Abstract Watercolor

Date and Time for this Past Event

Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 4pm - 7pm

Location

Details

Express yourself through abstract watercolor painting. Make art that lights you up and carries meaning.

In this workshop, we will:
- learn how abstract art works
- learn how to create abstract paintings from photos
- create an abstract painting from an emotional memory
- learn to remove creative blocks to expression
- get comfortable and confident using watercolor paints

The following supplies are included:
- watercolor
- inks
- metallic paints
- watercolor paper
- brushes
- markers

You can bring:
- several photos that remind you of memories you love (Photos should *not* be of people or faces. If your photos have faces, this will be very difficult. Bring photos of flowers, landscapes, views, simple objects, or other meaningful memories.)
- openness to playfully exploring the feelings your photo evokes for you

You will go home with:
- 2-3 abstract watercolor paintings made by you!
*****

Many people are intimidated by abstract painting, but Mark Rothko believed that we should start fine art education with modernism. Why? He believed all it took to make good art was emotional intensity. To look at modern abstract art and to say, "a child could have done this" is to pay the artist the highest of compliments. You see, abstract art removes a subject and focuses on the feelings the artist has while making. So when we look at good abstract art we might feel pieces of the emotion left on the canvas. It's mostly not about technique but about unlearning all the things the world put on you that make expressing yourself less automatic and natural. We forget in our culture that creation and analysis are fundamentally *different* cognitive processes. We criticize ourselves out of the space our mind and heart need to be in to make beauty. If we can focus on remaining in a space of creation and only very consciously move to analysis with compassion, we can transcend our inner critic. This is what intuitive abstract paintings teach us. When you leave this workshop, you will have a piece of work that will look sophisticated and mysterious to others. They may feel something and not know why exactly. To you, it will be an object honoring your most deeply joyful and fulfilled moments. You do not need to have any prior experience for this workshop. If you do have prior experience painting, you'll enjoy a new way of looking at your creative process.

LUZ DONAHUE
Luz is an abstract watercolor painter based out of Felton, California. She has been painting since she was 3 and loves showing people how to express themselves. Her work is shown in galleries all over the country and she deeply enjoys the connections it brings. Her process of painting does not involve planning and instead explores emotion and emotional expression. This is what makes this type of painting such a powerful tool for self-care and emotional wellness.
Website: luzdonahue.com
IG: @luzdonahueart
Etsy: etsy.com/shop/LuzDonahueArt