Mark Daniel Nelson – How to Abstract Anything Part I: Landscape (Online); Mondays & Thursdays, September 8-29, 2022

Date: Mondays & Thursdays, September 8-29, 2022 (class starts and ends on a Thursday)
Time: 12:00-1:30 PM Pacific Time (3:00-4:30 PM Eastern Time/8:00-9:30 PM London Time)
Level: All
Medium: All (including digital/iPad)

Supply List

This workshop is specially designed for the realist painter interested in adding elements of abstraction to his or her work while remaining firmly rooted in traditional representational techniques. A series of progressive exercises will guide students through a process of eliminating unnecessary visual information to arrive at a clear, simplified, expressive final image. Through a combination of slideshows, demonstrations, assignments and critiques, students will be exposed to new and unconventional artistic possibilities for self-expression.

Class will meet twice weekly online: Thursdays will include demo and assignment, Mondays will be for critique and feedback on submissions

Week 1: Simple is Not Easy
Week 2: Look Here, Don’t Look There
Week 3: Finding Your Voice

Mark Daniel Nelson approaches both painting and teaching in much the same way: He strives to simplify and organize information until it reaches its most potent, elemental form. A student of both representational and non-objective painting, Nelson regularly fuses seemingly incongruous approaches to create new and unexpected results. “I strive for two things,” the artist states in his characteristically blunt manner, “impact and beauty. Eliminate the unnecessary parts and you’re left with much more powerful, beautiful modes of expression.” Mark Daniel Nelson is represented by Maxwell Alexander Gallery in Culver City, California, Gallery 1261 in Denver, CO and Jack Meier Gallery in Houston, TX. He has taught extensively in Art History, Human Anatomy, Drawing and Painting across the US. markdanielnelson.com