Maine Camping Adventures: Art Studios in Nature
The second building that Steven built for me was the art studio (the first was my cabin in the woods…a wedding gift). The studio gives me a place to make all the messes I want during the winter. In the summer it fills with our artist friends who share the joy of creativity with guests. I loved the studio so much, that I then NEEDED the garden kitchen for communal meals and cooking classes. Then I NEEDED to take over one of the big barns for my dyeing and printing studio…yeah, it’s a big joke among “the boys” that Astrig is taking over the campground like a mushroom colonizes a log 🙂
Creative pursuits have always been a part of our lives and our vision for Searsport Shores. Steve and I believe that our most rewarding experiences are centered around making instead of buying. Satisfaction comes from learning and refining our skills. We also think that the best souvenirs are the ones that you make. One of the most important lessons that my father tattooed onto my soul was “it doesn’t have to be perfect. You just have to figure out how to make it look right.”
We invite our artists to settle into the studio and host guided workshops and open studio time. The program is free to campers (sometimes there is a materials fee for the project). Participation is open to everyone with the necessary attention span. When you scroll through this exciting list, you’ll see that we’ve chosen programs that aren’t age restricted…it’s about being creative and having fun.
Here’s a quick look but for more details, follow this link to the campground website.
| Artist | Primary Interest | Dates |
| Cathi Belcher | Weaving | June 22-June 28,2025 |
| Lorna Noelle | Water Color Painting | June 29-July 5, 2025 |
| Jude and Jim Hsiang | Woodworking, Natural Dyeing | July 6-12, 2025 |
| Chris Toy | Mobiles and Asian Fusion Cooking | July 13-19, 2025 |
| Sonya Eldridge | Middle Eastern Cooking | July 20-26, 2025 |
| Russell Kahn | Plein Air Sketches and Oil Pastels | July 27-Aug 2, 2025 |
| Sue Muldoon | Making Brooms and Brushes | August 3-9, 2025 |
| Santa Steve | Chain Mail, Macrame, & Nautical Knots | August 10-16, 2025 |
| Deb Dutton and Cori Austin | Paper Play | August 17-30, 2025 |
| Labor Day Weekend Makers Festival | This is the Artist in Residence program on steroids…click here for specific information. | August 30-31, 2025 |
| Kathleen Farnsworth | Stitched Shibori Dyeing | September 8-15, 2025 |
Lest you think it’s all about me and my art…rest assured Steven has two music stages and a dance floor…but we’ll talk about all the notes that float through the air another time!