In Full Bloom: Making Art where Flowers are the Focus

The Cape Cod Museum of Art Permanent Collection Exhibition In Full Bloom: Still Lifes and Florals is the inspiration for this experimental workshop, a celebration of summer as we respond to the shapes, forms,​ and feelings of flowers.

You will look at the genre of still life with new approaches to scale, color, and/or materials. Do you want to try raw canvas? Do you want to make a large painting of four panels? Do you want to select a palette that is constrained or oversaturated? Do you want to work with oil sticks or acrylic on gessoed paper or cardboard?

Each day, we begin the workshop with a slide presentation and the schedule with prompts for each day. Floral arrangements will be on pedestals with other flowers available for your work area. Exercises will show you how botanicals can be abstracted, patterned, drawn, collaged, stain-soaked, and painted. You can also stay with your current mediums and get great value from the prompts. 

​Peer Review will include introducing a system of critique ideal for artist-to-artist feedback on our works in progress. 

Lunch is a half hour. Please bring your lunch with you or pick something up in advance at the Dennis Public Market. A refrigerator is available if needed.

Material list, select to expand each section:

Pick consistent sizes for your paintings, collages, drawings, such as 18 x 24, 22 x 30, 22 x 22 canvases, panels, wood, or masonite. Some of you may want to work larger than this on raw canvas. MAXIMUM SIZE IS 3 feet by 6 feet. Have at least six larger surfaces and some 12 x 16” or 12 x 12 for playing with scale. If you want to experiment with raw canvas, contact laura@laurashabott.com to discuss sizes and purchasing through the artist. 

Additional useful items:

• Gloves

• Paper towels

• Plastic bags to line your car. We will provide wrapping, but you can also add a layer of protection.

• Bagged Lunch, Snacks, Water

• Color Wheel

Laura Shabott is a graduate of the School of Museum of Fine Arts at TUFTS, Boston, with multiple self-directed Returning Residencies at the Fine Arts Work Center (FAWC), Provincetown. She is known for working directly from life using sweeping gestural forms, vibrant color and bold brushwork. Shabott’s post-college training at FAWC and the Provincetown Art Association and Museum is evident in her process-based approach. A studio artist, she is a gallerist, teacher and lecturer on the history of Provincetown art. Shabott recently presented her first solo show YOU ONLY GET ONE BODY: Art by Laura Shabott at the Cape Cod Museum of Art.

[image credit: Laura Shabott, Tulips and Clouds no. 4, 2025, Paint on canvas,  22" x 22”. Collection of  David Altarac, MD and Brian Koll, MD.

This event is presented in conjunction with:

In Full Bloom: Still Lifes and Florals from the CCMoA Permanent Collection

May 21 - July 26, 2026

Cancellation policy: CCMoA must be notified 1 week prior for refund.