Intuitive Abstraction

This course presents an exciting opportunity to learn more about abstract art. You will find out why it has been so popular for over 100 years, and how the famous abstractionists discovered their styles. There will be a lot of surprises: for example, the relationship between realism and abstraction, which will open your mind to the impulsive, spontaneous, instinctive, emotional, and subconscious side of art-making. In intuitive painting, you play by ear - you discover your direction through the process of painting. Intuitive abstraction is extremely freeing: it liberates you from the constraints of realism - you get to experience being in the flow.

In the first three weeks, you will study different artists and will practice each technique on a small board. After you get them under your belt, you will start a large canvas. Large format is not mandatory but it is encouraged: you will want more surface to combine all the techniques you’ve acquired in a creative and harmonious way. With the large format, intuitive abstraction is like a dance, pleasant and satisfying. 

This course is perfect for you if you are intrigued by spontaneous art-making, want to enhance your creativity, explore your style, apply your intuition, and wish to expand into the direction of contemporary art. If large-scale abstract art is new for you, after this course, you will be confident to GO BIG on your own. 

In six weeks, you’ll learn 15 components of abstract art as a visual language:

1. The three elements of abstract art
2. Color key
3. The "ugly stage"
4. Compositional principles
5. Gestural abstraction 
6. Orchestration of abstract composition 
7. Tonal rhythm
8. Intuitive vs. deliberate painting
9. Self-expression
10. Texture & manipulation of paint
11. Glazing and scumbling
12. Two approaches to creativity
13. Layering: adding & subtracting
14. Use of tools
15. Message / story