Abstract painting workshop at Barge East

One of the foremost painters in the first generation Abstract Expressionists, Clyfford Still may not be as well-known as some of his contemporaries, but his influence and talent cannot be underestimated. His mature works were huge colour field paintings inspired by a childhood growing up in the Canadian prairies; jagged shards of bright, joyful yellows and oranges competing with blacks and blues; each area seemingly torn from upper layers of the canvas and built up in thick impasto layers that shimmer and dance in the light.

In this session, we’ll learn about his early, naturalistic work and his shift toward abstraction in the late 30s & early 40s, before attempting to create our own Still-inspired colour field paintings.

As a starting point, you could use a specific memory of a place/landscape; a piece of music or prose; or even choose to take your inspiration from the beautiful garden space/surroundings at Barge East; sketching & photographing in the evening light to explore a range of compositions. We’ll then translate & enlarge our preparatory work into a final composition, focusing on how we can use colour combinations, texture and layers of paint to create depth and impact in our work.

All necessary drawing/painting materials will be provided, though you are welcome to bring your own paints/surfaces should you prefer. We will be our using phones/tablets for the photographs, so please make sure you have plenty of charge, or bring a charger with you! This is a fully tutored class so no previous experience is required.

Please note the class will be taking place in the beautiful garden/rooftop space at Barge East. There will be a tent overhead, but we will be essentially working & painting outside, so do dress appropriately! We’ll be using acrylic paints, which are water-based and wash out of clothing, but I would recommend not getting too dressed up, or bringing an apron/change of clothes if you’re worried about mess.