Swedish Dalmålning – Floral Borders Pieper Fleck Bloomquist
Floral borders are an iconic part of Swedish folk paintings in dalmålningar (Dalarna style paintings), enhancing the stories told within the frame. In this workshop, painters will use patterns to create a sampler of beautiful borders from the Leksand and Rättvik schools of dalmåleri, including the zig-zag ribbon border. Students will also learn how to combine different styles of borders with various kurbits. There will be a brief YouTube video to watch prior to class. Contemporary folk artist Pieper Bloomquist will demonstrate using Winsor & Newton acrylic paints, although the design skills covered can also be adapted to other media, such as watercolor, oil, markers, and more. Please note this is a skill building class that is best suited for students with some previous painting experience, and students may not head home with a finished project.
Sept 4th and 11th
2:00 – 5:30 pm Central Time
Pieper Fleck Bloomquist is a contemporary folk artist with nearly 30 years’ experience painting in the traditions of Swedish dalmålning and bonadsmålning. Using traditional materials of linen/jute, traditional gesso, and egg tempera, she creates painted tapestries with scenes that narrate modern human stories – drawing inspiration from family traditions and her experience as an oncology nurse. She has found her voice in helping local communities and elders tell their stories using these traditions - all with the goal of creating awareness and appreciation for folk art, its connection to a heritage, and the ability it has to connect us all through our stories.
Based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Pieper is a 3rd generation descendant of Swedish immigrants. She is a recipient of the North Dakota Governor’s Award for the Arts (2023-2025), and the 2024 Culture Bearer Award from Arts Midwest. For over 25 years she has been active in programs sponsored by the North Dakota Council on the Arts, and a regular instructor at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. She has twice been granted a Folk Arts Fellowship through the American Scandinavian Foundation.
Dalmålning Borders Supply List Acrylic Painting supplies
SURFACE
11” x 17” surface of your choice (1 or 2)
o I use a pre-primed canvas board painted with 1-2 coats of white acrylic craft paint or gesso
Acrylic glaze medium https://www.dickblick.com/ products/liquitex-fluids-acrylic-glazing-medium/
Painted surfaces for practice (tagboard or another canvas board is just fine)
Tracing paper
Non-graphite transfer paper (Blue Chacopaper, yellow colored chalk, homemade pigment paper if you have)
PAINT
Instructor uses high quality artist acrylics like Winsor Newton (WN). Golden or Liquitex are also fine. For this class, craft paints such as Americana or Folk Art are perfectly acceptable. The Instructor has limited knowledge of oil or JoSonja paints.
1. Dark Blue - WN Thalo (pthalo) blue, Indigo blue, midnight blue
Black - WN Mars Black, Ivory black, lamp black, carbon black
Yellow -WN Raw Sienna (Yellow Ochre will suffice)
Red -WN Burnt Sienna, Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Red Iron Oxide, Americana Heritage Brick
Raw Umber
Burnt Umber
Sap Green
Titanium white
Cadmium Red Light (or Pyrrole Orange) - Optional
BRUSHES –
Filbert and/or Round - #4, #6, and #8.
Long liner – Script liner #2.
Liner #1
Suggested brands are:
o https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-masterstroke-golden-taklon-brushes/
o Winsor&Newton Cottman Watercolor Brushes o Princeton Heritage
Students are encouraged to bring a variety of wash, filbert, round, and liner brushes, so use what you have. Canvas can be rough – so I don’t usually spend a lot on my brushes.
MISC.
Stylus if you have one, otherwise a pen or pencil will work to transfer on pattern
Palette for acrylic paints - Sta-Wet palette is best
https://www.dickblick.com/ products/masterson-sta-wet-handy-palette/
Palette knife
Brush pan (for water)
Small spray bottle to mist your paints
Watercolor pencil in raw sienna or raw umber for free drawing on canvas. (optional if you use transfer paper)
https://www.dickblick.com/items/derwent-watercolor-pencil-raw-umber/
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
Paper and pencil for notetaking if you wish
Ruler and Scotch or Masking tape
Paper towel (Viva brand or blue Scott shop towels from Menards are best)
Floral borders are an iconic part of Swedish folk paintings in dalmålningar (Dalarna style paintings), enhancing the stories told within the frame. In this workshop, painters will use patterns to create a sampler of beautiful borders from the Leksand and Rättvik schools of dalmåleri, including the zig-zag ribbon border. Students will also learn how to combine different styles of borders with various kurbits. There will be a brief YouTube video to watch prior to class. Contemporary folk artist Pieper Bloomquist will demonstrate using Winsor & Newton acrylic paints, although the design skills covered can also be adapted to other media, such as watercolor, oil, markers, and more. Please note this is a skill building class that is best suited for students with some previous painting experience, and students may not head home with a finished project.
Sept 4th and 11th
2:00 – 5:30 pm Central Time
Pieper Fleck Bloomquist is a contemporary folk artist with nearly 30 years’ experience painting in the traditions of Swedish dalmålning and bonadsmålning. Using traditional materials of linen/jute, traditional gesso, and egg tempera, she creates painted tapestries with scenes that narrate modern human stories – drawing inspiration from family traditions and her experience as an oncology nurse. She has found her voice in helping local communities and elders tell their stories using these traditions - all with the goal of creating awareness and appreciation for folk art, its connection to a heritage, and the ability it has to connect us all through our stories.
Based in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Pieper is a 3rd generation descendant of Swedish immigrants. She is a recipient of the North Dakota Governor’s Award for the Arts (2023-2025), and the 2024 Culture Bearer Award from Arts Midwest. For over 25 years she has been active in programs sponsored by the North Dakota Council on the Arts, and a regular instructor at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. She has twice been granted a Folk Arts Fellowship through the American Scandinavian Foundation.
Dalmålning Borders Supply List Acrylic Painting supplies
SURFACE
11” x 17” surface of your choice (1 or 2)
o I use a pre-primed canvas board painted with 1-2 coats of white acrylic craft paint or gesso
Acrylic glaze medium https://www.dickblick.com/ products/liquitex-fluids-acrylic-glazing-medium/
Painted surfaces for practice (tagboard or another canvas board is just fine)
Tracing paper
Non-graphite transfer paper (Blue Chacopaper, yellow colored chalk, homemade pigment paper if you have)
PAINT
Instructor uses high quality artist acrylics like Winsor Newton (WN). Golden or Liquitex are also fine. For this class, craft paints such as Americana or Folk Art are perfectly acceptable. The Instructor has limited knowledge of oil or JoSonja paints.
1. Dark Blue - WN Thalo (pthalo) blue, Indigo blue, midnight blue
Black - WN Mars Black, Ivory black, lamp black, carbon black
Yellow -WN Raw Sienna (Yellow Ochre will suffice)
Red -WN Burnt Sienna, Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Red Iron Oxide, Americana Heritage Brick
Raw Umber
Burnt Umber
Sap Green
Titanium white
Cadmium Red Light (or Pyrrole Orange) - Optional
BRUSHES –
Filbert and/or Round - #4, #6, and #8.
Long liner – Script liner #2.
Liner #1
Suggested brands are:
o https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-masterstroke-golden-taklon-brushes/
o Winsor&Newton Cottman Watercolor Brushes o Princeton Heritage
Students are encouraged to bring a variety of wash, filbert, round, and liner brushes, so use what you have. Canvas can be rough – so I don’t usually spend a lot on my brushes.
MISC.
Stylus if you have one, otherwise a pen or pencil will work to transfer on pattern
Palette for acrylic paints - Sta-Wet palette is best
https://www.dickblick.com/ products/masterson-sta-wet-handy-palette/
Palette knife
Brush pan (for water)
Small spray bottle to mist your paints
Watercolor pencil in raw sienna or raw umber for free drawing on canvas. (optional if you use transfer paper)
https://www.dickblick.com/items/derwent-watercolor-pencil-raw-umber/
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
Paper and pencil for notetaking if you wish
Ruler and Scotch or Masking tape
Paper towel (Viva brand or blue Scott shop towels from Menards are best)