Abstract Art - Summer Course

This short course introduces participants to the language and possibilities of abstract painting. Through a series of practical and exploratory sessions, students will engage with colour, composition, form, texture, and process, developing an understanding of how a painting can generate its own visual energy independent of outward representation.The course encourages a shift towards subjective and personal expression, challenging conventional expectations of what painting should look like. Alongside this, participants will gain a practical understanding of the fundamental principles and techniques of painting as a two-dimensional art form.Course ProgrammeSession 1: Collage as a Starting Point Participants begin by creating a series of collages using a wide variety of materials, including magazines, coloured paper, fabric, wallpaper, photocopies, painted paper, and found objects. This process explores composition, colour, shape, and form.Session 2: Colour and Palette Development Introduction to colour theory and colour mixing, including the colour wheel and practical experiments exploring colour interaction.Session 3: From Collage to Painting Participants translate selected collages into drawings and paintings, working freely and responsively while developing their own visual language.Session 4: Expanding the Painting Students continue working on larger surfaces with an emphasis on expressive paint application, texture, mark-making, and experimentation.What You’ll Learn

• Key ideas and approaches within abstract painting
• How colour, form, and texture interact within a composition
• Techniques for developing paintings from collage and experimentation
• Practical painting processes and materials
• Methods for creating more personal and expressive artwork

Course OutcomesBy the end of the course, participants will:

• Gain confidence in abstract painting and creative experimentation
• Develop a greater understanding of colour, composition, and form
• Create a series of abstract studies and paintings
• Explore personal approaches to image-making and visual expression
• Build a foundation for further independent painting practice

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