A New England Fall Boston School Intensive for oil and pastel painters focusing on the painting of interiors
and en plein air landscapes.
Running from September 21 through October 18th, our 2026 intensive
will coincide with peak fall color. Lodging is available at the hosting venue, a
historic inn once renowned for welcoming movie stars and royalty in its heyday.
Guest rooms vary in size and amenities, and with a bit of luck, there will be a perfect option for everyone.
The purpose of the workshop is to introduce the Boston School
color and light methods to oil or pastel painters who ideally already have some
level of competence and confidence in drawing.
Major focus will be on color and light, visual order of effects, painterly
drawing, direct painting without mediums, working
from the outside in, the arabesque, and the anchoring of all aspects of the visual
world. Emphasis will be on the 'good' start, the lay-in, of the picture since it
contains the keys to the entire painting process.
Structure will include Boston School presentations and analysis of the
underlying thinking, demonstration(s), and hands-on critiques of assigned work
from landscape to interiors. Two museum day-trips will also occur during the workshop.
Paul's personal instruction and critiques will be, minimally, 3 days per
week for the first 2 weeks of the workshop and daily for the last two weeks when there
will be greater focus on painting with a model.
Location: The workshop will be hosted in Franconia, New Hampshire, at the
Horse and Hound Inn - a classic White Mountains inn with a long-standing tavern tradition and an easygoing,
outdoors-first spirit. Franconia sits at the heart of one of New England's most photographed regions, where mountain views,
winding rivers, and historic trails are part of daily life. From the inn, you'll find no shortage of landscape opportunities -
many just steps away, others reachable by a short, scenic drive through the White Mountains.
Required Materials
Materials needed for oil painters:
Oil paints
Titanium White
Ivory Black
Ultramarine Blue
Viridian
Cad Yellow Lemon
Cad Scarlet
Alizarin Crimson and/or Quinacridone
Serves Blue
Permanent Green Light
Palette
Palette knife
French easels
Round brushes including 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8
Canvases or canvas boards sizes 5x7, 8x10, 9x12, 11x14 and 12x16 (minimum 3 of each)
Rags/paper towels
Materials needed for pastel painters:
Set of at least 180 soft pastels (suggest Rembrandt or Grumbacher)
Set of 76 (or more) hard pastels (Faber/Castell or other)
Sanded pastel boards
Old brush or two for removing pastel
Handy wipes
Provided Materials
Models
Indoor easels
Taboret stools
Refined linseed oil
Turps
Soap for cleanup
Breakfast and lunch will be provided 5-6 days a week.
Workshop tuition includes lodging at the Horse & Hound Inn, with room options available for
both private and shared accommodations. Room pricing varies by size and configuration, and all listed rates below include
the full cost of the workshop. The venue has on-site laundry and a spacious industrial kitchen for you to prepare meals and store your food.
For participants who live locally or do not require lodging, the workshop-only rate is $3,800.00.
Private Rooms
Room 1 Booked: A cozy corner room with large windows and private bath. Simply furnished with a queen-size bed, and writing desk. $8,000.00
Room 2: A large corner bedroom furnished with a queen-size bed, sitting area and writing desk. Can be upgraded to a suite. Single: $8,900.00 / Suite: $11,000.00
Room 3: A large corner room with private bath. South and west exposures with serene views of the expansive back lawn and kitchen garden. Furnished with a queen-size bed, sitting area and writing desk. $9,200.00
Room 6: A cozy corner room with private bath. South and west exposures with large windows and serene views of the expansive back lawn, kitchen garden and woods. A favorite that includes a full-size bed and a writing desk. $8,400.00
Room 7 Booking pending: The smallest room with private bath and large windows facing the serene back lawn, kitchen garden and woods. South exposure, simply furnished with a full-size bed and a writing desk. $7,700.00
Room 9: A restful room with private bath and large windows facing the serene back lawn, kitchen garden and woods. South exposure, simply furnished with a queen-size bed and a writing desk. $8,700.00
Room 11: A cozy room with a view into the backyard, a twin bed, desk and small closet. It is the only bedroom that does not have an attached bathroom. There is a bathroom available for use in the downstairs hallway. $6,200.00
Shared & Budget-Friendly Rooms
Shared Room: There are 5 of 6 beds remaining in shared rooms for students on a tighter budget. We will determine
the exact room assignment based on enrollment. $5,700.00
Room 12: If you are attending with a friend, Room 12 is one of the biggest rooms at the Horse & Hound. It has one full bed, one twin bed, and an ensuite bathroom with a shower. Pricing is dependent on how many occupants are attending the workshop. Contact us for pricing
Franconia and the surrounding area is very rural. Uber, Lyft, taxis, DoorDash, and most delivery services are generally not available.
The best option is to plan to have access to a vehicle for groceries, errands, and exploring the area.
The closest major airports are Manchester (NH; 1.5 hours away) and Boston (MA; almost 2.5 hours away). The closest smaller airport is Lebanon Municipal Airport, about 1.5 hours away.
Dartmouth Coach - A good option for getting to Lebanon, NH from Boston, MA. From Lebanon, transportation to the venue can be arranged.
If you are without a vehicle, there will be regular trips to the grocery store and we will plan a scheduled shuttle to a few key painting locations.
Groceries, Shopping & Dining
Franconia has a few services (~6 minute drive away) available. In-town you will find:
Grocery stores: Franconia Market & Deli
Outdoor supply stores: Franconia Basecamp
Coffee shops: Franconia Coffee House
Restaurants: Iron Furnace Brewing, Polly's Pancake Parlor, Hungry Bear Cafe
Most services are located in Littleton (15 minute drive away). There you will find: