Cancelled: Abstraction Now! Concept to Creation Workshop

Abstract art is an intuitive way to paint, but it does work well when thoughts are gathered and supplies organized. Join me for this two day workshop where we lay the ground work on day one by making concept boards for a productive second day of painting on a 12"x12" panel or canvas. As a collected group of artists, I will be conducting "sharing moments" for real time discussions and art making. This will allow for quality thinking as we move through the creative process.

We will be meeting on Zoom, March 22 and 23, 2023 from 6-8:30 pm. Please be seated with your laptop or computer on a table top space in front of you so we can work together.

Here is a list of materials (the starred items are required):

Sketchbook 12"x12" is a great size as it will lead to a full scale sketch for your painting. Other sizes work as well especially for capturing notes. If you cannot find a *12"x12", please have a couple of sheets of paper cut to that size.

*Sharpie fine point pen

*Styrofoam plates for palettes

*Pencils (I like Ebony Design Pencils)

*Piece or two of soft charcoal

*Blue Tape or Frog Tape that is 1" wide

*Three paint brushes either flat or filbert. Small, Medium 1/2 inch width and Large 1 inch width

*Palette knife

3 notebook sheet protectors

* sheets of white tissue paper

*Old credit card or hotel flat key to use as a scraper

*Two 12"x12" canvas boards or stretched canvas

*Golden Soft Gel Gloss or Matte to use as collage glue and glazing medium

*Acrylic Paints: I use Golden Artist Colors Titanium White, Carbon Black, Quinacridone Red, Benzimidazolone Yellow Medium, Phthalo Blue (Green Shade) Bring your favorites, too.

I will be talking about Golden gels and pastes. You may want to pick up an 8 oz. container of one or more of the following: crackle paste, glass bead gel and/or light molding paste and an iridescent color.

*Start collecting interesting items to collage. Can be as simple as packaging, documents, fabrics.

Biography

Valerie Allen is a visual artist living in Michigan. She received her BFA from University of Cincinnati, associate degree in interior design from Delta College, and post-graduate studies at Central Michigan University. She was the curator of Studio 23 in Bay City, Michigan and is currently a certified working artist for Golden Artist Colors of New Berlin, New York. Allen is a podcast co-host of Art Ladders: The Creative Climb with Valerie Allen and Armin Mersmann.

Allen has exhibited nationally including the Chicago Biennial, New American Drawing in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the National Collage Society in Massachusetts. Recently her work was shown at Site: Brooklyn in New York and her paintings were included in the American Abstract Painters exhibit for the 25th anniversary of the Lore Degenstein Gallery at Susquehanna University, Pennsylvania.

Valerie Allen has lectured across Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana on painting with acrylics. These lectures are presented at art departments, art guilds, art stores and associations. She has taught art at Delta College, Kirtland Community College, Alpena Community College, Northwood University, Midland Center for the Arts, Studio 23, Bloomfield Birmingham Art Center, all in Michigan, and conducted workshops throughout the Midwest.

Allen has juried exhibits in the Midwest, including Anton Art Center’s Michigan Annual XLVIII, Ann Arbor Women Artists Summer Show, Midwest National Abstract Art Exhibition by Indiana’s Southside Art League and was the juror for the 2021 Great Northern International Art Explosion. She has attended artists residencies at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Wave Pool Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio and Sam and Adele Golden Foundation in New Berlin, New York. Summer of 2022 Allen was an artist in residence at Port Austin Residency program in Michigan and Golden Apple Residency in Maine. In June 2022, she received Great Lakes Bay Region Artist of the Year from Saginaw Arts.

Please email me with any questions or suggestions if you work in other mediums. valerieallenart@gmail.com