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Plein Air Workshops
Plein Air in the Green Mountains of Vermont
The Wilmington Inn in historic Wilmington is our base for a painting retreat in Vermont’s Green Mountains. Surrounded by lakes, mountains, and forests, the area’s mid-summer landscape is lush and colorful. As artists we will be taking the time to observe and record where we are and what we see. Our time there will be richer than that of most tourists who simply pass through. We will celebrate the Vermont landscape through an artist’s eye, our drawings and paintings becoming visual records of our experience. This workshop is an opportunity for you to experience the plein air painting process. Working outdoors on-site allows us to immerse ourselves in the land with all our senses – looking, listening, and smelling the unique character of the location.
The Wilmington Inn is a highly rated bed & breakfast located in Southern Vermont. The inn is located within walking distance of downtown Wilmington with a variety of shops & restaurants. There are walking trails located on & around the property for all skill levels. The Harriman Reservoir is a short drive from the inn for anyone looking to swim & enjoy a variety of water activities.
About Our Instructors
Mary Padgett’s paintings are distinctive for her use of color. She works in both oil and pastel, is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and has been featured in American Artist and Pastel Journal magazines. Her paintings are in numerous private and public collections, including Towers Perrin, Takasago International, and the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. She has participated in many local and national exhibitions, with exhibition and competition awards from the Pastel Society of America, the Fenimore Art Museum, and the Finger Lakes Plein Air and Frank Bette Plein Air Painting Competitions. Mary was educated at Boston University and Syracuse University. She has taught painting and color courses for Syracuse University and Cazenovia College, and currently conducts workshop programs in the US and abroad. She maintains a studio in New Woodstock, New York.
David Lussier is an award-winning contemporary impressionist and nationally recognized plein air painter and workshop instructor. He is a painter in the purist sense of the word. In his poetic and intimate oil landscapes, he strives to capture the essence and sense of place of his subject matter. His use of bold broad brushwork brings the surfaces to life and begs the viewer to return for a second look. As a commercially trained illustrator, he quickly realized that his passion was in the fine arts and he changed careers. His work has received more than 75 prizes and is in numerous private and corporate collections throughout the United States and abroad. His paintings have been featured in many art journals and he is a professional member of some of the finest art associations and groups in the country. David is also an official U.S. Open artist for the United States Golf Association. Four of his paintings hang in the permanent collection of the USGA Museum in Far Hills New Jersey and most recently two of his paintings of the iconic and famous number 2 course at Pinehurst Resort were installed at the USGA’s new campus at Golf House in Pinehurst North Carolina.
What’s included for our participants
- Painting tuition
- Full breakfast daily
- Lunch delivered to the painting location
- Welcome receptions every evening at the inn with local artists; heavy hors d’ouevers will be served with a cash bar on-site
- Final evening catered meal at the inn
Misc. notes
- Workshops need a minimum of 5 participants; participants will be contacted & given a full refund if the workshop is canceled, minus $15 cancellation fee
- The cutoff date for sign-up is 30 days prior to the arrival date
- Participants will receive an enrollment email with a materials list, etc
Workshop Dates:
June 22 - June 26, 2026
- Instructor: Jill Pottle
- Medium: Acrylic and oil
- Level: all levels welcome
- 2-day workshop: $550 per participant, $150 per guest (lodging not included)
- 3-day workshop: $800 per participant, $200 per guest (lodging not included)
August 3 - August 7, 2026
- Instructor: Mary Padgett
- Medium: Pastel
- Level: all levels welcome
- 2-day Workshop: $550 per participant, $150 per guest fee (non painter), lodging not included
- 3-day Workshop: $800 per participant, $200 per guest fee (non painter), lodging not included
August 23 – August 27, 2026
SOLD OUT
- Instructor: David Lussier
- Medium: Oil-color, Acrylic
- Level: All levels welcome
- Workshop: $800 per participant, $200 per guest fee (non painter), lodging not included
Sample Itinerary
We ask all participants to arrive by 5pm for the welcome reception. Welcome reception will be on site from 5-7pm allowing participants to meet with the artist & mingle with other guests. Guests will be on their own for dinner.
- Breakfast will be served from 8-9am
- Group will depart for off-site location
- Lunch will be served at the location
- Group will return to the inn in the afternoon
- Group discussion & critique
- Evening reception at the inn from 5:30-6:30pm
- Guests will be on their own for dinner
- Breakfast will be served from 8-9am
- Group will depart for off off-site location
- Lunch will be served at the location
- Group will return to the inn in the afternoon
- Group discussion & critique
- Evening reception at the inn from 5:30-6:30pm
- Guests will be on their own for dinner
- Breakfast will be served from 8-9am
- Group will depart for morning off-site location
- Group will return to the inn for lunch
- Group will depart for afternoon location
- Group will return to the inn in the afternoon
- Group discussion & critique
- Catered meal at the inn for the final evening
Breakfast will be served from 8-9am
Checkout time is 11:00am
What Our Guests Say
I want to thank you again for providing such an affirming atmosphere to learn, create and gain skills and perspective. I came away from the workshop with an enhanced ability to view and assess composition in my drawing and renewed confidence. As important, I enjoyed myself and felt part of a group of artists.
- A.S.
Guest Review
I would like to thank Charlie and Megan for organizing and hosting an amazing experience at the Plein Air pastel painting workshop that I participated in, based in their Bed and Breakfast, the Wilmington Inn, in Wilmington Vermont. Charlie and Megan together with our instructor, Mary Padgett, arranged beautiful and picturesque locations in the area for us to paint. Their warmth, consideration and anticipation of all of our needs enriched the three day workshop and further enhanced the positive dynamics of our group. Each day we had a clear schedule that started with a delicious breakfast. Megan prepared lunches for us that were brought to us on site. Each evening we were served delicious appetizers with wine while Mary led a discussion about our artwork and the group offered feedback, questions and support. The Inn is beautifully furnished with an open and warm lobby. The Inn’s location is convenient. Our room was clean, comfortable and was furnished with beautiful wooden furniture that gave us the feeling of staying at a beautiful Vermont Inn as well as a home.
- J.R.
Guest Review
I loved that our time at the inn was so focused, fun, and, productive and I would absolutely do it again! I really appreciated the format of the workshop with the predictable rhythm of work time, group discussion, and meals, plus flexibility for individual preferences. Of course it all held together because Charlie and Megan (and Henry!) were in the background making the logistical machinery run smoothly.
- A.S.
Guest Review
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