Art class: Abstract Mojo.
Abstract Approaches, Lesson 1, Part 1
I’m taking a new art class called Abstract Mojo with Tracy Verdugo. Off and on over the last 2 weeks I have been working on the first lesson which is really a free lesson, called Abstract Approaches.
This lesson is not really part of the Abstract Mojo course; rather it is a prelude to it. I spent $200 for the entire Abstract Mojo course, and it is self paced. The lessons are done via videos and will not expire. There is also an online art community you can be a part of.
You can find this particular lesson here:
On March 31, 2021, I watched Abstract Approaches, Lesson 1, Part 1.
She asked us to create 15 pieces of artwork on smaller watercolor paper and work on all of them simultaneously. I wasn’t sure about the size, but it looked like she was working with 5×7 inch papers, so that is the size I chose to work with. She had 5 across with 3 rows and a tiny space in between. She said create a list of words to act as prompts of things you want to convey, feeling words and art element words that are descriptive.
This lesson was all about contrast, so for each word she asked us to write its opposite. Then we simultaneously created the compositions on the watercolor paper using the words as prompts. Each piece should have contrasting elements so if you use straight lines, use curvy; use delicate with bold; detailed with loose; happy with sad, etc. Instead of a piece having half of each descriptive and half of the opposite, try 2/3 and 1/3 with the contrasts. She directed us to keep working and add various elements across the papers using different mediums. She started with charcoal. She used acrylic inks, heavy body acrylics, a gouache crayon, bamboo sticks, her fingers, large brushes etc. I like how she scratched into wet paint. She asked us to keep working and not to judge our art until we were done. She said at that point, you can always fix something that you don’t like. She typically adds white last. She encouraged,”Don’t be afraid to be bold or even change or cover over parts you like.” She had deliberate lines, random lines etc. She experimented and was analytical at the same time.
These are the words I chose:
Words:
Revival, extinguish
Birth, dying
Hope, despair
Order, chaos
Justice, injustice
Mercy, judgement
Spring, fall
Bright, dark
Colorful, black
Loose, tight
Protected, vulnerable
Green, red
Life, death
Purple, yellow
Holy, unsanctified
Glory, dishonor
Curvy, straight
Rough, smooth
Vague, detailed
Blooming, folding
Expanding, constricting
Pink, light green
simple, complicated
Five, negative five
Teal, red/orange
Creative Passages 