Semi-abstracted Spirited Landscape

Painting: From Reference to Essence explores design elements and colour theory to build the artist’s tool box and offers insights to open the heart of an artist to discover their “essence”. Students will work with drawing tools, thumbnail sketches and acrylic paints. We will reconnect with the divergent thinking of a child. Finding courage to be in the moment and make personal art is a liberating and life changing thing. Each week class will start with a short lecture to better understand design and colour. I will bring something that I am working on to better understand my step by step process.

Each student will have open studio time to work on a painting of their choice. I will bring art books for students to “copy” if they are not ready to start something original. Or students are welcome to bring their own reference or to copy my style.

WEEK ONE: We will look at the colour wheel and mix complex neutrals. Understanding value is the foundation to making art. Learning to see colour as a value and a temperature (warm or cool) is critical to making successful art. Students will have open studio time to paint.

WEEK TWO: Students will learn about composition and how to “decide” or “choose” which shapes go where by blocking out their work through developing a se-ries of thumbnail sketches. We will break down how to move colour through your work to create balance and harmony.

WEEK THREE: Students will continue to look at the core design elements including Line, Shape, Value, Colour and Intensity. Students will have open studio time to paint.

WEEK FOUR: Students will now be ready to let go and critique their own work and the work of each other using the skills developed in the workshop. Students will have open studio time to paint.