semi-abstraction to abstraction, overview

Realism and the abstract have many things in common. In realism, reality is depicted as you see it, giving an illusion of reality. In abstract art, there is more stylisation by means of deforming, reducing and simplifying reality.

Modern art, from around 1860, with the Impressionists, challenged the assumptions of the Renaissance art tradition. Rather than focusing on appearances in the visible world, Modernism argued that art can be about the unseen – it can give form to the formless. In other words, drawings can be about internal realities (feeling, imagination, fantasies, dream, the spirit, experiences that transcend or underlie the purely visible world.

This gives the artist enormous power and scope to produce art

We will start the lesson with a general discussion on what is semi-abstract & abstract art? Also how me might go about coming up with an idea.

Tutor Roy Munday

artist roy munday, art tutor, near me, Southport, Merseyside, Liverpool, Ormskirk, Lancashire
Artist & art tutor, Roy Munday, studied fine art at John Moors university, Liverpool. Artist and tutor for more than 30 years, Roy has built up wide ranging expertise on many styles of painting. Teaching art to adults require a thorough understanding of art techniques. As well as creating and leading, teaching, one of the biggest art groups in the north west of England, (Sefton Art Group) he also paints in his Southport studio. His works are sold world-wide and one, Have you Been on the Roof? was commission by John Moors university Liverpool and now in the national collection.

Tutor Varsha Manglam

Varsha Manglam, one of the tutors who will help deliver this course.
Artist & Tutor Varsha Manglam has pursued her MA in Contemporary Performance at Liverpool Hope University where she previously received her BA in Fine Art in 2023.
Her work encompasses drawing, painting, video installation, sculpture, performance and writing.
In 2022, the artist was the recipient of Josephine Butler award, HMP2Hope Summer Scholarship award and Prof E Rex Makin award for community work. She was also the recipient of Liverpool Hope Carter Preston Foundation award, 2023 Zari Gallery award London, 2023 and Cass Art Award in 2023.
Varsha has been commissioned to produce artwork by TATE Liverpool.
Her work has been widely exhibited.

your personal journey from semi-abstraction to abstraction

This course offers you the opportunity to take your own personal journey towards semi-abstraction and abstraction. Intended to show members how they can take this journey on a well structured course, yet flexible enough to allow for individual choices.

Remember, working this way gives you complete freedom as an artist. No restrictions as there's no right or wrong way of doing it. It's simply down to your own creativity, but often this needs to nurtured.

Course will be ongoing through the year and will develop in an organic way. Though structured to teach from the very basics, how to create and develop an idea into a finished piece of art, or series, the course will be flexible to enable the participants to have an input so that everyone gets the maximum outcome. You will be encouraged to work on your own initiative away from class. This could be exploring ideas, researching like-minded artists to further your own knowledge. More on this in class.

It's intended to run a taster session at Lydiate parish hall on Sunday December 15th. 10am to 3pm. Will focus on the first criteria, how to come up with an idea, then developing that idea in drawing & sketching.

if interested in joining, please contact us for more information

Proposed syllabus for first few months.

Syllabus for the first few once a month class (second Sunday of each month 10am to 3pm. Fee £35 per Sunday on going through the year. Or weekly class (Wednesday afternoons 1pm to 3, fee £130 for 10 consecutive weeks then re-enrolling, ongoing through the year) both at Lydiate parish hall 288 Southport rd, L31 4EQ)

The class will be a very friendly and interactive class, where we learn from each other, as opposed to struggling on one’s own at home, for example.

It’s easy to be put off from experimenting working towards semi-abstraction, eventually full abstraction, as it’s such a wide-ranging subject and therefore easy to stumble and get lost!

For this reason, it’s intended that the class will develop from the very basics, starting with semi-abstraction through to abstraction, done over a period of 12 months. A step-by-step approach to ensure a thorough understanding of each process before moving on to the next stage.

Also to encourage you to work at home with a combination of research and practice. This approach to art is very creative and doing the research will be enjoyable and rewarding, as it will reveal ways of doing art differently that would otherwise not occur to us or appearing too difficult to make a start.

 

Class one (either second Sunday monthly all day 10am to 3pm, or weekly Wednesday afternoons 1pm to 3.

Getting to know each other, explaining what we’ve done in the past, what you are seeking for the future.
What do we mean by ‘semi-abstract & abstract art’? As this is a wide area of art practice, we need to start to get an understanding of the differences.
Discussion on coming up with ideas, though on the first class you will be provided with two subjects (feel free to bring images of your own if you prefer, but make them simple).
When making semi-abstract & abstract art, the most important thing to remember is that you can’t go ‘wrong’. There are no rules, as in academic drawing/painting. This is why you need guidance, otherwise you will find it almost impossible to break out of working purely representational.
Once you have half of an idea, Varsha and Roy will then talk & demonstrate you through various was of drawing & sketching processes to reveal the different ways to help you to develop the idea further.

Below, a simple example of how we can experiment if working from a photo. Remember, you will probably do several sketches to develop the final composition which you’re happy with and ready to commit to a final piece.

 

 

Start with a simple subject, otherwise a complicated subject hinder you, taking the joy out of your creativity.painting, semi-abstract to, abstraction art, drawing & painting, learn how to paint,

...start the creative process by doing a series of sketches/drawings to develop your idea. Remember to let the idea develop. You might finish up with a different idea! This is why working out the problems before committing to a finished painting will save you a lot of time and frustration!

Next, continue your sketching/drawing, then add colour. Once again trusting your instinct, tapping into your creativity. Both tutors will lead you in this process, as it's difficult without someone showing and helping you.

Remember, there isn't a right or wrong way of working. You can add other media, pen & ink? charcoal? crayons? collage and much more...

 

click to find out more, or to book a place

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watch a video of Roy doing an introductory demonstration