Debora Stewart – From Study to Statement: Developing Expressive Paintings from Small Color Studies (Online); Tuesdays, October 27-November 10, 2026

Mediums: Mixed media & pastel or acrylic
Level: All levels welcome
Class Dates: Tuesdays, October 27-November 10, 2026
Class Times:
• 11:30 am-1:30 pm Pacific Time
• 2:30 pm-4:30 pm Eastern Time
• 7:30 pm-9:30 pm UK Time 

Please note: Due to the daylight saving time change, class on October 27 will take place from 6:30–8:30 pm (UK time)

Every compelling painting begins with an idea. In this three-session workshop, students will discover how to develop that initial spark into a larger, expressive painting through a series of thoughtful, creative steps.

Beginning with a selected portion of a reference photograph, students will explore expressive pastel mark making, color, and abstraction before creating a series of small acrylic studies. Rather than copying a single composition, they will learn to generate multiple possibilities by varying composition, color relationships, focal areas, and emphasis.

These studies become the foundation for developing more complex paintings as students move from paper to canvas. Along the way, they will incorporate expressive mixed media techniques, layered acrylic applications, and personal mark making to create paintings that evolve beyond the original studies.

Through demonstrations, discussion, and individual feedback, students will learn a repeatable process for transforming small ideas into confident, larger paintings while maintaining the freshness, spontaneity, and energy of the original inspiration.

Session One – Finding the Idea

Working from a selected portion of a reference photograph, students will begin with expressive pastel mark making on a pastel surface such as Canson Mi-Teintes or newsprint. These exploratory exercises will focus on shape, value, movement, and abstraction.

Using the same color inspiration, students will then create a series of four small acrylic paintings on Bristol vellum, experimenting with different compositions, formats, focal points, and color harmonies to discover the strongest visual possibilities.

Session Two – Developing the Painting

Students will select one or more of their small studies and develop them on inexpensive canvas panels or small stretched canvases. Demonstrations will emphasize layering, mixed media techniques, expressive drawing, acrylic painting, and surface development while strengthening composition and preserving the vitality of the original studies.

Session Three – From Study to Statement

The final session focuses on creating a larger painting on a gallery-wrapped canvas. Students will learn strategies for enlarging a composition without simply copying it, making confident design decisions, strengthening color relationships, and creating a finished painting with greater visual impact and personal expression.

This workshop is ideal for intermediate painters working in pastel or acrylic who want to develop a professional process for creating larger, expressive paintings from their own ideas and inspirations.