Understanding Abstract Painting

Understanding Abstract Painting

Adult Classes | Available

585 Park Street Naples, FL 34102 United States
Studio 200
All levels
3/24/2026-4/14/2026
9:00 AM-12:00 PM on Tue
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$225.00
$175.00

Understanding Abstract Painting

Adult Classes | Available

Explore what it means to paint in an abstract way; abstract painting does not depict reality but instead depicts things based on emotions. The visual communication is through colors, shapes, lines, forms, textures and gesture marks. You will learn how to tap into your emotions to convey colors, textures, and other forms that can represent how you feel or how you want the viewer to feel when they look at your work of art. We’ll focus on how to paint abstractly using these techniques, so the emotional appeal of your painting comes forward to pull the viewer into the piece. We’ll look at other abstract painters like Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock, Yayoi Kusama, Mark Rothko, and Piet Mondrian. Demonstrations will show you how to develop these skills and techniques.  

  • For the first class, bring only one large canvas 24” x 36” or 24” x 24” and two 11” x 14” canvases, and all other supplies listed below.

    *Please note: no canvases can be left in classrooms, so you will have to bring this to and from each class.

    You can purchase either one of these sizes of canvas: 24” x 36” or 24” x 24”, a pack of 11” x 14” canvases. Keep in mind, you may need more canvases depending on how you work, but I recommend purchasing at least one larger canvases, along with the pack of 11” x 14” canvases.

    I highly recommend using Golden acrylic paints (high flow, fluids or heavy body or a combination). This brand has a high pigment load, and a diverse array of colors to choose from; they also have iridescent and interference colors, which can really enhance a piece, especially one that is so highly interpretative to sound and emotions.

    For the first class, purchase three colors of the paint you like and also white. After the first class, you can decide on other colors or brands you might want to use.  My favorite brand to use is Golden, but NOVA is also a good choice as are: Amsterdam, M. Graham, Holbein, Winsor & Newton, Grumbacher, and many more (this is not an extensive list, just suggestions).

    Palette knives

    Kitchen sponge(s)

    Cheesecloth (you can purchase this at Publix—ask as it is usually hanging from a shelf in the middle of an aisle or sometimes at the end cap of an aisle) and/or paper of any kind

    Plastic cup or container for water

    Palmolive or Dawn dish soap to clean your brushes

    Paper towels or cloth for wiping and cleaning brushes


    You can purchase supplies at: Michaels, Jerry’s Artarama (online), Dick Blick (online), Jackson’s (online), Holbein Artist Materials (online), and many other retailers.


    Any questions? Please contact me directly: otis.christine@gmail.com

Otis, Christine
Christine Otis

Christine Otis is a freelance artist, writer and teacher. She is a graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. She is constantly tinkering with ideas, searching for ways to express and communicate an image or narrative. She encourages and inspires others to pursue their creative outlets. A true creative at heart, she is often heard saying, “I cannot not create.” Visit her site at www.christineotis.com