Landscape as Laboratory

Learn the basics of strong landscape painting while utilizing collage as an exciting tool to see and construct inuitive, personal paintings.
About this Event

Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00AM-5:00PM (August 18 -22). Part of the Plein Air Art Festival.

This innovative workshop will be team taught by Liam Murphy-Torres and Francie Cook, both recent MFA graduates of the New York Studio School

Morning sessions run 10am-1pm and afternoon sessions run 2pm-5pm.

Landscape Laboratory is a week-long workshop exploring the Maine landscape through a combination of plein air painting and collage. Looking closely at the work of the Impressionists, primarily Cézanne and Matisse, alongside Lois Dodd and Fairfield Porter, two painters whose work was deeply informed by the landscape of Maine, we will examine how artists have approached direct observation and consider what their discoveries can offer our own practices.

The mornings, taught by Liam Murphy-Torres, will focus on painting from direct observation. Working outdoors among Maine's land and sea, participants will develop strategies for seeing and responding to a motif while strengthening their ability to convey space, light, atmosphere, and form. Through sustained observation, we will build a deeper understanding of structure and the visual relationships that give a painting its strength.

In the afternoons, taught by Francie Cook, participants will shift from painting to collage. Using the morning's paintings as source material, collage becomes a tool for simplification, experimentation, and invention. Participants will work on small, fast collages, rather than large works. Using collage as a means to explore new compositions, edit observations, and discover unexpected possibilities through cutting, layering, and rearranging forms.

Together, painting and collage create a highly generative process. The paintings inform the collages, and the collages, in turn, become studies for future paintings. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of plein air painting, a body of work developed throughout the week, and a collection of collage studies and ideas to carry back into their studio practice.

See a detailed materials list below the artist bio.

There will be a lunch break from 1:00pm-2:00pm. You can bring your own lunch or check out one of the local restaurants in Yarmouth.

$750 workshop fee* does not include materials.
*ACT NOW for the EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT of $150 OFF to attend for $600. Discount ends 6/30/26.

NOTE: Eventbrite charges non-refundable processing fees for online payments and now displays these fees in the total ticket price shown on this event listing.

About the instructors:

Liam Murphy Torres is a MFA Graduate of New York Studio school. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. https://liammurphytorres.com/?page_id=8

Education

2024-Present, MFA, New York Studio School. New York, NY.

2020,2024, Mount Gretna School of Art. Mount Gretna, PA.

2023, Barnes-DeMazia Certificate, Barnes Foundation. Philadelphia, PA.

2018-2022, BFA, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Philadelphia, PA.

2018-2020, Intermittent Study, Art Students League of New York. New York, NY.

Francie Cook is a MFA Graduate of New York Studio school. She was born in 1997 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is an emerging oil painter currently based in New York. She is best known for her intimate depictions of loved ones, all drawn or painted from direct observation. Cook’s work is guided by materiality, often incorporating elements of collage that work in tandem with paint, ink, and charcoal. Her practice is further characterized by a loose, painterly application and a strong awareness of the geometric structure of the rectangle. Francie Cook has exhibited across the United States and Europe. She holds a BFA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and has studied at the New York Studio School and the Art Students League of New York. In 2025, she founded the Francis Cook Gallery in New York and Berlin.

Click to view our cancellation policy.

MATERIALS LIST:

Recommended Painting Materials

French Easel or Pochade box

Plexiglass or wood pallette

Drawing Board (Wood or masonite panel roughly 18” x 24”)

Heavyweight Paper 

This should either be a watercolor paper that can be sealed with gesso or shellac, or a paper specifically designed for painting on (Arches oil, for example) You will need a lot, buy an 18”x24” pad or a roll. This is the same surface that will be used for collaging.

Artist Tape

Disposable shop towels or Viva Paper towels

Plastic bag for storing/disposing of used rags

Palette Knives

Synthetic Brushes

You do not need anything fancy or expensive. You do need a range of shapes and sizes- rounds, flats, filberts, from small to large. Have at least three to four brushes that are a size 10+. One inch chip brushes can be found at a local hardware store and are incredibly useful.

Paint (oil or acrylic)

If you already have some experience, bring the palette you are most familiar and comfortable working with. If you are new to painting or would like to change your current set up, I recommend the following colors:

-Alizarin Crimson

-Cadmium Red light

-Cadmium Yellow Light

-Cobalt Blue

-Indian Yellow Orange

-Titanium White

-Ultramarine Blue

2-3 sealable plastic jars

If working in acrylic, fill the plastic jars with water. If working in oil, bring odorless mineral spirits (gamsol) and linseed oil.

Recommended Collaging Materials 

Matte Medium, specifically - Utrecht Matte Medium - 32oz 

A pair of scissors 

Transparent Paper 

Napkins & Tissue Paper 

Target, Walmart, and local halloween stores will have picnic napkins and tissue paper in stock. Available on amazon and . Select a wide range of colors including red, orange, ochre, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, black. 120 count of napkins, 150 count of tissue paper. 

Opeque Paper 

Lokta Paper 

Etsy has a great selection of hand made Lokta paper. Be sure to allocate enough time for shipping. Again, take creative liberties in selecting colors that intuitively pull you in. Keep in mind this class will be focused on land and see, so a wide range of blues and greens is advisable. 

Color palette from here  

Found Paper - 

Collect paper scraps to use for collage. This can be old drawings & paintings on paper, colorful scraps, your child’s paintings, candy wrappers, appealing packaging. Thin cloth can work here, too. 

Brushes- 

Foam Brushes - 1 pack, found here

1” brush - 3 brushes, found here  

Oval Poly Sponge - 3 sponges, found here

Disposable Gloves - 1 box, found here 

Here are a few physical stores in our area:

Artist & Craftsmen: Artist & Craftsman Supply Westbrook

100 Larrabee Road, Suite 130, Westbrook, ME 04092, USA

207-253-7724

Art Mart:

517 Congress Street, Portland, ME 207-775- 4244

Michaels: 490 Payne Road, Scarborough, ME 207-883- 8419

Online Stores Include:

Dick Blick w ww.dickblick.com 877-943-9269

Cheap Joes w ww.cheapjoes.com 888-792-6089