Mixing It Up: An Intuitive Approach to Creating Abstract Art

In this two-part workshop each participant will develop a composition working with collage and mixed media using various techniques and materials. Please note: Acrylic Mediums will be supplied by the Instructor along with Paper Towels and Freezer Paper for Palettes. You are responsible for bringing the other supplies needed.

Session 1: We will work with acrylic, ink, charcoal, oil pastel and collage.

Session 2: We will integrate techniques working with oil and collage to form a final composition (or compositions). Participants will learn the basic expressive and intuitive techniques of mixed media collage that will guide them through the creation of a work of art with the compositional elements of shapes, line, layers and texture.

The Instructor will demonstrate various collage methods and textured applications.

Participants will explore techniques using a variety of tools and processes (e.g., adhering miscellaneous materials, like old drawings, paintings, fabric, burlap, used canvas, found objects, and incorporating mono-printing.

Participants will find inspiration from life, nature, studio set-up and working from sketches and/or photo references). The instructor will oversee and guide each participant through the overall process.

STUDENT SUPPLIES:

1. PAINTING SURFACES:

12 x 14 (or larger) canvas or wood panel (recommend back stapled canvas). Heavy paper - e.g., watercolor paper (Arches 140 or 300 pound recommended).

SKETCH PAD:

​Spiral-bound Aquabee or Canson mixed media sketchbook. This is a high-quality acid-free paper that can be used with variety of media and can be painted​ on.​ Choose size 9 x 12” or 11 x 14”.

2. ACRYLIC PAINTS:

Use your own discretion as to your own needs. I recommend Professional Grade Liquitex tubes, Nova acrylics and Golden products, including Golden fluids.

Suggestions: Cadmium Yellow Light or Medium​, Phthalocyanine Blue (green shade), Cadmium Orange, Phthalocyanine Green, Cadmium Red Light (warm red)​, Ivory Black,

​Pyrrole Red (cool red, or your preference)​, Titanium White,

​Quinacridone Magenta​, Ultramarine Blue​.

​Choose additional colors to add to your palette according to your preference: Yellow Oxide (Ochre), Quinacridone Red, Acra Magenta, Burnt Umber​, Paynes Gray, Sap Green or Green Gold​, Brilliant Blue, Hookers Green​, Dioxazine Purple.

3. ACRYLIC MEDIUMS: (Supplied by Instructor): Matte Medium, Matte gel (medium to heavy recommended).

4. BRUSHES: (for acrylic application). Choose a variety of sizes – Larger brushes are better. Minimum of 3 brushes.

Suggested: #2 #3 (round), filbert #5 #6#7, flat #8 or #1; 2” inexpensive flat brush for gesso and varnish

5. OIL PAINTS:

Assorted tubes (suggest Windsor Newton or Lukas): cadmium red, cerulean blue, indigo, cadmium, yellow, cadmium orange, Naples yellow, magenta, blue green, turquoise, titanium white.

For those wishing to work with Cold Wax you must bring your own supply. It will not be provided to the class for use, only as a demonstration.