Are you a scenic artist looking to expand your skillset?

Commune with nature on the Cobalt Studios grounds, Oct. 6-10, 2025, and master the techniques of rendering foliage photo-realistically!

The Foliage Painting I: Photo-Real Foliage Painting Techniques Seminar, instructed by Rachel Keebler, provides a fresh approach to looking at and painting trees and leaves. Special attention is given to reproducing realistic colors and textures. Learn how to use appropriate contrast, scale, and perspective to add depth to your tree-scapes. Participants would be most successful bringing their good drawing and color-matching skills with them.

Clue in on the fastest ways to get specific leaf shapes (eg. OAK, MAPLE)! You will be making three big tree projects.

This scholarship opportunity, sponsored by Rose Brand, will send two scenic artists on an immersive, educational adventure to study at Cobalt Studios, dedicated to quality scenic painting & training since 1988. Our two selected recipients will have the opportunity to take a specialty pro-seminar with instructor Rachel Keebler.

Take advantage of this unique training program by applying today. The application is quick and easy, and you will walk away with new skills and professional industry connections!

The selected winners will receive seminar tuition, room and board, and up to $600 in travel. Airline travel can be made through the USITT travel portal. If driving, mileage will be reimbursed at the Federal Travel rate post-seminar.

Who Can Apply?

This scholarship is open to all individual and student USITT Members and it's free to apply!

How Do I Apply?

Please send your resume and a short essay explaining why you should be selected for the opportunity. Tell us how this training seminar will help you grow and improve your professional career!

Applications close on Sept. 12, so don't wait. Apply today!

When is the seminar?

The selected participants will participate in the Foliage Painting I: Photo-Real Foliage Painitng Techniques Seminar at Cobalt Studios from Oct. 6, 2024 – Oct. 10, 2025, at Cobalt Studios, inc. in White Lake, NY 12786. *Must be available to travel on Oct. 5 and Oct. 11.

About Cobalt Studios

Cobalt Studios is modeled after the Guilds from the Renaissance. They combine the classroom experience with the workshop experience. They aim to reflect those guilds where a cohesive group of artists nurtured respect for their craft as an active part of their community life, bound together through mutual respect; craftsmen who taught the traditions, skills, and art of their craft and passed this down through their “knowing” hands.

The program is also modeled after the program at Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s school for architecture. For half of the time, professionals teach classes to the students: a combination of lectures, demos, individualized projects, and practice. For the other half of the time, students become apprentices on real jobs, applying class lessons in full scale, working with and under the watchful eyes of professionals. In this way, Cobalt develops the eye for judgment, imparts skill to the hands and arms, and passes on the scenic painting techniques for Scenic Artists to meet the challenges of their craft.

Cobalt Studios is a base from which we are developing a pool of successful painters who have a positive commitment to our craft.

The company is also home to 2024 USITT Award Winner, Rachel Keebler!

Rachel has been a painter since high school and was an SA member of USA 829 from 1981 to 1994. Well known for co-founding Cobalt in 1988, she has been the Owner and Director of Studies at Cobalt Studios since 1993. She has been actively charging, painting, and overseeing the programs there ever since. 

To learn more about Cobalt Studios, visit their website here!

This scholarship is sponsored by Rose Brand, a longtime exhibitor, sponsor, and supporter of USITT and the next generation of scenic artists. In business since 1921, Rose Brand is North America’s largest provider of theatrical fabrics, fabrications, and production supplies for the entertainment, event, and display industries. What started as a small, family-run business has grown into a national company employing over 400 people in four locations.