Mark Russell – Abstraction in Nature: Unique Effects in Oils, Cold Wax and Other Mediums – Part I (Online); Mondays, January 10-31, 2022

This 4-week class will introduce you to the use of cold wax medium as an addition to your current oil painting practice. Mark Russell will give you the foundation you need to create strong abstract paintings in a way that suggests without telling all. Through instructor demos, guided exercises, personal experimentation and exploration, you will gain hands-on experience using new techniques, materials and tools. Discussion will focus on composition, seeing and reacting, abstracting and simplifying shapes, using unique and unconventional color and mark-making. Group critiques throughout the class will offer an opportunity to share ideas and learn from others. Painting nature in the abstract allows for individual and unique interpretation of what you see in a scene.  You’ll be encouraged to challenge yourself with new ways to interpret what you see while learning to translate your interpretations. Participants will work from photo reference. 

Mark Russell has been creating landscape and nature paintings for more than 30 years. He has exhibited his work in group shows, in galleries and museums across the country and won numerous awards. His paintings are included in private and corporate collections. He has degrees from DePaul University and The American Academy of Art in Chicago.
http://www.markrussellstudio.com