Imaginarium: Cultivating Your Artist’s Practice with Claire Rosen
Join award-winning photographer and author Claire Rosen for a four-day creative immersion based on her acclaimed Imaginarium philosophy — a holistic approach to the artistic process that cultivates imaginative thinking, creative confidence, and sustained practice.
Claire Rosen
This four-day immersive workshop invites photographers and visual artists to explore the full arc of the creative journey — from initial spark to execution, reflection, and refinement — guided by award-winning artist and author Claire Rosen. Rooted in her Imaginarium philosophy, the workshop approaches creativity as a sustainable, process-driven practice—one that builds confidence, clarity, and imaginative courage over time.
Claire’s visual work is internationally recognized for its whimsical narratives, classical references, and richly constructed worlds. Her photographs often feature anthropomorphic animals, lush still lifes, and conceptual tableaux that feel at once fantastical and deeply familiar. Early in her career, Claire was named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” in Art & Design, and her work has been featured by major international platforms including the Aesthetica Art Prize, PDN Annual, Photoville Fence, Communication Arts, the International Photography Awards, and the Sony World Photography Awards. Her images are exhibited widely and held in both public and private collections worldwide.
Claire is also the author of Imaginarium: The Process Behind the Pictures, a respected guide to creative practice that offers practical frameworks for idea generation, pre-visualization, production planning, and sustaining long-term artistic inquiry. These principles form the foundation of the workshop.
What You’ll Learn
This workshop moves beyond technique and gear to focus on the mindset, structure, and habits that support meaningful creative work. Through a balance of discussion, guided exercises, shooting sessions, and critique, participants will deepen their artistic voice and strengthen their ability to bring ideas into form.
Creative Groundwork
Explore your personal motivations, visual interests, and artistic influences, and examine how psychological and emotional drivers shape the work you make.
Idea Generation & Concept Development
Learn flexible brainstorming methods—including divergent thinking, mind mapping, free association, and mood boarding—and translate abstract ideas into visual concepts that form the basis of a cohesive body of work.
Pre-Visualization & Planning
Develop tools for thinking ahead of the camera: sketching, narrative mapping, shot lists, and location planning. Build systems that offer clarity while leaving space for intuition and discovery.
Field Practice & Creative Problem-Solving
Apply your ideas through guided shooting sessions that encourage experimentation, play, and thoughtful risk-taking. Strengthen your ability to adapt in the moment while staying connected to your original intent.
Reflection, Critique & Refinement
Engage in supportive critique and discussion that sharpens your analytical eye. Gain confidence editing your work and articulating creative decisions—essential skills for advancing personal projects.
Throughout the workshop, Claire emphasizes creative habits that endure beyond the classroom: daily practice, structured curiosity, intentional experimentation, and reflective analysis—tools that support an evolving, resilient creative life.
This intimate, small-group experience combines in-studio discussion, hands-on shooting, and group critique, all set within the inspiring landscape of Blenheim Park Maine.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with a clear creative toolkit, renewed confidence in your process, and practical strategies for bringing your ideas vividly to life.
Details
Dates: August 20–23, 2026
Location: Blenheim Park Maine
Tuition: $2,795
Enrollment Limit: 9 participants
Skill Level: Open to photographers and visual artists with a working familiarity of their camera or medium
Spaces are limited; early enrollment is encouraged.
This four-day workshop blends in-studio discussion, field shooting, reflective practice, and creative collaboration in the inspiring landscape of Blenheim Park Maine. Perfect for artists ready to expand their visual voice and deepen creative confidence.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Hands-on instruction and mentorship with Claire Rosen
Lectures, guided assignments, group conversation, and critique
Focused development and refinement of a personal photographic project
Writing sessions dedicated to artist statements and project language
One group dinner, working lunches and refreshments during the workshop
NOT INCLUDED: ACCOMMODATION & TRAVEL: Travel to and from Maine and accommodation are NOT included but wonderful nearby recommendations can be made. Food & beverage outside of shared meals noted in the itinerary, miscellaneous expenses, equipment, and insurance are not included. Because of our rural setting we do recommend you have a car for the duration of the workshop.
WHERE: Blenheim Park, Bremen, Maine. Approximately 1hr north of Portland Maine, 3hrs north of Boston and 7 minutes drive from downtown Damariscotta.
QUESTIONS? EMAIL WORKSHOP PRODUCER KERRY PAYNE STAILEY
BLENHEIM PARK MAINE
OUR BEAUTIFUL LAKESIDE SETTING:
The workshop will be held in beautiful Midcoast Maine at Blenheim Park set on 16 landscaped, lakefront acres. It’s located about 1 hour north of Portland, Maine and about 7 miles from the charming town of Damariscotta.
In addition to an inspiring workshop with likeminded artists, our lakeside setting will do wonders for your spirit too. With trails through the woods, a lake-side sauna, hammocks, kayaks and canoes available for students use, a workshop experience at Blenheim Park is not only a wonderful chance to advance your artistic vision, but a great opportunity for you to ‘reset’ from the daily grind, while building lifelong connections with other artists who share your interest in creating this type of work. Blenheim Park is home to Maine’s largest cherry orchard, cherry blossoms, lawns, woods, and manicured gardens.
GETTING HERE
Three airports serve the Midcoast region:
Portland International Jetport (PWM) – ~60 miles / 1 hr 15 min. The best selection of flights.
Bangor International Airport (BGR) – ~81 miles / 2 hours. Served by Delta, US Airways, and Allegiant.
Knox County Regional Airport (RKD) – ~27 miles / 40 minutes. Daily Cape Air flights from Boston (BOS) on Cessna C402 aircraft. Note: luggage is limited to one 50-lb checked bag, one carry-on, and a personal item.
A fourth option is to fly into Boston (BOS) and drive the 3hrs to Blenheim Park.
Rental cars are available at all airports (RKD has Budget only). Participants will carpool to field locations.
Weather
Early August in coastal Maine is warm, bright, and generally comfortable:
Highs: 72º–82ºF
Lows: 55º–65ºF
Wind: Typically mild coastal breezes
Even in summer, mornings and evenings can feel cool near the water, so layers are recommended so please come prepared for variable weather.
About Claire Rosen
Claire Rosen is an award-winning artist known for her imaginative photography — featuring a whimsical exploration of the intersection of art, history and nature. Her hallmark images include charming animals presented in fantastical anthropomorphized settings. Her still life work reimagines lush flora within a classical painterly tradition.
Her visual style was shaped by the early influences of Beatrix Potter, natural history museums and the Dutch still life tradition, with her intricate compositions blending the enchantment of children’s illustrations and the refinement of classical painting. Her work utilizes these visual traditions to spark conversation around contemporary themes.
Her lifelong love of all creatures has led Claire to a distinctive approach that integrates live animals into her creative process — engaging viewers to reflect more deeply on the nature of animals.
Early in her career, she was twice named to Forbes’ “Best 30 under 30” list for Art & Design. Her work has also received accolades from industry publications like the Aesthetica Art Prize, Communication Arts Annual, IPA, Graphis, PDN Annual, Photoville Fence, Photolucida Critical Mass, Prix de la Photographie, and Sony World Awards. Her work has been featured in publications including Architectural Digest, National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, PhotoVogue, NPR, The Guardian, Harper’s Magazine, Refinery29, and The Washington Post.
Claire’s artwork has been exhibited widely, from New York to Seoul, and has been included in both solo and group shows at venues such as AIPAD at the NYC Armory, Annenberg Space for Photography, Aperture Gallery, SCAD Savannah Museum of Art and The Center for Maine Contemporary Art. For five consecutive years she has been included on the Photoville Fence in multiple cities—Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Calgary, Houston, and Santa Fe. Her work is displayed on the walls of Instagram's Headquarters, Rockefeller Center, and the new World Trade Center.
Claire is also a sought-after educator, public speaker and author. Her book, IMAGINARIUM: The Process Behind the Pictures, offers insight into her creative practice and presents tools for the artistic process. She is profiled in the book, “Why We Photograph Animals” by Huw Lewis-Jones. As a brand ambassador for FujiFilm USA, she continues to influence and educate within the photography community.
Since graduating in 2006 with a B.F.A. in Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design, and with an earlier degree from Bard College at Simon's Rock, she has continued to evolve her practice. In recent years, she and her family moved to Warwick Furnace Farm in rural Chester County, PA, a historic property they have since transformed into a picturesque lavender farm — which provides a setting for Claire’s artist studio, an art gallery and a growing guest artist residency program — reflecting her continuing commitment to community engagement through the creative arts.
Visit Claire’s website: https://claire-rosen.com
A NOTE FROM YOUR HOST, KERRY PAYNE STAILEY: “I’m truly delighted to welcome Aline Smithson to our teaching roster. Her insight, generosity, and deep commitment to the photographic journey make her a remarkable addition to our community. Not only am I big fan of her work, but I can’t wait to experience the creative magic that unfolds as you immerse yourselves in her guidance and in the beauty of Maine in summer. Having this estate filled with photographers strengthening their vision and exploring new ideas is a dream come true.”
Kerry Payne Stailey
Kerry is an Australian born, Maine based photographer and educator whose work has been published widely and exhibited internationally. She has studied photography, documentary film making and writing at the International Center of Photography, School of Visual Arts and New York University, and she has consulted to many highly respected photographers and photo educators in the course of her career. Now based in Maine, she, along with her husband Justin, owns and operates Blenheim Park Maine.
NOTE: If you’d like to pay in 4 interest free payments via Klarna — proceed to checkout for this option.
CANCELLATION and WITHDRAWAL: If you are unable to attend the following cancellation policy applies:
Withdraw 45 days or more prior to the start of your workshop and we will refund all payments made, less processing fees paid to online service providers.
Withdraw less than 45 days, but more than 30 days prior to the start of your workshop and we will refund 50% of your workshop tuition.
Withdraw 30 days or less prior to the start of your workshop, we cannot offer a refund, however you may transfer your place in the program.