Monika Wright
JUNE 17-19, 2022
9:00am - 4 :00pm
For Novice - Intermediate
Course Fee: $ 300
Materials Fee: $ 30 payable on first day
Class Capacity: 10
Artist Statement
Art has the power to be transformative, to rearrange our vision of the world and create bridges to connect us, to lead us to a greater understanding of the world we share, and those we share it with. With organic shapes, fluid light, lines and circles, I am employing universal symbols of unity, wholeness and infinity connected by lines, representing the boundaries which separate us, but which also highlights our shared path. What we choose to see and believe will determine how we live, not just where we live. Let’s build the puzzle of our life on this planet with care and empathy.
About the Instructor
Monika is an abstract artist who creates vibrant and ethereal expressionist paintings, ‘painting emotions with colour’. She developed a unique artistic style, leading to recognition and awards for her distinctive painting style.
Her artwork is exhibited in art galleries, private and corporate art collections throughout Canada, Europe, North and South America. Among her awards is the prestigious Mary Pratt Crystal Award, for the Canada 150 - 2017 SCA Elected Members Exhibition.
Website: www.monikawright.com
Email: monika@monikawright.com
“Monika gives you the confidence and encouragement to understand & paint abstract art.”
Course Description
This 3-day workshop will focus on two techniques; the multi-layered abstract, and the mixed media art resin work. Ideally, some experience with acrylic painting would help you to follow along in the workshop.
We will concentrate on the process of creating the multi-layered, 3 dimensional effect that Monika achieves in her abstract paintings by focusing on layering techniques using colour and composition that enhance your painting. Critiques and analysis will help you solve problem areas and create more striking and distinctive works of art.
You also learn to create mixed media resin art works that add an extra dimension of texture and vibrancy to your creation.
Come prepared for an inspirational, fun and educational weekend. You’ll be delighted with the masterpieces you’ll create!
Course Detail
Discussion:
Non-objective – Non-representational – Abstract
Starting your painting: Choosing just 3 colours – a simplified look at the colour wheel – the emotional/ physical response to colours
Techniques to begin – Let’s get those first marks on the canvas! Mark making will incorporate sprays, splashes, collage, foil, found objects, mediums, alcohol drips/sprays. It’s all about the courage to begin.
Brush strokes:
The way you move your body and your brush, the tools you use, texture, blending – it all makes a difference to the marks you make.
Values – Creating Depth:
Single plane vs depth – blending, layering, highlighting with glow
Composition
The eye must travel, the focal point, avoiding representation – an organic whole
Tips and Tricks
Varnishing, cleanup, storage…
Over a period of three days, we will do exercises that emphasize the techniques you’ll incorporate into larger works. The goal is to introduce you to new ways of seeing, moving and creating that you will be able to incorporate into your art practice – with the deliberate use of the word ‘practice’, because it is through experimentation that you’ll develop your own unique style.
Supplies
The Materials Fee covers the cost of resin — students are asked to bring their own other art supplies as described below.
Acrylic Paint: Mid to artist quality paints are best for this workshop. Please note that ‘student grade’ paints don’t have a lot of pigment and are thinner, so diluting, as we will do for some of our work, is not ideal.
Colours: You don’t need all of these, but try to get at least a blue, yellow, red, magenta and white.
Payne’s grey, Cadmium red, Cadmium yellow hue (medium &/or deep), Phthalo blue, Ultramarine blue &/or Brilliant blue, Magenta, Alizarin &/or Crimson, Titanium White, Gesso, and any other paints you like to use.
Other Things:
***Pouring medium, or paint conditioner (available at art stores, paint stores & hardware stores)
An acrylic medium to be used for collage work, anything from Modge Podge to Medium-Varnish products will do
Alcohol – 90% to 100% strength, available at drug stores or Dollar Stores (50% strength won’t work as well)
Dulux Paint stores sell Floetrol, which works really well.
Aluminum foil (I’ll bring some for us to share as well)
Gloves for the messy work (I’ll bring some extras)
Palette – ideally a wet palette with a lid, but you can also use flat plastic/food containers. The lid will keep paint from drying out when we take breaks
Spray bottle – preferably with adjustable nozzle so it sprays a strong stream to a softer spray
Rags, shop towels, paper towels
Water container
Brushes, spatulas, a variety of tools (I’ll also have some to share)
Small canvases for demonstrations, larger canvases for later work
Containers for mixing paint to pour: recycled containers, paper cups, jars, yoghurt containers, etc.
WD40 water-resist silicone (I’ll also have some for us to share)
Notebook and pen
Pencil
Blow dryer/ Heat gun (I’ll have a couple to share as well
Brushes/ Tools: Bring a variety of brushes and tools, wide and thin brushes, short and long, bouncy and flimsy…they all interact with the paint quite differently. Also bring such things as palette knifes, plastic knives, forks if you have them. We’ll share if you don’t have what you need.
Canvases: Bring a few smaller canvases, ie: 8”x 8”, 8”x10”, 12”x12”, 6”x12” for experimenting; and a couple of larger canvases, 16”x20” and up to 20”x40”
And don’t forget to wear your Paint clothes – this is going to be messy!
Resin Art: Epoxy Resin will be supplied by Monika. That’s what the supply fee is for .I’ll be doing a demonstration of resin art pieces. On day 2 of the workshop, you’ll be able to do one if you wish. That will give enough time for the work to cure for transportation on Sunday.Please let me know if you have any chemical sensitivities.
COVID- 19 Notice
Should our country still be gripped by COVID-19, Art Lab will only persist in offering our calendar of courses as common sense and regulatory recommendations dictate. If courses must be cancelled registrations will be refunded in full. The personal security of students and instructors is paramount.
HOW TO REGISTER WITH ART LAB
Contact Art Lab to ensure there is still room in the course. If there is a space in the course for you, we will ask you for payment via e-transfer or cash. If you would like to pay via credit card, please note there is an additional 4% transaction fee. Please indicate if you would like to pay by cheque.
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Cancellation PolicyIf for any reason the participant wishes to cancel prior to two weeks before the commencement of the course, the full fee minus a 10% service fee will be refunded. Please note that there will be no refunds if the participant cancels within two weeks of the commencement of the course.