In my current series of abstraction classes, each week we focus on a single element of art. Honing in like this allows us to explore different ways into a painting or drawing. By narrowing down, we are able to go farther into an idea. These projects were made in response to a class on line (an online class on line, if you must). For this, line was emphasized as a way to move the viewer around the page, as pathways. These “simple” sketches by students are elegant, thoughtful, and captivating. Below are a few compositional studies of debris piles by Dawn Carlsen.
Dawn Carlsen
Dawn Carlsen
Dawn Carlsen
Dawn Carlsen
This handsome and considerate study of a backyard playset by Elisabeth Tripathi looked like it might benefit from a solution to the lower two ends. We tried adding some possibilities digitally to see how we might finish it off.
Elisabeth Tripathi
(with digital edits)
“One of the line drawings we looked at was a yellow background with a simple line cube that really stuck with me and I decided to select a more neutral (by way of de kooning) background to make sure color or texture didn’t start to come to the forefront. It was a great exercise to challenge me!” “This piece came out of doing 60 quick line drawing thumbnails from my backyard. Thanks for reminding me about Franz Kline’s phonebook [sketches].” – Elisabeth Tripathi
This online format is changing the way I teach, and my classes are benefiting from it. Every week I have a slideshow of works and a collection of inspirations for a series of quick studies, then a larger challenge (using whatever materials you have on hand), and homework to integrate some of the ideas you found in class into your own personal style and interests. Since each week we have a singular focus, people are able to jump in to catch the next topic and not feel they are behind, so I have opened up these classes to welcome newcomers. If you would like to join us as we continue with our studies into abstractions, see below. We’d love to see what you make!
My dreams are in full color. Not just wishy-washy pastels, I mean all of the everything. Yellow ochre, bold reds, deep inky blues, textured and shadowed greens. The colors are as important in my dreams as they are in my paintings. They tell half of the story. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Do …
Today’s TRANSCRIPTION Challenge: Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion, by Tara To learn more about this giant Indian miniature painting, visit The Met. Post it To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal and #indianminiature so we can find your post. To find more …
[image_with_animation image_url=”10166″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Max Ernst “Painting is not for me either decorative amusement, or the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.” – Max Ernst Max Ernst used texture rubbings to overcome his fear of the white canvas, igniting his imagination. He often put paper to the worn …
“The beginning is the best part. Why continue? Yes, things will get richer and deeper, but the simplicity and directness of a birdsong is soon gone. When I get old and begin losing my marbles I will learn to keep it simple, the way Matisse, De Kooning and Whistler did in the end.” – Alex …
Abstracting Line
In my current series of abstraction classes, each week we focus on a single element of art. Honing in like this allows us to explore different ways into a painting or drawing. By narrowing down, we are able to go farther into an idea. These projects were made in response to a class on line (an online class on line, if you must). For this, line was emphasized as a way to move the viewer around the page, as pathways. These “simple” sketches by students are elegant, thoughtful, and captivating. Below are a few compositional studies of debris piles by Dawn Carlsen.
This handsome and considerate study of a backyard playset by Elisabeth Tripathi looked like it might benefit from a solution to the lower two ends. We tried adding some possibilities digitally to see how we might finish it off.
“One of the line drawings we looked at was a yellow background with a simple line cube that really stuck with me and I decided to select a more neutral (by way of de kooning) background to make sure color or texture didn’t start to come to the forefront. It was a great exercise to challenge me!”
“This piece came out of doing 60 quick line drawing thumbnails from my backyard. Thanks for reminding me about Franz Kline’s phonebook [sketches].” – Elisabeth Tripathi
This online format is changing the way I teach, and my classes are benefiting from it. Every week I have a slideshow of works and a collection of inspirations for a series of quick studies, then a larger challenge (using whatever materials you have on hand), and homework to integrate some of the ideas you found in class into your own personal style and interests. Since each week we have a singular focus, people are able to jump in to catch the next topic and not feel they are behind, so I have opened up these classes to welcome newcomers. If you would like to join us as we continue with our studies into abstractions, see below. We’d love to see what you make!
Abstracts (MINI) 2 Fridays 10:00-1:30 starts 4/24
Abstracts 6 Fridays 10:00-1:30 starts 4/24
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My dreams are in full color. Not just wishy-washy pastels, I mean all of the everything. Yellow ochre, bold reds, deep inky blues, textured and shadowed greens. The colors are as important in my dreams as they are in my paintings. They tell half of the story. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Do …
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Today’s TRANSCRIPTION Challenge: Maharana Sarup Singh Inspects a Prize Stallion, by Tara To learn more about this giant Indian miniature painting, visit The Met. Post it To be eligible for prizes (yes prizes!) at the end of the month, post your work to Instagram with #30sal and #indianminiature so we can find your post. To find more …
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[image_with_animation image_url=”10166″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Max Ernst “Painting is not for me either decorative amusement, or the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.” – Max Ernst Max Ernst used texture rubbings to overcome his fear of the white canvas, igniting his imagination. He often put paper to the worn …
The beginning is the best part, Kanevsky
“The beginning is the best part. Why continue? Yes, things will get richer and deeper, but the simplicity and directness of a birdsong is soon gone. When I get old and begin losing my marbles I will learn to keep it simple, the way Matisse, De Kooning and Whistler did in the end.” – Alex …