Why do I invite people to join me on painting trips to the Baltic Sea?
When I want to paint watercolors, there’s nothing better than standing with my feet in the sand, feeling the wind, the sun, and the salt on my skin, and hearing the sound of the waves and the cries of the seagulls. My “insider tip” for painting on the Baltic Sea is Rügen, specifically the Mönchgut region in the southeastern part of the island. There are essentially two reasons that keep drawing me back there. First, it’s the diversity of maritime motifs in the landscapes along the Baltic Sea and in the small villages and towns; and second, the shape of the coastline.
Maritime Motifs
In Mönchgut, you’ll find wide white sandy beaches as well as rugged cliffs, dry meadows on the Zickersche Alpen (hills reaching 66 m above sea level on Groß Zicker), beech forests as well as gnarled wind-swept trees, romantic little harbors and fishing villages with thatched-roof houses, brick churches—which Leon Feininger and others have already sketched—fishing boats in the harbors, boats on the beach, and and … We’ll usually explore Mönchgut by carpooling in our own vehicles. Another mode of transportation—and a beautiful sight in its own right—is the Rügen Spa Railway. A ride in the spring along the yellow rapeseed fields by the Baltic Sea or through the colorful beech forests in the fall on the steam-powered narrow-gauge railway—the “Rasender Roland”—is a special experience.
Why do we paint on Mönchgut?
The last few meters to the actual subjects in nature can easily be covered on foot with our painting supplies. In addition to the many interesting subjects, Mönchgut offers another special feature. On the Baltic Sea, there’s almost always wind, and that can be a hindrance when painting outdoors. When the wind blows across the still-cold Baltic Sea in the spring, you can quickly get chilled, and if it’s too strong and gusty, it can easily knock over any easel. For plein air painting on the Baltic Sea, in addition to a selection of subjects, it’s also important to have enough painting spots that offer good protection from the wind. Rügen—and Mönchgut in particular—offers ideal conditions here with its hills, forests, cliffs, and especially its meandering coastline. No matter which direction the wind comes from, you can always find a “wind-sheltered” spot to paint within the protection of the landscape. No other region on the Baltic Sea coast offers these advantages, which is why I’ve been painting in Mönchgut for many years.
Where do we paint on Rügen?
When the weather is nice, we paint outdoors and explore Mönchgut from Middelhagen. We find our subjects either right on the spot or in Thiessow, Baabe, Gager, Groß Zicker, Göhren, Sellin, … In inclement weather, we have the option of finishing our watercolors indoors at the “to Hus” vacation apartment complex, hosted by the Grünheid family.
The most important facts in a nutshell:
Introduction to Watercolor Painting
Every day we discover a different topic, a different place
Help with choosing a subject, sketching, and tips on page layout
Instructions and guidance on how to create watercolors step by step
If the weather is bad, we'll paint in a vacation rental
Joint Review of Images
This is a joint offer with the Grünheit family, who operate the “TO HUS” vacation rental complex in Middelhagen. Your instructor has booked a vacation rental there. The vacation rental serves as the starting point for daily excursions and a place to retreat to in case of bad weather.
If you’re interested, simply book a vacation rental there as well. If the rentals are already booked or if you’re looking for a bed-and-breakfast, hotel, or campground, we’d be happy to help you find suitable accommodations.
We usually meet at 10:00 a.m. at your instructor’s vacation rental in Middelhagen. On the first day, we’ll start with a round of introductions and a brief introduction to watercolor painting. Afterward, we’ll explore the picturesque Mönchgut region and other locations along the Baltic Sea. Once there, we’ll take a lunch break at a snack bar or a local restaurant. The afternoon wraps up around 5:00 p.m. in Middelhagen.
Each day of the painting workshop, we’ll choose our subjects together. Your instructor will explain ways to compose the page, demonstrate the essential steps of watercolor painting, describe possible techniques, and guide you step by step through your own watercolor paintings.
At the end of the final day, we’ll meet for a group review of the artwork. Here, we’ll take another look together at the watercolors we’ve created, reflect on what we’ve learned, and look back on our shared experiences.
Painting outdoors by the Baltic Sea is a wonderful way to relax and slow down.
I'd be happy to advise you on how to get here using public transportation.
Dorfstraße 26a, 18586 Mönchgut, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, GermanyYou may cancel at any time up to 42 calendar days before the course begins. In this case, any deposits you have paid will be refunded, minus a processing fee of €35.
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