Date recorded: Friday, February 13, 2026
Medium: Open to all mediums
Shape is a foundational formal element in both representational and non-representational art. This class will teach students how to translate anything you see into simple, compelling abstract shapes. This class will also include a series of simple design shortcuts you can use to improve the overall impact of your work. This is the first session of Mark’s ongoing series The Tools of Abstraction.
$40 for one year access
Learn to expand and enhance your artistic vocabulary by adding bold, expressive abstract elements to your work! Join Mark for this exciting series of in-depth demonstrations specially tailored for artists interested in incorporating abstraction into your existing work.
This series is designed with both representational and non-representational artists in mind: Each session will explore one isolated technique that can be used to add interest to representational painting approaches – or to make non-representational work more concise and impactful.
Note: Each individual class functions as a stand-alone lesson. Participation in previous sessions is encouraged but not required
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.
About The Tools of Abstraction Technique Takeaway Series:
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