Service Description

Exploring Abstraction: Four Paths to Abstract Painting Have you ever wondered how artists work towards abstraction? How do they arrive at abstract work? What is abstraction? This four-week course gives you real insight into these very questions, as you produce your own body of abstract works. It's a hands-on course in which we'll work through four distinct methods of abstraction, exploring the theme across painting and/or drawing. The Four Themes Abstraction from representation/nature Abstraction and improvisation Abstraction from another artist's work Abstraction from the figure Following a set of projects, you'll develop your own abstract paintings, informed by the work of a wide range of artists. You'll be encouraged to try different approaches and experiment with ideas and techniques. And it will be fun too! You'll also come away far more knowledgeable about materials and composition in abstraction, tracing a path from Hilma af Klint and Kandinsky through Cubism to Abstract Expressionism and beyond. Some of the artists we'll cover: Helen Frankenthaler, Matisse, Mondrian, Bridget Riley, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, Kandinsky, Hilma af Klint, Sonia Delaunay, Jackson Pollock, Richard Diebenkorn and Marlene Dumas. Small by Design Our courses run in small groups of 5 max, so you'll get genuine individual attention as you develop your own direction within each theme rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach. With such a wide range of artists and methods to draw from, personal guidance really counts. Materials. Please Bring Your Own You're welcome to use any materials for this course: acrylics, oils (traditional or water-mixable), coloured pencils, crayons, pastels. Simply bring what you already use and have to the first session; you'll get tailored advice on materials in week one. Please don't forget the painting surface - canvas/canvas or notebook/pastel paper and brushes. This course is suitable for all levels, whether you're an experienced practitioner keen to push your work in new directions or a complete beginner. To see what our students have said, take a look at our Google reviews.