Category: karine

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"Intro to Abstract Painting" with Karine Swenson


Intro to Abstract Painting
Instructor: Karine Swenson
2-Week, 6-Lesson Class
Now available as a self-study class. 


Karine is re-running her very popular class, “Intro to Abstract Painting,” beginning Tuesday, May 29, 2018! If you have signed up for “Intro to Abstract Painting” previously and would like to be part of this repeat session, just email me at carla[at]carlasonheim.com and let me know.
Have you have ever had an interest in abstract painting? Would you like to paint with more freedom or feeling?
In this class we will explore a variety of mark-making techniques with an emphasis on finding what works for you as an artist. Karine will demonstrate drawing and painting intuitively, and share with you a few of her favorite abstract painters and help you understand some of the concepts behind non-representational painting (painting without recognizable imagery).
She will encourage you to try new things as a way to experience breakthroughs and encourage you to work quickly. You will be finding ways to develop your own way of applying paint and to compose the visual space.
During this class, you will work on many (up to twenty) small sketches and 3 to 4 paintings.
Click HERE for a list of supplies needed for this class.
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Who is this class intended for:
– Anyone who wants to explore non-representational painting
– Anyone who wants to strengthen and develop their own voice as a painter
– Anyone interested in taking risks with their painting
– Anyone who wants to have more confidence in their own way of painting
Note: It is recommended that you have some painting experience in acrylic or oil paint before taking this class; I will not be showing you how to mix paint or choose colors. The focus will be primarily composition, values, mark making, and a search for individuality.
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Class Itinerary
Week One
Lesson 1 – Tuesday
We will begin with small studies to explore drawing intuitively.
Lesson 2 – Wednesday
Today will will draw from our other senses (not sight) to help us escape the need to use recognizable imagery and to help us tap into our emotions.
Lesson 3 – Friday
Take the favorite sketch from our previous two lessons and turn them into an abstract painting.
Week Two
Lesson 4 – Tuesday
Approaching a blank canvas with no sketch. (How to work intuitively.)
Lesson 5 – Wednesday
Explore how trying new things can take you in another direction. Do you normally work small? Try working large. Push yourself to do things you wouldn’t normally do.
Lesson 6 – Friday
Choose one of your paintings from the last two weeks and “wreck it” to save it. _____________________________________________

Sign up today!


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Karine_PortraitKarine Swenson grew up just outside of a town called Rapid City, South Dakota in the Black Hills. The closest neighbor was a mile away. Reared in this environment, Swenson’s connection with the natural world was strong. After receiving her BA in painting from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she moved to Colorado. She has spent most of her life in small towns that sit right next to the last remaining bits of wilderness. From the mountains of Colorado, the ocean surrounding Maui, Hawaii, the desert near Joshua Tree, California, and now Santa Fe, NM, she feels the most at home out in nature. In the studio, her second home, she can explore her relationship with the natural world. Her oil paintings are reflections of this relationship. Swenson has been a full time artist for the past ten years.
See more wonderful art at Karine’s blog!

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Intro to Realism


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Intro to Realism
Instructor: Karine Swenson
Two-Week Class • 6 Lessons

Now available as a self-study class.


In this class you will learn techniques to help you strengthen your drawing and painting skills.
The emphasis will be placed on finding ways to develop your own unique style while getting closer to visual truth. Just as each person has unique handwriting, your own way of drawing and painting will become your strength.
Each of you will pick your own 3D object — a toy, a tool, or something that interests you — and render it multiple times, building from quick sketches all the way to a color painting. We will work with color and value and pay close attention to light and shadow to create dimensionality.
I look forward to working with you!
Karine Swenson
Note: I will be working with oil paint, but you can work with acrylics or watercolor if you wish. For a list of supplies needed, click HERE.
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Class Itinerary:

Week 1
Lesson 1
We will spend some time choosing our subject matter that you will draw and paint throughout this class. Then you will light it, photograph it, and do a couple of quick drawings of it! You will also draw your hand in this lesson, an ever-available subject and a great way to sneak a little drawing practice in wherever you find yourself.

Lesson 2
This lesson will be devoted to drawing — both quick study, and slower, more careful study. The drawings are part of the process of learning to see more and to develop better hand/eye coordination. You will do several drawings of your hand and your chosen subject.

Lesson 3
In this lesson we will do more quick studies and then work on and finish a value study in charcoal of our subject to prepare us for our painting.

Lesson 4
Paint!!! Today we will work with a very limited palette, and use our value study from Lesson 3 to help us navigate our first painting of our subjects.

Lesson 5
We will begin the final painting of our subjects. You will be able to expand your color palette (a little!).

Lesson 6
The focus of our final lesson will be to explore the finishing touches, how to know when you are finished, and what you can do to make a painting you like.

Sign up today!
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Karine_PortraitKarine Swenson grew up just outside of a town called Rapid City, South Dakota in the Black Hills. The closest neighbor was a mile away. Reared in this environment, Swenson’s connection with the natural world was strong. After receiving her BA in painting from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she moved to Colorado. She has spent most of her life in small towns that sit right next to the last remaining bits of wilderness. From the mountains of Colorado, the ocean surrounding Maui, Hawaii, the desert near Joshua Tree, California, and now the high desert outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Karine feels the most at home out in nature. In the studio, her second home, she can explore her relationship with the natural world. Her oil paintings are reflections of this relationship. Swenson has been a full-time artist for the past ten years.To watch a short video introducing Karine, click HERE.See more wonderful art at Karine’s website: www.karineswenson.com.
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NUTS & BOLTS
Here’s how this online class works:
• During the two weeks of class, you will receive an email each Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from Karine with a reminder to visit the class blog for that day’s lesson.
• A password-protected blog dedicated to each class will serve as our clubhouse and where you will find all the class materials as they are uploaded.
• A Facebook group will be created for you to (optionally) share your paintings, and enjoy and learn from the artwork of others. (However, if you are shy about posting your art, Karine is always available to look at your work via email.)
• The class materials will be up and available for download indefinitely, if for some reason you need to miss a day (or a couple of weeks).
• Upon registration, you will receive an email within 48 hours confirming your sign-up. On the Friday before your session begins, you will receive an email with your class codes.
• Class fee is good for participants living in a single household.
QUESTIONS? [email protected]
FAQs – If you’ve never taken an online class before and would like to know more about our online classes, click HERE.

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Abstraction: Diving Deeper


Abstraction: Diving Deeper
Instructor: Karine Swenson
Drawing, Painting, Mixed-Media • $85 
Class Dates: March 22 – April 1, 2016


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Have you ever asked yourself “how do I know when a painting is finished?” If you have ever struggled with this question, this is the class for you.

In this painting class, we will dive deeper into our abstract paintings in order to make discoveries and learn, but we will also be constantly asking the question “is this painting finished?”

The focus of the class will be to work through three stages of a painting – the start (so fun, such excitement!), the middle (“oh NO! I ruined it!”), to the finish (Wow! I did it!). I will offer suggestions to help you through each stage as we work towards a resolution. You will be encouraged to use your preferred kind of paint, whether it be acrylic, oil or watercolor. (I will be using oil, but will try to offer tips for other kinds of paint as well.) You will also be encouraged to find your own approach to each part of the process. I do not teach specific techniques as much as I wish to help you find your own techniques and style.

At the end of the class, depending on how quickly you work, you will have finished at least one, if not two, larger sized works. (if you prefer to work small, that’s fine too!) I do encourage you to try a larger painting, if you have been wanting to do it. I encourage risk taking, and I will help you find ways to “save” a painting if you think you’ve pushed it too far. We will be spending a lot of time painting in this class, so push up your sleeves and get ready to move around some paint!
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Class Itinerary:

Lesson 1
In the first lesson, we will explore different approaches to beginning a new painting. Suggestions will be given on various ways to start – you will be given a lot of freedom to find what way works the best for you. If you already have a method you’ve been using, but want to try a new method, you will have the chance to do some experimenting. We will start a new painting and try to push it as far as we can in the first lesson.
Lesson 2
We will now re-visit our painting. Do you think it’s finished? Can you push it further? Have you reached an impasse? I will encourage you to risk the exciting things you may have found in your initial marks in order to dig deeper. Options will be offered if you are having trouble. We will begin to talk about how to look at our own work critically. We will try to push our painting even further. You can start a new painting if you need to, but I do encourage you to try to dive deeper to see what you can learn.
Lesson 3
FIELD TRIP!!!
I will send you out to a museum or high-end gallery to look at abstract paintings in person. The focus is to learn from other abstract painters. You will be given a list of questions to answer while on your field trip. For those of you who live in rural areas, or who have to schedule this trip, you will have the option to do this lesson at any point during the two week class. (Or, if you sign up early and have the time to go before class starts, you have that option too. I can email the questions to you ahead of time.)
Lesson 4
We will now re-visit our own painting(s) with the same list of questions we had while looking at other artists’ work. Can we be as objective about our own work? Was there something we saw that we want to try with our own work? Did you have an “aha” moment? The lesson is to push the painting deeper or begin another painting using an idea we got while out looking at art. The mission isn’t necessarily to copy another artist as much as to discover something new to try in our own work. Sometimes, this can lead to big discoveries!
Lesson 5
Now we will really try to finish our painting(s). Is it finished? How do we know? How does the painting make us feel? What do we think about when we look at our work? I will give you options of things to try to add just a bit more “wonderful” to your painting. We will also think about if there is just one or two small changes that might make all the difference. Sometimes, a major overhaul is needed, sometimes a simple flourish. I will be painting right along with you, so you can see some of the things I use. This is where we really work up the courage to be able to say “I am finished.” Or “I am almost finished.”
Lesson 6
This is the final lesson, where we will sit and look at the work and once again ask “is it finished?” If you have finished one, this will be where you try to finish another one. We will talk about how each painting leads us to the next painting, and how we develop the idea of painting as a lifelong practice. How we learn to say “I am finished with this painting” in order to be able to begin another one. We will also talk about what we do to a painting when it’s finished (signing, photographing, framing, wiring the back, etc.). What steps here are important to you so you can move on to your next painting?

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SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR THIS CLASS: For the Supply List, click HERE.
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Here’s the scoop for this class:
• On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week you will receive an email with a reminder to visit the class blog for that day’s lesson.
• A password-protected blog dedicated to each class will serve as our clubhouse.
• A facebook group will be created for you to (optionally) share your paintings, and enjoy and learn from the artwork of others. (However, if you are shy about posting your art, Karine is always available to look at your work via email.)
• The class materials will be up and available for download until “forever,” if for some reason you need to miss a day (or a couple of weeks).
• Upon registration, you will receive an email within 48 hours confirming your sign-up. On the Friday before your session begins, you will receive a “test” email to make sure you can receive/view everything.
• What you will need: You will be able to read acrobat pdf files and view videos.
• Class fee is good for participants living in a single household.
QUESTIONS? [email protected]
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SIGN UP TODAY!


_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Karine_PortraitKarine Swenson grew up just outside of a town called Rapid City, South Dakota in the Black Hills. The closest neighbor was a mile away. Reared in this environment, Swenson’s connection with the natural world was strong. After receiving her BA in painting from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she moved to Colorado. She has spent most of her life in small towns that sit right next to the last remaining bits of wilderness. From the mountains of Colorado, the ocean surrounding Maui, Hawaii and now the desert near Joshua Tree, California, she feels the most at home out in nature. In the studio, her second home, she can explore her relationship with the natural world. Her oil paintings are reflections of this relationship. Swenson has been a full time artist for the past ten years.
To watch a short video introducing Karine, click HERE.
See more wonderful art at Karine’s website: www.karineswenson.com.
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Elements – Building Blocks of Painting


Elements: Building Blocks of Painting
with Karine Swenson
5-Week Class; 10 Lessons Total
Now available as a self-study class.

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  • Have you ever wanted to take a course learn the basics of painting?
  • Are you curious, but don’t have a Studio Art background?
  • Do you need a refresher on how artists approach painting?
  • What are the elements that make a painting come to life?

Karine Swenson’s 5-week course gives you a unique opportunity to build upon the fundamental building blocks of painting. In this accessible and welcoming course, Karine will walk you through the basics of:

Line, Shape, Form, Depth, Color, Value, & Composition

A professional artist for over 10 years, Karine has lots of experience using color and abstract expression to evoke light, movement and emotion.  If you take the time to learn how to use these tools, and put them in your own tool belt, you’ll look at painting differently by the end of 5 weeks.
And if you’re interested in trying oils for the first time, this class is a fun way to begin! (And although Karine will be using her oil paint, you can absolutely use acrylics.)
Most importantly, you will get personal feedback: You can share your work in the class Facebook group, or if you’re feeling shy, you can email it to Karine directly.
The weeks will go roughly like this:
Week 1: The Line (and all its variations!)
Week 2: The differences between Shape and Form
Week 3: Exploring Depth, Color and Value
Week 4: Value and Composition
Week 5: Composition
Lessons will be geared towards abstract painting; however, the topics will be beneficial to any artist – even those pursuing more representational subject matter. (This class is meant to be a continuation of Karine’s first abstract painting class, although you do not need to have taken Intro to Abstract Painting to benefit from this class.)
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Click for supply list: Elements Supply List
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NUTS & BOLTS
Here’s how this online class works:
• A password-protected blog serves as our clubhouse; there you will find all of the lesson videos and class materials. This class is now a self-study class, so all of the lessons are available to you when you sign up and you can move through the material at your own pace. (Since it was originally in a blog format, you will find the lessons in reverse chronological order… just scroll down for the earlier lessons.)
• A Facebook group has been created for you to (optionally) share your paintings, and enjoy and learn from the artwork of others. (However, if you are shy about posting your art, Karine is always available to look at your work via email.)
• You have indefinite access to the class materials.
• Upon registration, you will receive an email within 48 hours with the links to the class blog and Facebook group.
• Class fee is good for participants living in a single household.
QUESTIONS? carla[at]carlasonheim.com
FAQs – If you’ve never taken an online class before and would like to know more about our classes, click HERE.
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SIGN UP TODAY!

Or take both of Karine’s classes for 10% off! “Intro to Abstract Painting” is a self-study class and you will get the links immediately.

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Karine_PortraitKarine Swenson grew up just outside of a town called Rapid City, South Dakota in the Black Hills. The closest neighbor was a mile away. Reared in this environment, Swenson’s connection with the natural world was strong. After receiving her BA in painting from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she moved to Colorado. She has spent most of her life in small towns that sit right next to the last remaining bits of wilderness. From the mountains of Colorado, the ocean surrounding Maui, Hawaii and now the desert near Joshua Tree, California, she feels the most at home out in nature. In the studio, her second home, she can explore her relationship with the natural world. Her oil paintings are reflections of this relationship. Swenson has been a full time artist for the past ten years.
To watch a short video introducing Karine, click HERE.
See more wonderful art at Karine’s website: www.karineswenson.com.