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Spend a hands-on afternoon at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site: tour the Main House and new Richard Sharp Gallery exhibition, then make and stain your own wood color wheel in the Storehouse. Small groups, included materials, and a take-home project make this a creative short trip in Catskill.
Spend a hands-on afternoon at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site: tour the Main House and new Richard Sharp Gallery exhibition, then make and stain your own wood color wheel in the Storehouse. Small groups, included materials, and a take-home project make this a creative short trip in Catskill.
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Operated by Thomas Cole National Historic Site · Catskill, New York
At the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, New York, a Second Saturday workshop offers an afternoon of hands-on color exploration rooted directly in the place that inspired the work on view. On Saturday, May 9, from 11 am–2 pm, museum education staff lead a compact program that moves participants from a self-guided walk through the Main House and the newly opened Richard Sharp Gallery exhibition, Thomas Cole: An American Visionary, to a close study of Cole’s Diagram of Contrasts and then into the Storehouse to paint and stain a wood color wheel of your own. The small-group cap of twelve keeps the studio active but personal, ideal for families, teachers, and artists looking for a short creative reset. The site’s defining on-site features are all present: the Main House with its period rooms, the Richard Sharp Gallery, the Storehouse workspace, and the 1846 New Studio. In the Storehouse you work with wood stain and pigments while referencing the palettes and studies that hang nearby; the result is both a tactile object and a practical lesson in color relationships. Grounds are framed by mown lawn and loose gravel walking paths; the first floor of the Main House is reachable by an elevator lift that bypasses 11 steps, and the Cole Center, Storehouse, and 1846 New Studio are wheelchair accessible. Practicalities are straightforward: all materials and light refreshments are included, self-guided museum access runs through 4 pm, and advanced registration is required—tickets are non-refundable. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian, and parking is free in the shared lot; check in 10–15 minutes before the scheduled start at the Cole Center, 218 Spring Street (NY-385). Teachers receive a special discounted rate for Teacher Appreciation Day, complete with libations and snacks to spark classroom ideas. Why book it? This workshop pairs direct museum access with a purposeful studio session—learn how compositional and color choices translate from canvas to craft while working where the art was made. You leave with a finished color wheel, new techniques for teaching or making, and a clearer eye for the color strategies that shaped the works in the Richard Sharp Gallery. Accessibility accommodations include a wheelchair available on request at the Cole Center (first-come, first-served); staff can answer questions at [email protected] or 518-943-7465 ext. 122. Expect loose gravel underfoot; bring sturdy shoes and allow time for mobility needs.
easy.
3 hours.
Light walking and seated studio activity; basic hand dexterity for painting and staining
Yes. All workshop materials and light refreshments are included with your ticket.
Yes. The Cole Center, Storehouse, and 1846 New Studio are wheelchair accessible; a wheelchair is available upon request at the Cole Center (first-come, first-served). Note the first floor of the Main House is accessed via an elevator lift to bypass steps.
Tickets are non-refundable; advanced registration is required.
All ages are welcome, but participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Check in 10–15 minutes before the start at the Cole Center, 218 Spring Street (NY-385). Parking is free in the shared lot.
Email [email protected] (preferred) or call 518-943-7465 ext. 122 for questions and accessibility inquiries.
The workshop centers on works and studies connected to the Thomas Cole site and references Cole’s Diagram of Contrasts and the exhibition Thomas Cole: An American Visionary.
Follow on-site guidelines—keep dogs leashed on the grounds, stay on designated paths, and respect exhibit spaces to protect historic materials and landscaping.
Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, New York preserves the home, studio, and landscape associated with Thomas Cole, founder of the Hudson River School. The site presents guided and self-guided visits, rotating exhibitions, hands-on workshops, seasonal festivals, and group tour packages for diverse audiences. Programs include curator-led tours, Sunday Salon talks, artist and curator roundtables, craft workshops such as needle-felting and pressed-flower making, plant-dyeing classes, educational teacher workshops, and family events tied to harvest celebrations. The site also interprets Emily Cole’s legacy through exhibitions that feature painted porcelain, works on paper, and contemporary responses to her art. Museum educators and trained Museum Guides lead visits and workshops, and collaborating historians, curators, and artists contribute expertise to public programs. Group visits accommodate 12 to 40 participants with guided experiences up to seventy-five minutes, followed by access to the on-site gift shop. Special events have included partnerships with local organizations such as Wild Hudson Valley and Arm-of-the-Sea Theater, highlighting regional ecology, agricultural history, and community creativity. The Thomas Cole National Historic Site operates as a steward of historic architecture, landscape, and artistic legacy, offering accessible educational programming for families, students, art lovers, and historians. Visitors to the site encounter curated exhibitions, interactive activities, and opportunities to learn about early nineteenth-century American art and environmental ideas that informed Thomas Cole’s work. Trained Museum Guides answer questions and enhance interpretation for visitors; special exhibitions, rotating programs, and partnerships connect Cole’s art to landscape, regional history, ecological themes, and contemporary artistic practice and education.
Book with Thomas Cole National Historic Site