EXPLORING ABSTRACTION: BUILD RICH SURFACES AND A SIGNATURE VISUAL VOICE 

This workshop invites artists to engage with abstraction as a dynamic, exploratory process. We’ll work with a variety of paint application tools, especially the versatility of R&F pigment sticks, to create a sense of movement and spontaneity in each composition. Starting with small studies and progressing to larger canvases, we’ll focus on translating your unique style across different formats, fostering confidence with each step.

For artists aiming to develop a professional body of work, one of the greatest challenges is discovering a distinctive visual language and style that you can consistently recreate. This workshop is designed to help you kickstart that journey, providing techniques and insights that support your artistic growth.

We’ll draw inspiration from nature, transforming elements of the natural world into gestures, motifs, and color palettes that resonate with your individual aesthetic. Emphasis will be placed on layering techniques, both transparent and opaque, to produce works with a luminous, tactile depth. By the end of this workshop, you’ll have the skills and confidence to create abstract compositions that reflect your inner vision.

Workshop Highlights:
In this workshop, you’ll explore how nuanced spatial relationships and “in-between” moments add depth and luminosity to abstract compositions. From spontaneous marks to intentional transitions, you’ll learn to create balanced yet dynamic works. Key highlights include:

1. Creating Movement and Energy through Tool Use:
   Learn to make expressive marks that bring life to your compositions. We’ll experiment with various tools to add dynamic textures, creating a sense of flow, vitality, and depth in your work.

2. Developing Personal Motifs and Mark-Making Techniques:
   Discover your unique visual vocabulary through shapes, lines, and marks that resonate with your artistic vision. Each participant will develop distinctive motifs and methods that bring cohesion and authenticity to their abstract compositions.

3. Layering for Rich, Textured Surfaces:
   Experiment with transparent and opaque layers to build surfaces with depth and dimension. We’ll create layers that reveal a tactile, engaging history, emphasizing luminosity and a sense of discovery.

4. Drawing Inspiration from Nature:
   Transform natural forms and patterns into abstract expressions, infusing your work with organic shapes and movements. Observation and abstraction of nature will inspire motifs that enrich your compositions.

5. Building Confidence in Abstract Composition:
   Master the balance of color, shape, and space to create visually captivating compositions. With guidance on design principles and creative experimentation, you’ll develop the skills to work confidently on both small and large scales.

6. One-on-One Guidance and Group Collaboration:
   Benefit from personalized support tailored to your artistic goals, along with group discussions that encourage shared learning and insights. You’ll leave with new techniques, refined instincts, and a strong foundation in expressive abstraction.

7. Explore multiple substrates and sizes: Rigid surfaces, multimedia paper, and canvas

8. Materials provided for the workshop retreat: Three, 12 x 18-inch birch panels, three 12 x 12-inch birch panels, one 24 x 24-inch sheet of mixed media paper, R&F pigment sticks for use during the workshop, tools and some brushes.