Mediums: Oil, water-mixable oil, acrylic or pastel (Alex will work in oil)
Level: All levels welcome
Class Dates: Mondays, November 9-23, 2026
Class Times:
• 9:00 am-noon Pacific time
• noon-3:00 pm Eastern time
• 5:00 pm-8:00 pm UK time
Join Alex Kelly for a three-session online workshop exploring composition through experimentation. Rather than relying on fixed compositional rules, we will investigate the visual language of painting itself, using structured exercises to develop stronger, more personal design decisions.
Working with both representational and non-representational approaches, we will explore how elements such as shape, line, value, colour, edge, texture and surface quality interact to create visual impact. During the workshop we will explore how artists, both historical and contemporary, have used visual relationships such as hierarchy, harmony and variety, balance and contrast, quiet and dominant passages, pattern and surface quality to create powerful compositions.
Topics will include:
Participants will be encouraged to experiment freely while developing practical strategies that can be applied to any subject matter or painting style. The emphasis throughout is on discovering new ways of seeing, making more confident compositional decisions, and creating paintings with greater visual clarity and expressive power.
Homework assignments will be set and feedback will be given before the next session.
In stock
$250.00
Based in Birmingham, UK, Alex Kelly is a dedicated painter and educator who has been teaching—and continuously learning—both in-person and online for many years. His practice is deeply rooted in the alla prima technique, primarily painting directly from life in the studio and en plein air. However, Alex also enjoys working from photographic reference to develop more conceptual pieces, balancing a spontaneous, immediate response to his subject with a more considered, deliberate approach.
For Alex, painting is fundamentally about “learning to see.” It is a process that requires heightened sensitivity, discernment, and an appreciation for the beauty found in direct visual experiences. To Alex, beauty is anything that evokes emotion, sparks curiosity, or invites deeper exploration. By navigating both the literal and the conceptual, he constantly challenges himself to refine his perception and discover new visual languages in paint—a passion he brings directly to his students.
About This Online Class:
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