Have you ever looked at a blank canvas and wondered where do you even begin? You are not alone.

 

Many abstract artists fear the blank canvas just because there isn’t a clear direction on where to begin and where to go once you start.

 

In this 3-day workshop, we’ll use our own photography to spark ideas—learning how to pull patterns, textures, and shapes from the world around us. Through a combination of expressive warm-up exercises, daily demos, and in-depth coaching, you’ll build a personal visual language and complete a collection of 4 or more paintings.

 

Abstract painting isn’t about replicating an object; it’s about communicating a feeling or experience. If this sounds intriguing to you, save your spot today.

Each day includes:
✔️ Morning and afternoon demonstrations
✔️ Warm-up techniques to loosen up your process
✔️ Concepts rooted in design and composition and drawn from our own photography
✔️ One-on-one time and small group discussion

Whether you're looking to build confidence, shake up your current work, or reconnect with your creativity, this retreat is designed to guide you from inspiration to finished creation.

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Let’s take your inspiration and turn it into a focused body of abstract work.

Limited space available. Early registration is encouraged.

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Supply List

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Brushes:

Assorted brushes, in different sizes.  Include both flat and round brushes and at least one 2-4 inch flat brush for larger surfaces.  

Mark Making:

Neo Color II Crayons, Stabilo Woodies, Graphite, China Marker are all great to have on hand. 

Other Markmaking tools:  

My favorite fine line applicators are these:  https://bit.ly/3CFgOFC   You can fill it with fluid acrylic paint in the color of your choice.  I thin the paint down with a bit of Golden High Flow Medium.  I normally just use black or white paint in my fineliners. 

Catalyst Wedge:  I prefer the #6  https://bit.ly/3CqlOf2

 

Paint:

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Assorted acrylic paint-I like to use Golden Fluid paint along with some soft body paint such as Liquitex or Nova.  **Please do not bring heavy body paint as your main paint to use**

Typical colors I have on my palette start with a ‘neutral base’:  Titanium White, Titan Buff, Carbon Black, Van Dyke Brown or Raw Umber, Azo Gold, and Payne’s Gray.   

Other colors I often use to round out my palette-Hansa Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Napthol Red, Pyrole Red, Ultramarine Blue, Prussian Blue, Quinicridone Magenta, Turquoise, and Yellow Iron Oxide (or Indian Yellow Hue).   Feel free to bring your favorites!

 

Mediums:

Small bottles of Glazing Medium (Satin) and Matte medium (fluid, not gel).

*Please pre-gesso your surfaces to save time in class.  I like to gesso mine with a gray tone.  I just add black paint to my gesso.  I will have some on hand in case you are unable to prep your surfaces.

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Surfaces

4-5 larger surfaces (18x18-24x24) on canvas or wood

2-3 smaller surfaces (10x10-12x12) canvas or wood

**Note, the size isn’t as important if you need to alter the dimensions for travel purposes.  You could also work on paper.  What is important is to have a nice variety to experiment with and create a collection of studies/finished work.  We will be working on multiple pieces at once during a couple of our main projects. 
 

Journal: 

An art journal if you’d like to practice ideas or use to create backgrounds with excess paint.  A small notebook for note taking and idea generating. 

 

Photos:  

Please print 5-10 photos that inspire you which you will use to draw inspiration from (choose from your own photos, please).  When you print the photos, please print them in color and in black and white.  You can even try cropping up a section to get a new point of view.  While we won’t be replicating the photos, we will be drawing inspiration from them in the form of texture, line, energy, movement, contrast and more.  

**I will have extra photos to share in class, but please do not print photos from other artists or photographers. 

 

Preparation:

It will be really helpful for you to research abstract paintings via Pinterest or perhaps a book and save to an inspiration board (on pinterest)   Think about what it is that draws you into the type of work that you’ve saved.  Is it the colors, feeling it evokes, or marks that are made?   What inspires you the most in your own work?  What inspires you in the world around you?   We will be exploring a variety of inspiration to formulate our own work. 

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Instructor Website