Description

Principles of Abstraction XLw/Larry MooreA three (3) day workshopTuesday, June 2 - Thursday, June 410:00am-4:00pm


Exploring abstracts on a larger scale in the medium of your choosing, this 3-day class will push you into new territory where growth lives… only upsized, because bigger risks equal bigger rewards. You will be shown a system for developing your artistic voice, with a focus on design principles and the language of abstraction. The emphasis is on creative process, exploring new ways to develop and build paintings, create inventive compositions, and build authentic intent in your work. Larry’s goal is to help each artist find a way that works for them, whether they wish to interpret more, push their process, go fully abstract or a level of abstraction.
Work in the medium(s) and surface of your choice
He’s worked extensively in almost every medium, so all mediums are welcome.
Larry recommends acrylic for its rapid drying time for travelers.
The class is as much a challenge for the experienced as it is for the developing artist, but it’s not for the rank beginner. A reasonable understanding of color mixing and paint handling is important for this class. We will be working in a range of sizes, culminating in up to a 30"x30" or 36” x 36” work. Easel sizes will dictate final canvas sizes… a materials list will be sent after sign up.
Many of the core concepts in this class can be found in Larry’s book on creativity, “Fishing for elephants. Insights and exercises to inspire authentic creativity”. It’s not a requirement, but a cursory read of the workbook will give you a leg up on this class… and life. Available through Amazon.com Bring a sense of humor, a fearless creative spirit, and an open mind.

Supply List:
Larry Moore
SUPPLY LIST for XL Abstraction workshop
Don’t freak out at this list, you probably already have 86% of this stuff.
We will be doing mid-size exercises the first two days, then we go up in size for the third day. The center has easels that can handle a 36x36 comfortably.
You can work on stretched canvases, unstretched canvas, wood or canvas panels or paper taped to board, up to you. Work in the medium/surface you are most comfortable with.
Work in the medium(s) and the surface of your choice.
I recommend acrylic for its rapid drying time for travelers
The first 2 days will be spent doing many studies and exploration exercises.
We will then go up in size (30 x 30 or 36x36-ish) for the final.
The first day is black and white: marks and tone compositions with a construction/destruction cycle. Paint studies, destroy part or all, overpaint.
Second day will be color on top of the previous day's work
Third day will be full size canvases (up to 36x36)

What you will want to bring:

•Sketchbook/notebook and writing utensil
•Charcoal is a nice thing to have (not required)
•Roll of ½” white artist or masking tape. The blue stuff is passable but not ideal.
•Bring your usual color/pigment palette with extra amounts of white but if you need a recommendation, here it is:

• In the of medium of your choice:
A basic set of split-primaries, + white, black, gray, & a few earth tones. (see list below)
Decent brands for oils: Grumbacher, Winsor-Newton, Gamblin,
Suggested brands for acrylic: Golden or Liquitex.
Liquid acrylics are a nice addition to tube acrylic, very optional
Bring enough paint for 15 to 20 small study pieces and a couple of larger paintings
•Titanium White (2 tubes or largest tube)
For acrylic, I often use gesso as my white to provide more flow.
•Cad yellow light or lemon
•Cad yellow medium or yellow ochre
•Cad red light
•Alizarin or similar
•Ultramarine blue
•Prussian blue
•Burnt sienna
•Gray(s)*
•Black
•Earth colors like yellow ochre, burnt sienna, asphaltum, etc)

*Gray(s) and jewel tones, tints and earth colors like burnt umber or dioxazine purple or radiants and whatever you want to bring are great adds. If you have favorite pigments, bring them.
If you can’t find the exact colors don’t freak out, just get a range of warm/cool.
•Mediums:
Mediums alter the flow, transparency, and dry times. Very handy for a variety of effects that you can’t get otherwise.
Mediums for oil:
Cold wax (thick additive, dries fast) optional.Artists painting medium for oil by Winsor Newton, or Galkyd or Liquin or Gamblin solvent free gel alter viscosity, speeds drying, glazing, also optional.

•Thinner for oil: Gamsol, Turpenoid (blue can) or Mona Lisa, or you can go thinner-free and just use Artists medium or linseed oil. No smelly stuff like Lavender oil.
For acrylic: Golden glazing medium, heavy gel medium alters viscosities (optional)
•Can or container to hold thinners and mediums.
•Paper towels Viva or the blue papers towel rolls at the hardware store
Painting surfacesIf you want to simplify the following painting surface list, bring 5-6 stretched 30x30 canvases for all three days.
OR
•Surfaces for explorations, Days 1 & 2:
We do a lot of exercises, volume is key. Bring 8 -10 or a canvas roll.
Or 2- 30x30 or 36x36 canvases and you’ll do 4 studies on each.
For Acrylic: Ten 11x14 to 16x16-ish canvas or gesso’d panels, or stretched, or canvas roll or the 2 30x30’s or 36x36.
Or 140lb pad, like Arches cold press watercolor paper or similar for small studies. Not thin sketchbook paper.

For oil Same as above or Arches oil paper (is awesome) Cold or hot press 11x14 pad or similar,

•Canvas for day 3:
If you want a lot of flexibility on size, bring a roll of canvas, like 36”x 6 yards acrylic primed canvas and scissors. And a backing board to tape them to. This is only a suggestion.

If you aren’t bringing a roll of canvas:
(The smaller 11x14-16x16 stated above)
2 or 3 stretched up to 36x36, canvases for final development. You will only have time for two larger pieces unless you already know what you are doing.
Most of this depends on how fast you work, bring as much as you think you can fill in 5 days. Don’t get too crazy.

Surface options: gesso primed heavy paper, cardboard, stretched canvas, birch ply boxes, gatorboard (no foamcore) etc

…………………….


Easel – They have them
Tools
•Palette Knife(s) (angled, tapered tip) larger knives for bigger canvases (see pics)
You don’t need all of the tools in the pics, bring a variety


•Brushes:
For small studies, get a mix of smaller synthetic flats and rounds synthetics. They’re affordable. Or whatever you already have.

For larger stuff, bristles are great – sizes 2-12 flats and filberts. You can also augment with house paint brushes, chip brushes, or cheaper synthetic flats. I do.
Synthetics are optimal for cleaner edges and lines.

•Optional but recommended tools: oil bars, foam brushes, brayers, spreaders, and squeegees, Homax knockdown knife (Amazon or Home Depot) come in very handy. Anything that can make a mark. (see pics)
There are no magic brushes. Big canvases need big brushes.
•Palette: You will need an adequate mixing space for more paint. No small plastic daisy-shaped palettes or paper plates. A decent-sized palette is a must.

•Open mind and a sense of humor
Got a question? larry@larrymoorestudios.com
Or text me at 407-222-8585

Instructor

Larry Moore