I started a course in March called Abstractify by Tara Leaver. I've made my way through the first week and I am having a blast. I can feel a shift happening in the way I see things and I can't wait to apply this to a new series of paintings!!
The course is all about pushing representational art further towards abstraction. What I love about it is that all the exercises start with a photo of something concrete. I have tried painting abstractly without a concrete starting point and I just don't feel like it works for me. But starting with a still life and working on making it more abstract is so exciting!!
My favorite exercise involved using charcoal and pastels to create a composition using non-local color. That means ignoring the actual color and choosing colors that aren't in the original photo or object. It is so much fun. Check out this seascape!
Do you like a seascape with crazy colors? Do you love abstract art? Or hate it? I'd love to know what you think!