The course takes place on 23 June 11 - 3pm.
Ever wondered why some abstract paintings just 'work'? The objective of this course is to discover the structures that make an abstract painting more balanced and interesting.
Abstract Composition is designed to explore the principles and techniques of creating abstract artwork. Through a combination of theory and practical exercises, students will develop a solid understanding of abstract art and the ability to express their ideas and emotions through non-representational forms.
Course Objectives:
Develop an understanding of abstract art: Students will study the history and evolution of abstract art, examining the works of renowned abstract artists and analysing their techniques and concepts.
Explore elements and principles of design: Students will learn about the fundamental elements of art, such as line, shape, colour, texture, and form, and how they can be used to create visually compelling abstract compositions. They will also delve into the principles of design, including balance, rhythm, unity, contrast, and emphasis.
Throughout the course, students will build a selection of their own abstract compositions, demonstrating their mastery of techniques and concepts learned. They will refine their skills in creating visually engaging and conceptually rich abstract artworks.
Materials needed: a pack of netted dish clothes, a selection of acrylic paints, a water sprayer, paint brushes if you have them, a palette knife if you have one, one jam jar with a lid, a pad of acrylic paper. Some materials will be provided.
About Kim O'Neil
Kim graduated from Central Saint Martins with a BA Hons Fine Art. Her notable tutors included Paul Eachus, Bill Henderson and Nooshin Farnid. She has exhibited in group shows, including exhibiting alongside Maggie Hamblin, Paula Rego and Annie Kevans. Her work has sold to many private collections including Justin King of Sainsburys supermarkets and Robinson of Jigsaw. Kim has had several large solo shows in Central London. Her current paintings feature idiosyncratic paint techniques in the form of sophisticated, multi layered abstracts. They are the response to certain environments and usually made on location, in the dirt, sand and sea. Not the end result of study, but part of an experience; rejoicing in the dirt, using organic resources to make the marks like scratching the paint on with sticks and thwacking paint on the canvas with blades of long grass, immersing a partly dried painting in the billowing waves of the beach surf and allowing the marks in the paint to made by the rain. Previous work has included monumental paintings of fragments of ephemera and documents and defaced, reworked, reimagined diagrams of the make torso.
Kim has 17 years’ experience as an educator, initially teaching A level Art before establishing her own independent art school ‘Paint Modern,’ based in Surrey. In more recent years she has specialised in teaching abstract painting and drawing at the newest incarnation of her private art school. Kim offers both actually and online classes in cutting edge abstract art.
Paint technologist and ambassador for Winsor & Newton and Liquitex since 2008, Kim has lectured and demonstrated on their behalf, so has expert knowledge of their products and their full potential. She has run workshops at London Graphic Centre, Great Art, Cass Art, and Jacksons in association with these brands, to name just a few. She has also lectured at Central Saint Martins UAL in partnership with Winsor & Newton. Art writing has also been another facet of Kim’s career and published work for Liquitex, Winsor and Newton, Ken Bromley, and London Graphic Centre’s blog.