Abstraction Bundle

Join John Salminen AWS DF, NWS as he uses the language of design to build a complex layered abstraction.

The design analysis and thinking he uses may be applied to any subject or medium. John begins with simple objects as a springboard to suggest shapes and line. He then launches on a sequence of steps to create intriguing and unpredictable effects all the while using design principles to create a cohesive captivating painting.

John floods in warm tones, dry brush blending, scrapes in darks, and masks lines. He creates a variety of line and edge qualities, careful to always add to the whole. John explains the rationale for each step. He capitalizes on the strengths of watercolor - delicate and subtle middle values. He verbalizes his composition and problem solving strategies and uses the design principles of dominance, texture, linkage, and repetition to bring unity to the painting. John uses a variety of techniques to create interest - salt, dry brush blending, splattering, mouth atomizer, collage, and acrylics.

Are you intimidated by non-objective art? A little fuzzy on what makes good shape integration and design? This is the workshop for you. To John Salminen, design is the common language binding all styles of painting. Salminen, a recent gold medal winner of both the American Watercolor Society and National Watercolor Society, speaks the language of design fluently. In this workshop, John applies his core design principles to a complex, layered abstraction. You'll learn to create interesting shapes, capitalize on the strengths of watercolor and keep your painting intriguing and unpredictable. You'll also discover composition and problem-solving strategies that apply to all media.

John focuses the workshop on core principles of design: dominance, texture, linkage and repetition. As he sketches common objects to seed his composition, he begins to establish shape and line type dominance. He explains his criteria for creating interesting shapes and applies them as he plans his values and establishes an unpainted area of his painting for his powerful white shape. You'll learn the practical and artistic reasoning behind establishing color dominance as John brushes in a warm surround.

Throughout the workshop, you'll see John enhance his watercolors with salt, dry brush blending, sponges, spattering, and a mouth atomizer. John uses masking extensively and creatively to control his applications. Most importantly, he demonstrates the careful judgment and self control necessary to create effects that enhance the painting rather than tricks that steal attention from overall design.

You'll share in his thought process as he attacks design problems at each stage in the painting. He adds and extends dark shapes to create linkage between isolated elements. He increases contrast to add the illusion of depth and introduces complementary washes to restore color balance and create rich, complex grays.

Each line, edge, wash and texture in his painting is unique. He edits predictable shapes, gradually varies pigments and creates repetition through subtle echoes. John caps the painting with a truly unpredictable mixed media component. He integrates collage elements, extends his value range with acrylics and adds bold line with a permanent marker. To create exciting, intriguing paintings and ground yourself in the fundamentals of design, join John Salminen in A Designed Approach to Abstraction.

VIRGINIA COBB's Acrylic Abstract Painting: The Evolving Image 

Virginia Cobb uses acrylic painting techniques to develop three abstract paintings, each started by emphasizing a different design element: line, shape, texture.

In the first half of her abstract painting video, she builds a rich under structure. She creates, destroys, and creates again unpredictable shapes, textures and color combinations. In doing so Cobb establishes multiple layers of depth and mystery. Her final process is a rational analysis that evaluates color temperature, edges, shapes and balance. She applies advanced art techniques like linkage, depth, rhythm and harmony to an amazing result. In the process of this art DVD, you see Cobb's bold and inventive handling of the media while "listening in" on her thought process. Her daring solutions reflect a lifetime of experimentation and experience. The result is three very different paintings that have in common strength, beauty and mystery.

Virginia Cobb trusts her artistic intuition and command of design to guide her bold acrylic compositions. In this workshop, she develops three abstract paintings, each started by emphasizing a different design element: line, shape or texture. In the first half of her process she builds a rich under structure. She creates, destroys, and creates again unpredictable shapes, textures and color combinations.

In doing so she establishes multiple layers of depth and mystery. Her final process is a rational analysis that evaluates color temperature, edges, shapes and balance. She applies the concepts of linkage, depth, rhythm and harmony to an amazing result.

You see Virginia's bold and inventive handling of the media while listening in on her thought process. Her daring solutions reflect a lifetime of experimentation and experience. The result is three very different paintings that have in common strength, beauty and mystery.

JACQUELINE SULLIVAN'S Acrylics: Layers, Textures and Metallics

Learn the proper way to layer tissue, cheesecloth and aluminum and which medium to use for each texture. Jacqueline clearly explains the differences between Golden mediums. In addition to stencils and metallics, she incorporates everyday household items. This DVD is perfect for collage artists of any level and style.

Jacqueline Sullivan believes a good design works in any direction. In this acrylic workshop, she demonstrates glazing and texturing techniques that make your paintings dynamic and organic, no matter which way you turn your canvas.

Jacqueline teaches you to work intuitively. Her design tips and thorough knowledge of acrylics help you master your materials and concentrate on your art.

She builds layers that combine spontaneous and controlled textures using tissue paper, molding paste and some surprising household materials. You'll learn to modify your acrylic colors with mediums to ensure that your textures and transparencies work in perfect harmony.

As she paints, Jacqueline strives for a balanced canvas with easy paths for viewers' eyes. You'll learn to work across the entire painting and use color theory to enhance contrast.

To complete the painting, she uses multiple metallic processes to enhance the physical textures of the acrylics and create new elements of intrigue.

The result is a richly textured canvas that looks great from any angle. To design in all directions, join Jacqueline Sullivan in Acrylics: Layers, Textures and Metallics.