Create Your Own Abstracted Landscape Painting!
Join artist Francesca Currie for a one-day workshop where you’ll create a large-scale abstracted landscape painting. Using a photograph of a place you love—or simply a scene that inspires you—you’ll be guided through the process of transforming it into a unique and expressive artwork for you to hang on your wall at home.
Overview: In this class, I will be teaching participants how to create abstracted landscapes similar to my own work—please take a look at my paintings before signing up. We will work on 1m x 1m canvases, starting with acrylic preparation before layering with oils. I will provide the brushes, paints, and tools I use, but I encourage you to bring any additional tools you’d like to experiment with.
Throughout the day, I will give demonstrations and share the techniques I use to create these paintings.
This is my first time teaching this subject, so the price is lower than it will be in the future. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on the course.
Things to Consider:
- This process is fun and very physical, so be prepared for an active session.
- You will have a large wet canvas at the end of the day—please plan ahead for transporting it home.
- Working at this scale can get messy, so wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on.
Your Photograph:
Part of the fun of this class is bringing your own landscape photograph. However, I will need to review the image beforehand to ensure:
- It works well as an abstracted landscape.
- I have the necessary colours available.
Photo Guidelines:
- Ideally, choose a landscape with the horizon one-third from the bottom.
- Particularly successful images include trees or water (blues and greens) or skies that take up two-thirds of the composition.
- Natural landscapes work best—buildings tend to be less effective.
Materials You’ll Need:
- Canvas
- One 1m x 1m canvas. It can be a cotton canvas, and it’s up to you whether you choose a deep-edge canvas
- If you have a space in mind where you’d like to display your painting, feel free to select a canvas that fits those dimensions.
- The canvas must be a minimum of 70cm and a maximum of 120cm on any given side—it does not need to be square.
- Keep in mind that higher-priced canvases tend to be better quality. Below are some suggested options:
- Hobbycraft Canvas (£30): More affordable but flimsier.
- Jackson’s Cotton Canvas (£50) or Winsor & Newton (£55ish): Stronger and more durable options.
Links:
- A hairdryer (if possible)
- Any mark-making tools you’d like to try
- Old clothes that can get messy
- A way to transport your wet painting home (e.g., newspaper for car boot protection)
Looking forward to seeing you in class!