Gargantuan Object in Mixed Media

In this unique, two-part process, you’ll work on a massive canvas, likely taller than you are, to create a piece that merges abstraction with observational realism in a powerful and visually striking way.

We’ll begin by painting a large, energetic abstract background in full color. Using bold strokes and expressive color choices, you’ll create a vibrant surface full of movement and personality. This abstract layer will become the foundation for your drawing - setting the stage, emotionally and compositionally, for what’s to come.

Then comes the challenge: over this lively, colorful surface, you’ll draw a single object from life using black and white conte or pastel. The object will be one you choose—something personal, meaningful, or simply visually interesting. But here’s the twist: you won’t be working from a photo. You’ll observe the object in real space and magnify it to fit your towering canvas, translating something small and three-dimensional onto a flat, two-dimensional surface while visually replicating its form and volume.

Drawing on this scale forces you to think differently. You’ll have to observe carefully, move your body as you draw, and be deliberate in how you represent form. We’ll cover all aspects of shadow: core shadows, cast shadows, occlusion shadows, reflected light, and other subtle effects that bring realism to life.

The final result is something truly compelling, a high-contrast fusion of expressive abstraction and intimate realism, of color and grayscale, of chaos and control. The large scale, combined with the contrast of media and subject matter, creates a finished piece that is both dramatic and intruiging.