LITTLE JOURNEYS 2025
The Roycrofters-at-Large (RALA) and The Roycroft Inn are pleased to announce the next Little Journey at The Roycroft Chapel: June 4, 2025 with artist Constance Payne. Payne will present a Little Journey to Rosa Bonheur, the most famous woman animal artist of the 19th century, acknowledged by Elbert Hubbard in his Little Journey's writings. A tribute to Bonheur is preserved to this day inside the Roycroft Inn. Payne’s presentation will pay tribute to Bonheur and other masters of the genre of Animal art of the 19thc and early 20thc, drawing from her her expertise in the genre and with Bonheur gained through 10 years of research into the studio practice and working methods of the most famous French 19thc animal painter, Rosa Bonheur.
“Along with Fournier’s devotion to depicting sheep to express the bucolic and pastoral messages in painting, many other painters and sculptors that used the animal form are ignored in academia and by contemporary critics, erasing a complete and long history in art where genre painting involves the images of animals. These works enjoyed great mass appeal in Europe and throughout the United States. I have studied and employed the training of the "animaliers" in particular the work of Rosa Bonheur and Alfred Munnings, {British 19thc} and am one of the few artists today that continues to work from living animals like the painters of the past,” says Payne.
The Little Journey speaker series is presented in two parts within The Roycroft Inn Complex on South Grove. The evening’s program will begin with a relaxed cocktail hour at 4:30 pm in the Library Bar before attendees to the lecture will move to the Roycroft Chapel for the presentation beginning at 6pm. Those who wish to dine following the lecture will receive 10% off of their dinner at The Roycroft Inn that evening beginning at 7:15 p.m. by mentioning Little Journeys when making a reservation.
As a RALA Little Journeys, this presentation is offered at no cost, but requires advance registration. Tickets are needed for entry to The Chapel. Reserve your space by visiting ralaweb.com. Active RALA Patrons and Members who cannot attend in person will have the option to join via member livestream.
Little Journeys connects the Roycroft community by offering artist talks, demonstrations and lectures that educate and stimulate intellectual and artistic curiosity, and serve as a homage to Elbert Hubbard’s original Little Journeys, small trips to artists of note that shared intimate glimpses behind their process and lives. For years, this series was an important part of RALA’s presence on South Grove, and offered “show and tell” by Masters and Artisans, Artisan Forums and visiting nationally known speakers. 2025 RALA Little Journeys will be held on the first Wednesday of the "even months" at The Roycroft Chapel, and are proudly sponsored by our community parter, The Roycroft Inn.
The Inn hosts a relaxed start to Little Journeys with a cocktail hour beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Library Bar. Those who wish to dine following the lecture will receive 10% off of their dinner at The Roycroft Inn that evening beginning at 7:15 p.m. by mentioning Little Journeys when making a reservation. We highly encourage those joining us to take advantage of the hospitality of The Inn.hose who wish to dine following the lecture will receive 10% off of their dinner at The Roycroft Inn that evening beginning at 7:15 p.m. by mentioning Little Journeys when making a reservation. We highly encourage those joining us to take advantage of the hospitality of The Inn and to be considerate of the staff by making a reservation ahead of time if possible.
Active RALA Patrons and Members may always attend Little Journeys remote via a member Livestream. Remote viewing will be made available to Members and Patrons in good standing who cannot physically attend. For more information on membership, see our Membership page. Membership opportunities will be available at the evening’s event prior to and immediately following the meeting and presentation.