rim plate for those who would like a design to follow.

Level of Instruction:
Some rosemaling experience is preferred, but beginners are welcome.

Vesterheim Museum Folk School

Rosemaling has its foundational roots in the traditional motifs of the Rococo and Baroque art movements and, while the classic and flowing C and S strokes are integral to all rosemaling, different areas of Norway embraced the characteristics of the traditions in unique ways. While there are many similarities between the interpretations, there are also distinctive differences.

We will explore these characteristics by studying rosemaling from Telemark and Gudbrandsdal. As our point of departure, we will use provided designs to create two unique pieces. Working with a comparable palette and woodenware, we will paint two 16-inch double-bordered plates, new woodenware by master woodworker Tim Montzkan (Vesterheim Gold Medalist), made especially for our class!

In creating the two pieces, we will evaluate the strong similarities inherent in all rosemaling while developing an understanding of the differences between styles and why they might be.

This will be an exciting opportunity to delve deeply into the structure of rosemaling design, color use, and history of the art as we immerse ourselves for five days painting rosemaling together. We will visit the permanent Vesterheim collection in the Bauder-Landsgard Collection Study Center, which houses behind-the-scenes archives.

Vesterheim Museum Folk School

Mona Stenseth Erlandsen will engage you in a contemporary rosemaling experience that respects the history and tradition of the roots of Norwegian cultural heritage – but at the same time asks for reflection on what «rosemaling» means today, inspiring you to explore new directions without disrespecting our ancestors. We will be breaking down the rules to learn how to play respectfully with our language of heritage.

Her class presentation combines creativity with common sense and individual thinking, as she discusses related topics – from paint medium choices and color mixing and how to create balance and harmony with your own original designs. Mona is especially excited to help you find inspiration from objects in the Vesterheim collection. By breaking down an old rosemaling example into its different style elements, you will discover ways to create fresh, individual expressions. Welcome to an art class that will help you learn and play with the concept of "identity"!

Vesterheim Museum Folk School

Mona Stenseth Erlandsen will engage you in a contemporary rosemaling experience that respects the history and tradition of the roots of Norwegian cultural heritage – but at the same time asks for reflection on what «rosemaling» means today, inspiring you to explore new directions without disrespecting our ancestors. We will be breaking down the rules to learn how to play respectfully with our language of heritage.

Her class presentation combines creativity with common sense and individual thinking, as she discusses related topics – from paint medium choices and color mixing and how to create balance and harmony with your own original designs. Mona is especially excited to help you find inspiration from objects in the Vesterheim collection. By breaking down an old rosemaling example into its different style elements, you will discover ways to create fresh, individual expressions. Welcome to an art class that will help you learn and play with the concept of "identity"!