Access Creativity Through Abstract Watercolor with Luz Donahue Week 1

Date July 17, 2021 | 1-4pm PDT

Skill Level All levels | Ages 14+

Cost General $150 | NUMU Members $125

*Workshop is non-refundable

Materials Included

Location Fully outside workshop at Los Gatos Pageant Park

*All participants must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test the day of the workshop to be able to participate.

NUMU is excited to partner again with Santa Cruz based artist, Luz Donahue. In 2020, Luz held a wonderful in-person workshop at NUMU introducing students to abstract expressionism. Luz’ work was recently featured in our exhibition, Art in the Time of Corona. We love working with Luz and are excited for this special summer workshop outside.

Important Details

• All participants must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test the day of the workshop to be able to participate.

• This workshop is taking place twice: on Saturday July 17 and July 24. The content will be the same week.

• You do not need to have any prior experience for this workshop. If you do have prior experience painting, you'll enjoy a new way of looking at your creative process.

• Wear clothes you wouldn’t mind staining (most materials are washable).
  

Many people are intimidated by abstract painting, but Mark Rothko believed that we should start fine art education with modernism. Why? He believed all it took to make good art was emotional intensity. To look at modern abstract art and to say, "a child could have done this" is to pay the artist the highest of compliments. You see, abstract art removes a subject and focuses on the feelings the artist has while making. So when we look at good abstract art we might feel pieces of the emotion left on the canvas. It's mostly not about technique but about unlearning all the things the world put on you that make expressing yourself less automatic and natural.

We forget in our culture that creation and analysis are fundamentally *different* cognitive processes. We criticize ourselves out of the space our mind and heart need to be in to make beauty. If we can focus on remaining in a space of creation and only very consciously move to analysis with compassion, we can transcend our inner critic. This is what intuitive abstract paintings teach us. When you leave this workshop, you will have a piece of work that will look sophisticated and mysterious to others. They may feel something and not know why exactly. To you, it will be an object honoring your most deeply joyful and fulfilled moments.

In this workshop, we will:

• learn how abstract art works

• learn how to create abstract paintings from inspiration

• create an abstract painting from an memory

• let go and discover your artistic voice

• learn how to make several paintings at the same time

• learn to remove creative blocks to expression

• get comfortable and confident using watercolor paints

The following supplies are included:

• watercolor

• inks

• metallic paints

• watercolor paper

• brushes
  

You can bring:

• openness to playfully exploring the material

• a willingness to let go of expectations

• frisket Pens, watercolor brushes or water soluble paints (do not bring acrylic as we will be outdoors without easy access to a sink)

You will go home with:

• Several abstract watercolor paintings made by you!

• A fun materials kit you can play with for a long, long time.

• A process you can repeat easily at home to create your own expressive abstract art in a series with just a few minutes a day.

Host or Publisher New Museum Los Gatos - NUMU