For years, foam substrates have been used to create structures to be coated with concrete. Most have failed, while others have been a disaster. However, over the last several years, our industry has produced some real innovations in mix design.

Today’s cementitious mixes can coat foam and create structural components with less than 1/8" inch of material on both sides!

The primary materials used will include: Concrete, Spider Lath, Fiberglass, Rebar, and Fiber Chop. Our goal: to create a substrate that will not fail.

Paint mixing, color matching, and splashing; this course has it all. Daily sessions will be devoted to mixing materials of all types in the studio as well as mandatory out-door evening sessions. Materials may include: latex paint, wood glue, grout (sanded and non-sanded), boiled linseed oil, Roll-A-Tex, silica sand, and perlite.  Who know what else we’ll throw into the mix?!?!!

Please note: A shout-out policy applies to mandatory evening sessions – we will be taking requests. 

This core course illustrates the methods, styles and techniques of hand carved vertical decorative concrete. Includes: Stone Facing, Foam Construction, Exposed Stone, One Day Walls, Old Stone, Tables, Painting and Staining with a focus on Positive Carving.

Positive carving is the most common method of sculpting rock in today’s themed parks.  This has made hand carved rock popular with many people who both appreciate the artwork and the beauty of the craft.

Course materials will be provided for you with a $1,000 materials fee paid directly to the leader.

Marble veins and wood grains - This workshop invites both beginners and experienced painters to explore the wonders of classic decorative painting techniques executed in latex, water-based paints along with oil-based “low and slow” applications.

Wood techniques include: English Pine, Red Oak, Crotch Mahogany and Burl wood graining. A special focus on woodgrain layout for large interior spaces will be included. Marble techniques will include: Pietra Dura, Rouge Royal, Green Campan, Yellow Sienna and Orange Breccia. 

“Wu-Wei is also applied to human activity, and refers to a person who does not get in his or her own way. One does not stand in one’s own light while working, and so the way of Wu-Wei (this sounds like a pun but it isn’t) is the way of non-obstruction or non-inference. This is preeminently practical Taoist principle of life.” – Alan Watts.

Develop your own light touch through the practice of Wu-Wei in this advanced workshop for experienced painters. Workshop participants will learn to apply light washes along with concrete and fullers earth dust applications with delicate, subtle moves.

Soft eyes only, please. 

Daily sessions will be devoted to painting a variety of finishes: gloss, semi-gloss, eggshell, flat and ultra-matte as well as doing preparatory exercises in the studio.

Workshop participants will learn from individual instruction and each other as they share their paintings and experiences in a supportive environment.

Course materials will be provided for you with a $500 materials fee paid directly to the leader.

This workshop invites both beginners and experienced painters to immerse themselves in the practice of oil painting. Daily sessions will be devoted to painting out of doors as well as doing exercises in the studio. Workshop participants will learn from individual instruction and each other as they share their paintings and experiences in a supportive environment.

The spectacular beauty of the Hoekstra Institute, with its radiant gardens, flowing waters, and rugged coastline, provides the perfect setting to explore this exciting practice.