Hello and Welcome!
WOW! I am so excited that you have decided to take my class! Thank you for signing up. I will do my best to start you on your own journey into making art that is authentically your own. I think you will be able to use the exercises in the class as part of a continuing exploration of art and paint, whether or not you continue along the path of abstract art.
As I touched on briefly in the promo video, we will not be looking at something and then “abstracting” it. What we will do is find ways to allow our subconscious mind to pull from an already rich visual repertoire to create art intuitively.
I will be introducing you to some of my favorite abstract painters, with a little bit about why their work interests me, but I encourage you to explore on your own. It is important that you discover artists whose work resonates with you. They may not be the same artists I like! You may already have favorite artists, and if you do, take a few moments to think about what it is you are drawn to in their work. Is it the color? Subject matter? Brushstrokes or lack thereof? Composition? Can you identify what it is you love about their work?
In the meantime, be thinking about what you would like to try in painting that you haven’t tried before. One lesson will be all about working outside of your comfort zone, and it might help to prepare yourself for what that is for you. Maybe it’s enough that you aren’t putting recognizable imagery in the painting. Maybe you want to paint something BIG. Maybe you want to work small. Paint standing up? Sitting? What is it you want to try? We’re going to do it!
Questions? Drop me a line:
[email protected]
Get ready for the ride, my friends!
My best,
Karine
Supplies
• BFK Rives paper, 1 sheet of 22 x 30 inch, torn into smaller pieces, approximately 5 x 5 inches, or a sketchbook (I like Canson Mixed Media books).
• Drawing tools: Char-Koal, charcoal pencils (2B, 3b), or conte crayons. Kneadable eraser.
• Pencil. 2B or darker
• Three painting surfaces. 11 x 14 or larger. Use what you normally like to use: board, canvas, etc. Also, be sure the format of your painting surface is the same as your sketchbook or blank paper (square or rectangular). If you normally work small, get at least one large 30 x 30 inch or larger canvas. If you normally work on a rectangular surface, get at least one square surface, with square paper to match.
• Paint. Either acrylic or oil. I will be working in oil paint. Colors recommended: burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cobalt blue, black, red, cerulean blue, etc. Brands of oil paint I prefer: M. Graham, Utrecht, Georgian, Gamblin… If you are using oil paint, I use turpenoid oderless mineral spirits to thin, when needed.
• Brushes, rags, painting knife, brayer or other painting tools
• Get at least three different brushes. Flat, round, bright size 6 or larger and one large inexpensive brush from the hardware store. (3 inches or larger.
• One small watercolor set (gouache is okay, too).
Nuts & Bolts
Here’s how this online class works:
• As a self-study class, so you have access to all of the lessons right now and can work the lessons on your own timetable.
• You have indefinite access to this class.
• You can (optionally) share your work with Karine via email or via the class Facebook page. Since this is now a self-study class, you will need to let Karine know if you upload work, as she doesn’t check the Facebook page as regularly. Click this link and ask to join the group!
• Class fee is good for participants living in a single household.
Questions?
Thank you so much for being here! We are here to help in any way:
TECHNICAL ISSUES: If you are having trouble loading our videos or experiencing other technical problems, please click HERE.
CLASS CONTENT: If you have questions about this class and would like to contact Karine directly at [email protected].
