Lynn, Marge, Laura & Leslie ready with their brushes click Cape May is known for its artists. It's also a great place to learn how to unleash your own artistic creativity with some of the best, hands on painting instruction available. I was riding my bike to an afternoon date with a Depot Market crabcake sandwich, and ran into an attractive group of women painting with watercolors. Lynn, Marge, Laura & Leslie were parked on a Hughes Street sidewalk. The ladies had their chairs pointed to the faded but undeniably Victorian gingerbread house directly across Hughes. We struck up a conversation and 45 minutes later I had forgotten about the crabcakes. Instead, I found out that learning to paint is a lot of fun, especially if you're with a group of fun people who all want to learn how to unleash their inner picasso's. Here's what the painting students, and instructor taught me:


Marge has run Watercolor Workshops in Cape May for years and was featured on a PBS show. click

Real Life, In the Street Painting Instruction

The group is part of an ongoing painting instructional series called Watercolor Workshop. It's run by the energetic Marge Chavooshian who's been painting and teaching painting in Cape May since the 1970s. The watercolor workshop has its home base at the historic Chalfonte Hotel. Each session, aspiring Monets pick different locations around Cape May as subjects and then take on the quite fun task of painting those subjects as vibrant watercolors. Real time instruction at its outdoor best. And all happening in the wonder of Cape May's colorful streets. How cool is that? I can't remember the last time I've seen a more relaxed, happy group of students. I asked if I could cover their session in a capemayX.com short, and they said sure. They also invited me to the grand showing tomorrow night at the Chalfonte where all beautiful paintings are put front and center for the world to see (or at least anyone in Cape May who wants to). I look forward to the grand finale and asking questions questions worthy off a good amateur art critic.


Inset shows subject across the street. Laura's canvas reveals a house reborn click

Chalfonte Painting Class Schedule

Marge said her current Watercolor Workshop class ends tomorrow. The next class starts in September. The best way to find out all the colorful details or even to make a reservation, is to call the front desk of the Chalfonte Hotel. Their number is 609-884-8409. You can also visit the Chalfonte website. Give them a call, the class has just got to be a ton of fun. And judging from the vigorous debate on how to best utilize perspective and balance, you can finally replace your therapy sessions with an afternoon of painting with friends.