A Playful Approach to Abstraction (Online Workshop) Spring 2025 w/ Isabell Seidel
May 8 to May 22 (Thursdays), 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite.
DEMO: https://youtu.be/mHeyLoJ8Q8A
Workshop Description
This workshop invites you to explore the key elements of abstraction in a playful way using our urban and natural environment as inspiration. You will learn how to build a balanced colour palette, simplify and strengthen your design choices while gaining confidence in your visual language and artistic practice.
Each class will provide you with specific technical information, live demos to watch or paint along and the opportunity to ask questions. We will start with simple compositions with only a few elements and tackle more complex subjects as the weeks progress. You’ll be introduced to sketch squares and how they can help keeping relevant aspects of abstraction in mind. We will use watercolour as the foundation complemented by a variety of dry media. A basic understanding of how to use watercolour would be helpful.
Workshop Outline
Week 1 - Introduction + Colour I
Welcome, workshop and class content
Introduction: "Sketch Squares" and materials used in the workshop
Elements and principles of design
Colour studies I
Week 2 ·- Colour II + Contrast and Balance
Colour studies II - Checklist for a balanced colour palette
The role of contrast and balance in painting
Variation in mark making
Week 3 - Value + Composition
Notan: Simplifying value + shapes
How it all comes together: more complex, authentic subjects.
Workshop Materials List
A sketchbook or block with watercolour or mixed media paper ≥ 200 g/m2 not smaller than A4 (21 x 29.7cm / roughly 8 x 12")
Flat brushes (I’ll be using size 6, 12 and 20) - sturdy synthetics are fine
A few round brushes with good tip between size 6 and 12
A mop brush (e.g. I’ll be using DaVinci 438 size 2 and 4)
A soft pencil (HB-2B)
2 brushpens or similar: mid grey + black
White watercolour or gouache
Professional grade watercolour (preferably in tube): Feel free to use what you already have and are familiar with. A minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primary colours complemented by your favourites is fine. Look for monopigment colours if possible. I highly recommend including Opera Rose (PR122) for its luminosity and versatility in mixes. Avoid student grade paints.
This is what I’ll be using. Basics are marked bold, very frequently used with a*. If you need to stock up on some of the colours and can’t find the specific brand or prefer another, use the pigment as reference for finding a substitute.
Schmincke Horadam: Lemon Yellow (215 · PY3), French Ultramarine (493 · PB29), Phthalo Green* (519 · PG7) Phthalo Blue (484 · PB15:1)
Winsor & Newton: Winsor Orange (724 · PO62), Opera Rose (488 · PR122), Permanent Carmine (479 · PV19) Cobalt Turquoise light* (191 · PG50), Yellow Ochre* (744 · PY43)
Daniel Smith: Pyrrol Scarlet (085 · PR255), Cobalt Blue (025 · PB28), Indanthrone Blue (043 · PB60), Lavender* (232 · PW6, PV15, PB29), Moonglow* (057 · PG18, PB29, PR177), Green Apatite Genuine (197 · Genuine Green Apatite pigment), Brown Iron Oxide* (178 · PBr6), Lunar Black (049 · PBk11)
Choose a couple of dry media from the listbelowin corresponding colours. I recommend choosing at least one water soluble option. Prioritise neutrals and add some saturated hues you like.
Water soluble coloured pencils like Faber-Castell "Albrecht Dürer", Caran d’Ache "Museum" or similar
Oil-based coloured pencils like Faber-Castell "Polychromos", Prismacolor "Premier" or Caran d’Ache "Luminance")
- Neocolor II (watersoluble)
- oil pastels (+ fixative)
- soft pastels (fixative)
- Stabilo Woody
- Gouache Sticks
- Acrylic Marker (Posca, Amsterdam, Liquitex) - white + whatever appeals to you - again, neutrals are much easier to use and integrate into your palette + a few colours that pop like fluorescent orange, pink or similar.
Mixing palette or tray
Spray bottle
Water bucket
Sponge
Paper towels
A few blank sheets of drawing paper
Optional:
A hair dryer
A plastic scraper or old credit card
Grey scale and value finder + colour wheel (The Color Wheel Company)
"Sketch Squares" (I bought mine here: https://www.fayebridgwater.com/shop/sketch-squares).
We will use #sketchsquares in the workshop. You may craft your own tool, use simple cardboard squares, sketch them free hand or you might like to buy it directly from the artist Faye Bridgwater.
If you prefer to make your own template you'll need sturdy cardboard (2 - 2,5 mm thick) or acetate, a cutting board, metal ruler, pencil and cutter. All relevant information will be provided in the first week.
May 8 to May 22 (Thursdays), 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite.
DEMO: https://youtu.be/mHeyLoJ8Q8A
Workshop Description
This workshop invites you to explore the key elements of abstraction in a playful way using our urban and natural environment as inspiration. You will learn how to build a balanced colour palette, simplify and strengthen your design choices while gaining confidence in your visual language and artistic practice.
Each class will provide you with specific technical information, live demos to watch or paint along and the opportunity to ask questions. We will start with simple compositions with only a few elements and tackle more complex subjects as the weeks progress. You’ll be introduced to sketch squares and how they can help keeping relevant aspects of abstraction in mind. We will use watercolour as the foundation complemented by a variety of dry media. A basic understanding of how to use watercolour would be helpful.
Workshop Outline
Week 1 - Introduction + Colour I
Welcome, workshop and class content
Introduction: "Sketch Squares" and materials used in the workshop
Elements and principles of design
Colour studies I
Week 2 ·- Colour II + Contrast and Balance
Colour studies II - Checklist for a balanced colour palette
The role of contrast and balance in painting
Variation in mark making
Week 3 - Value + Composition
Notan: Simplifying value + shapes
How it all comes together: more complex, authentic subjects.
Workshop Materials List
A sketchbook or block with watercolour or mixed media paper ≥ 200 g/m2 not smaller than A4 (21 x 29.7cm / roughly 8 x 12")
Flat brushes (I’ll be using size 6, 12 and 20) - sturdy synthetics are fine
A few round brushes with good tip between size 6 and 12
A mop brush (e.g. I’ll be using DaVinci 438 size 2 and 4)
A soft pencil (HB-2B)
2 brushpens or similar: mid grey + black
White watercolour or gouache
Professional grade watercolour (preferably in tube): Feel free to use what you already have and are familiar with. A minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primary colours complemented by your favourites is fine. Look for monopigment colours if possible. I highly recommend including Opera Rose (PR122) for its luminosity and versatility in mixes. Avoid student grade paints.
This is what I’ll be using. Basics are marked bold, very frequently used with a*. If you need to stock up on some of the colours and can’t find the specific brand or prefer another, use the pigment as reference for finding a substitute.
Schmincke Horadam: Lemon Yellow (215 · PY3), French Ultramarine (493 · PB29), Phthalo Green* (519 · PG7) Phthalo Blue (484 · PB15:1)
Winsor & Newton: Winsor Orange (724 · PO62), Opera Rose (488 · PR122), Permanent Carmine (479 · PV19) Cobalt Turquoise light* (191 · PG50), Yellow Ochre* (744 · PY43)
Daniel Smith: Pyrrol Scarlet (085 · PR255), Cobalt Blue (025 · PB28), Indanthrone Blue (043 · PB60), Lavender* (232 · PW6, PV15, PB29), Moonglow* (057 · PG18, PB29, PR177), Green Apatite Genuine (197 · Genuine Green Apatite pigment), Brown Iron Oxide* (178 · PBr6), Lunar Black (049 · PBk11)
Choose a couple of dry media from the listbelowin corresponding colours. I recommend choosing at least one water soluble option. Prioritise neutrals and add some saturated hues you like.
Water soluble coloured pencils like Faber-Castell "Albrecht Dürer", Caran d’Ache "Museum" or similar
Oil-based coloured pencils like Faber-Castell "Polychromos", Prismacolor "Premier" or Caran d’Ache "Luminance")
- Neocolor II (watersoluble)
- oil pastels (+ fixative)
- soft pastels (fixative)
- Stabilo Woody
- Gouache Sticks
- Acrylic Marker (Posca, Amsterdam, Liquitex) - white + whatever appeals to you - again, neutrals are much easier to use and integrate into your palette + a few colours that pop like fluorescent orange, pink or similar.
Mixing palette or tray
Spray bottle
Water bucket
Sponge
Paper towels
A few blank sheets of drawing paper
Optional:
A hair dryer
A plastic scraper or old credit card
Grey scale and value finder + colour wheel (The Color Wheel Company)
"Sketch Squares" (I bought mine here: https://www.fayebridgwater.com/shop/sketch-squares).
We will use #sketchsquares in the workshop. You may craft your own tool, use simple cardboard squares, sketch them free hand or you might like to buy it directly from the artist Faye Bridgwater.
If you prefer to make your own template you'll need sturdy cardboard (2 - 2,5 mm thick) or acetate, a cutting board, metal ruler, pencil and cutter. All relevant information will be provided in the first week.
May 8 to May 22 (Thursdays), 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite.
DEMO: https://youtu.be/mHeyLoJ8Q8A
Workshop Description
This workshop invites you to explore the key elements of abstraction in a playful way using our urban and natural environment as inspiration. You will learn how to build a balanced colour palette, simplify and strengthen your design choices while gaining confidence in your visual language and artistic practice.
Each class will provide you with specific technical information, live demos to watch or paint along and the opportunity to ask questions. We will start with simple compositions with only a few elements and tackle more complex subjects as the weeks progress. You’ll be introduced to sketch squares and how they can help keeping relevant aspects of abstraction in mind. We will use watercolour as the foundation complemented by a variety of dry media. A basic understanding of how to use watercolour would be helpful.
Workshop Outline
Week 1 - Introduction + Colour I
Welcome, workshop and class content
Introduction: "Sketch Squares" and materials used in the workshop
Elements and principles of design
Colour studies I
Week 2 ·- Colour II + Contrast and Balance
Colour studies II - Checklist for a balanced colour palette
The role of contrast and balance in painting
Variation in mark making
Week 3 - Value + Composition
Notan: Simplifying value + shapes
How it all comes together: more complex, authentic subjects.
Workshop Materials List
A sketchbook or block with watercolour or mixed media paper ≥ 200 g/m2 not smaller than A4 (21 x 29.7cm / roughly 8 x 12")
Flat brushes (I’ll be using size 6, 12 and 20) - sturdy synthetics are fine
A few round brushes with good tip between size 6 and 12
A mop brush (e.g. I’ll be using DaVinci 438 size 2 and 4)
A soft pencil (HB-2B)
2 brushpens or similar: mid grey + black
White watercolour or gouache
Professional grade watercolour (preferably in tube): Feel free to use what you already have and are familiar with. A minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primary colours complemented by your favourites is fine. Look for monopigment colours if possible. I highly recommend including Opera Rose (PR122) for its luminosity and versatility in mixes. Avoid student grade paints.
This is what I’ll be using. Basics are marked bold, very frequently used with a*. If you need to stock up on some of the colours and can’t find the specific brand or prefer another, use the pigment as reference for finding a substitute.
Schmincke Horadam: Lemon Yellow (215 · PY3), French Ultramarine (493 · PB29), Phthalo Green* (519 · PG7) Phthalo Blue (484 · PB15:1)
Winsor & Newton: Winsor Orange (724 · PO62), Opera Rose (488 · PR122), Permanent Carmine (479 · PV19) Cobalt Turquoise light* (191 · PG50), Yellow Ochre* (744 · PY43)
Daniel Smith: Pyrrol Scarlet (085 · PR255), Cobalt Blue (025 · PB28), Indanthrone Blue (043 · PB60), Lavender* (232 · PW6, PV15, PB29), Moonglow* (057 · PG18, PB29, PR177), Green Apatite Genuine (197 · Genuine Green Apatite pigment), Brown Iron Oxide* (178 · PBr6), Lunar Black (049 · PBk11)
Choose a couple of dry media from the listbelowin corresponding colours. I recommend choosing at least one water soluble option. Prioritise neutrals and add some saturated hues you like.
Water soluble coloured pencils like Faber-Castell "Albrecht Dürer", Caran d’Ache "Museum" or similar
Oil-based coloured pencils like Faber-Castell "Polychromos", Prismacolor "Premier" or Caran d’Ache "Luminance")
- Neocolor II (watersoluble)
- oil pastels (+ fixative)
- soft pastels (fixative)
- Stabilo Woody
- Gouache Sticks
- Acrylic Marker (Posca, Amsterdam, Liquitex) - white + whatever appeals to you - again, neutrals are much easier to use and integrate into your palette + a few colours that pop like fluorescent orange, pink or similar.
Mixing palette or tray
Spray bottle
Water bucket
Sponge
Paper towels
A few blank sheets of drawing paper
Optional:
A hair dryer
A plastic scraper or old credit card
Grey scale and value finder + colour wheel (The Color Wheel Company)
"Sketch Squares" (I bought mine here: https://www.fayebridgwater.com/shop/sketch-squares).
We will use #sketchsquares in the workshop. You may craft your own tool, use simple cardboard squares, sketch them free hand or you might like to buy it directly from the artist Faye Bridgwater.
If you prefer to make your own template you'll need sturdy cardboard (2 - 2,5 mm thick) or acetate, a cutting board, metal ruler, pencil and cutter. All relevant information will be provided in the first week.