Monday: I will talk briefly about my
journey as an artist showing examples of my work starting with my early
figurative work and culminating with my current abstract work. I will ask
participants to introduce themselves and talk about why they have an interest in
the abstract and what they hope to learn from this course. This will be
followed by a brief discussion and questions.
After this I
will present a slide show consisting of a collection of random contemporary and
historical abstract paintings. Then we will proceed with a brief course outline
with its aims and objectives and material choices. For paint I suggest we use a
good acrylic paint mainly because it is most similar to traditional oil but it
is less toxic and has has faster drying properties.
We will then
talk about the shift from the figurative to the abstract in terms of the two
dimensional surface. There are of course almost an infinite number of ways to
make this shift, and I will suggest three solutions or paths to make the shift.
On day 1 I will talk about possible solution for students to consider.
Students will
also be encouraged to consider the appropriate scale to their work, be it tiny
or huge, and to experiment with scale. Suggestions for mixed media will also be
discussed.
Solution 1.
Find a natural object that has interesting colours and use this object as a
reference for your colour palette. Mix this palette and then apply it randomly
to an A4 piece of card. Choose an area of this card as a starting point to a
larger study. Spend the rest of the day developing and resolving the study.
Tuesday: At the beginning of days 2, 3 and
4, I would like to start with a talk and slide show on the work of a famous
abstract painter. I would like the participants to bear in mind that they need
to make choices in terms of how they would position themselves as an abstract
painter. Do they see themselves as expressionist, spontaneous or a more
analytical artist?
A talk with
slides about the work of famous Abstract painter, Wassily Kandinsky 1866 -1944
We will then
consider Solution 2. Spend the rest of the day developing and resolving the
study.
Solution 2.
Choose an adjective from the following: lyrical, gritty, chaotic, expressionist
or harmonious and find an abstract painting that embodies that adjective. Using
the chosen painting as a starting point do an abstract painting.
In the
process of considering these solutions I will talk about visual problem
solving, line, tone, colour, texture, materials, surface, surface ground and
composition. All these issues can be contentious in regard to the abstract. For
example one can substitute traditional brushes and palette knives with sponges,
twigs or any other tool. Paints could be traditional artists' materials but
similarly they could be commercial paints and glues etc. Colour can be a
difficult starting point for the abstract artist. The artist's palette could be
"borrowed” from the figurative world or chosen from commercial paint
samples.
Solution
3.Spend the rest of the day developing and resolving the study.
Solution 3.
Drawing from recent memory choose a colour that has somehow stayed in your
memory. Mix this colour and load a brush with it. Make a random mark with is
loaded brush. Then pause and hopefully that mark and that colour will tell you
what to do next. Proceed until the study is resolved.
After the
lunch break we will look briefly at the work of the contemporary British artist
Jade Fadojutimi, Born 1993. The rest of the afternoon will be spent painting.
Wednesday: This day will start with a talk on
the work of Paul Klee (1879 - !940) and a look at his work. The day will
be spent developing their final solution. This colour study will be done on
card and the day will be spent developing their idea. Students now have 3
possible solutions to choose from, one of which they must choose and start
working on to a larger scale.
After the
lunch break we will look at the work of the contemporary British painter Cecily
Brown, born 1969. The rest of the afternoon will be spent painting.
Thursday: We
will start with a talk on the work of Zao Wou-Ki (1921 - 2013) and then we will
look at his work. At this point the work produced to this point will be hung
and students will be encouraged to review their work and talk about the plan
for their next piece. Students will then with guidance and discussion start on
the final piece from the colour studies. Students will be free to work on a
scale appropriate to their chosen direction, be it bigger or smaller. If they
manage to complete the abstract canvas they can proceed with developing another
solution.
After the
lunch break we will look briefly at the work of the contemporary British
painter Frank Bowling Born 1934.
The rest of
the afternoon will be spent painting.
Friday: This day will be spent finalising
the final piece and then presenting the work to be appraised by myself, the
artist and the other participants. The final piece will belong to the students
and they will take this with them, after hopefully allowing me to photograph
it.
Equipment Required: Basic tools and materials will be
supplied, but you might find it useful to bring a mobile phone camera or other
camera with you as well as an apron, overalls and your favourite tools and
materials.
BACKGROUND
READING LIST
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstract_art
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Pollock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Delaunay
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Frankenthaler
