Instructor: Marlene Lowden (Click for Bio)

Immerse yourself in a dynamic five-day workshop designed to deepen your understanding of abstraction and enhance your artistic voice. Through hands-on exercises and creative exploration, participants will refine their technical skills, embrace experimentation, and connect with the principles of abstract art.

Planned activities include mark-making exercises to build confidence in abstract expression, composition studies to explore balance and movement, and sessions on integrating design elements such as line, shape, and colour. Art history discussions will provide context and inspiration, while guided critiques and open studio time offer opportunities for personal exploration and feedback.

This workshop is designed to help participants master the fundamentals of abstraction by exploring mark-making and composition to create dynamic artwork. It encourages experimentation with materials and techniques, fostering innovative approaches to art-making. By applying design principles and engaging in critique strategies, artists will refine their unique creative voice. Balancing structured lessons with open exploration, the workshop empowers participants to build technical confidence and create meaningful, inspired art.

Participants will need a mixed media sketchbook (minimum size: 11” x 14” or larger), a pad of newsprint paper, and 2 or 3 canvases with at least one side measuring 24” or more. Acrylic paints required: black, cyan blue, primary yellow, naphthol red medium, primary magenta, and white (Amsterdam brand recommended). A palette, such as a butcher tray or paper plates, and a palette knife approximately 1.5” wide at the base. Brushes should include one round brush (size 6 or 8), one flat brush (size 8 or 12), and one hardware store brush (1” to 2”). Additional suggested materials include markers, crayons, or pencil crayons, a thin black acrylic marker (e.g., Posca), a glue stick, scissors, pencils, water containers, green painter’s tape, rags, any favourite paints and tools, gloves, and a water bottle. Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes for painting.