Welcome to the South Delta Artists Guild - Where Creativity Flourishes

Details for "Nature as a Muse for Abstract Painting - María Josenhans"

Nature as a Muse for Abtract Painting

- in person workshop

Maria Josenhans

Thursdays November 18 and 25  9:30 - 4 pm 

(30 minute lunch)

Contemporary landscape painter Maria Josenhans, adeptly walks the line between representational and abstract, easily leaning one way or the other. As an artist for more than three decades, Maria's career has been shaped by long periods of immersion in large format photography, championship highland dancing, teaching and traveling the world. She holds a BFA from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants, and is a Senior Signature member of the FCA. Her work is represented by The Avenue Gallery, Victoria, and Art Interiors, Toronto.

Workshop Description

Abstract generally refers to the lack of a specific recognizable subject in a painting, but as we well know, there are many levels  in between photo-realism and pure abstraction. Moreover abstract does not imply there are no guiding principles.  Just as we might approach a representational painting, in abstractiion we can also consider the roles of shape, value, colour, etc.  There are many ways to approach making an abstract painting and finding a "way-in" is sometimes the most difficult. As you reference landscape and nature, you will be guided with specific prompts that will allow you to  navigate and explore, where to begin, how to begin and what next, during the course of this two session workshop.

Supply List

• The course is suitable for both oil and acrylic painters. Watercolorists are also welcome
• No specific colours are required, please just have a variety of colours on hand
• Brushes: a variety of different sizes and shapes as well as a palette knife
• For oil: odorless mineral spirits. (Optional mediums: Galkyd, Linseed oil, or Liquin) For acrylic: mediums optional, water container, palette, retarder
• Substrates: I'm recommending inexpensive options because I find this keeps us from getting too "precious" about our paintings and leaves us free to do more experimentation
• Canson PleinAir Canva Boards 9 x 12 (available at Opus Art Supply). They come in a pad, do not need to be gessoed and are good for either acrylic or oil and can be taped-off or cut easily to different sizes
• Oil painters might like the Arches Oil paper - this also is available in a 12 x 16 format and larger and is easy to tape off or cut for different sizes and proportions
• There are a variety of good paper and board options for acrylic and watercolour painters
• Colour wheel
• Several photo references
• Paper towel
• An open mind :)

Cost & Status