Rosemaling Classes

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Folk School

This is a project painting class. The project is a 16” plate. The center is approximately 10” in diameter with two borders. surrounding the center. The background color on the plate is black green (DecoArt Americana).

And as always, you may use any background color you wish, you don’t have to have the same background color I use. Palette colors can be determined in class if necessary.

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Folk School

This class is designed for painters with prior rosemaling experience who are ready to deepen their work in the Hallingdal tradition. Students will decorate a traditional Mora stool using classic Hallingdal elements — bold color contrasts, balanced symmetry, dramatic flowers, and strong line work.

Emphasis will be placed on refining brush control, developing confident S and C strokes, and strengthening shading, highlighting, and veining techniques characteristic of Hallingdal. Instruction will include demonstrations, discussion of layout and design balance, and guided work time as students adapt the pattern to a functional wooden surface.

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Folk School

The class will be working on a 16" scooped bowl using a Telemark design that is inspired by a piece found in Norway at the Norske Folk Museum in Oslo. The piece pictured here is from the Vesterheim collection and similar to the piece found in Norway. Students will discuss rosemaling from the Telemark area of Norway and visit the collection at Vesterheim to uncover additional pieces that will inspire you for this and future classes. This class starts on Thursday evening to give you time to purchase your wooden wear and paint the background. The design you will be painting is mainly flowers and lacks the Telemark scrolls commonly found in many examples from this area of Norway. However, this design incorporates the lovely asymmetrical flow that typically represents Telemark.

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Folk School

In this class we will explore the Os style of rosemaling, which is from the west coast of Norway south of Bergen in Hordaland. Os is a fun style of painting. With this project we will be using a bright color palette. You will learn what the characteristics are that define the Os style and what makes it unique. We will discuss the elements of design that are used in Os. The project is an Os style tray, and the woodenware is also characteristic of that area. The instructor will have other designs available or gladly help you make a design of your own. She will encourage students to try designing, which helps to understand the style better. Her biggest goal is to help you understand the Os style!