How do we make meaningful content in our work, while at the same time sharpen our understanding of the fundamental nature of form and our ability to manipulate it? Starting with the fundamentals of observational painting, students will create the unexpected developed through specific exercises and techniques.

This class will delve into the nature of the properties of each medium and explore the fundamentals of powerful design through composition, shape, line, value, rhythm and direction through in class demonstrations and direct observation of other artists approaches and techniques. In addition, students will employ a disciplined approach to safe art practices.

Whether you are working figuratively or with abstraction, students can choose which medium they would like to work with: oil paint, acrylic, water mixable oil, cold wax medium or watercolor. Students will also have freedom over the subject matter and content of the work they make during class.

The class is 4.5 hours long, allows students to fully immerse themselves with their work. The class is structured such that we set up and paint upon arrival, break at noon for a critique (though not required), and resume painting in the afternoon. The class will employ the principles of the dialogic critique.

The traditional hierarchical critique consists of description, analysis, interpretation and judgement. The dialogic critique replaces judgement with the nature of questioning with the goal of: increasing understanding, generating new ideas, breaking boundaries, exploring meaning, and getting unstuck. The dialogic critique aims to answer these questions: What do you notice first, and why? What do you want to see more of? What is unexpected? What confuses you? What does the work provoke? All of this is done in a caring, compassionate way.

Download the material list below (student responsibility):
Materials List for Expressive Painting

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Non-Members: $270

Members: $220

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To register by phone, please call the Morean Arts Center at 727.822.7872