Intro to Swedish Dalmålning Folk Painting

Explore the art of the kurbit in this intro-level Swedish folk painting class led by folk artist Pieper Bloomquist! Dalmålning, also known as Kurbits Painting or Dala painting, flourished in Sweden in the 18th and 19th centuries, and is used today to decorate Sweden’s iconic Dala horses. Originally painted on cloth or paper canvas, these paintings depicted everything from biblical stories to local history. In this class, students will adapt flower and leaf designs from traditional paintings in the Swedish region of Dalarna and combine them to create their own designs. Contemporary folk artist Pieper Bloomquist will demonstrate a variety of techniques throughout the day using acrylic paints, although the design skills covered can also be adapted to other media, such as watercolor, oil, markers, and more. Please note this is a skill-building class that welcomes all levels of students, and students may not head home with a finished project.

A $25 materials fee covers all painting materials, but bring a sketchbook/blank paper and writing utensils for sketching and note-taking. If you already own them, bring a Sta-wet acrylic palette and your favorite brushes in any or all of the following sizes: round in size #2, #4, #6, or liner in size #3/0, #1. Brushes and palettes are also available to loan in class. Finally, you may also wish to wear an apron or otherwise wear clothes that can get a little messy. Suitable for any skill level, ages 12+.