The Hudson River Fellowship sponsored a three-week-long artistic residency for twenty classically trained painters from June 19 to July 8, which allowed them to immerse themselves in the natural landscape of the school’s campus. 

Founded in 2009 and based on the Hudson River school values, the Fellowship aspires to revive the skills and aesthetic of the American movement known for the work of painters such as Frederic Church, Albert Bierstadt, and Thomas Cole. 

Every year, the Fellowship awards twenty landscape artists devoted to the painting movement with a residency in a beautiful New England location. Dean of Summer Programs, Mr. Rick Hazelton, said, “A Hotchkiss alum referred the Hudson Fellowship to us. They were looking for a facility to live and paint out in the open. We met numerous times and scheduled a three-week program on campus. Twenty painters painted from dawn to the late evening throughout the campus, including on the farm, golf course, and in the woods.” 

The artists had access to several inspirational sites around campus. Customary of the landscape movement, they practiced plein-aire painting and took advantage of the areas with superlative views like the gardens overlooking Lake Wononscopomuc and the Fairfield Farm vistas of the Berkshire hills. 

The Hudson River Fellowship encourages a collaborative and exploratory practice. Senior fellows joined to offer demonstrations, lead group critiques, and engage in artistic practice alongside the new artists. This practice aids both new artists and senior fellows to fully immerse themselves into the experience and elevate their artistic practices. 

Mr. Hazelton said, “Through the Fellowship, the artists were able devote all of their waking hours to painting and refining their craft. The goal of the artists was to produce numerous paintings of the nature on campus.” 

The Hudson River Fellowship is excited to return to campus next summer. Applications for the 2024 season will be available next spring.