What does it mean to create a painting that is informed by the natural world around us, but is not exactly representational? The difference between representational painting and abstract painting is that in abstract work, the subject is not as evident. Working with acrylic paints, students will be encouraged to let go of object orientation and see the landscape simply as shapes, colors and values. This workshop explores abstraction, composition, color and mark making, through the lens of landscape Students will learn how to coax hints of reality from an abstract background and perhaps how to integrate some textural and/or collage materials.
We will work with reference imagery and transform it into rich, energetic paintings. Starting with some warm up exercises – we’ll create a series of several quickly done small abstracts on paper or in a journal/sketchbook. We’ll then move onto a larger substrate and start fresh with the same reference image. The goal is to create abstract paintings reminiscent of the world around us.
 

Materials Fee $15 paid at beginning of class includes:

• 6 Small pieces (about 6” x 9”) of 140# CP watercolor paper
• All paints and mediums
• Tissue, Napkins or deli paper to use for collage
• Water soluble oil pastel or water soluble crayons for mark making
 

Supplies Needed  to bring for Class:

• 1” Flat Brush ( Lately I have been using Simply Simmons brushes)
• # 6 or # 8 Round Brush
• Water soluble graphite for initial sketch (or use a pencil or a pastel or piece of charcoal)
• Water container
• Paper towels
• Palette Pad or something to use as a palette
• Palette knife for mixing colors and possibly painting textures