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Michael Weller – Inspired by Helene Schjerfbeck: Painting and Scraping Towards Abstraction (Online); Mondays, April 14-May 5, 2025

Date: Mondays, April 14-May 5, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM-12:00 PM Pacific Time, 12:30-3:00 PM Eastern Time, 5:30-8:00 PM London Time
Level: All
Medium: Oil or acrylic

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In October 2019, artist Michael Weller had the opportunity to see Helene Schjerfbeck’s paintings in London. Her later, more abstract works – where she scraped back layers and emphasized outlines – deeply resonated with him. There was something in the worn surfaces, the simplicity of form and the expressive use of color that spoke to his own artistic sensibilities.

Over the course of this four-week class, you will explore some of these qualities through a series of guided exercises. Focus on drawing, color, and surface texture, using techniques that Michael Weller finds helpful in his own practice. However, this is not about replicating Schjerfbeck’s style. Instead, each painting study will be uniquely your own, evolving towards simpler drawings and clearer colors.

Through demonstrations and hands-on experimentation in this class, explore:

  • Week 1: Copying or interpreting a painting by Helene Schjerfbeck.
  • Week 2: Still life on a worn surface—starting with lines, then moving to color.
  • Week 3: Self-portrait—scraping, wiping away paint, and discovering the image within.
  • Week 4: Painting from our own drawings—choosing subjects that inspire us.

 

This class is designed to be an engaging and playful exploration of painting and abstraction. Whether you’re experienced or new to these techniques, it will be an interesting and enjoyable journey.

About Helene Schjerfbeck
Finnish modernist painter Helene Schjerfbeck was known for her realist works and self-portraits, as well as for her landscape and still life paintings. Her work started with a dazzlingly skilled, somewhat melancholic version of late-19th-century academic realism and ended with distilled, nearly abstract images in which pure paint and cryptic description are held in perfect balance.

In stock

$295.00

Michael Weller studied librarianship in Manchester and realised early on he didn’t want to be a librarian. Life-drawing cheered him up. Later he did a degree in Fine Art and studied portrait-painting at Lavender Hill Studios and drawing and painting with the New English Art Club. In 2015 he won the Le Clerc Fowle Medal for a group of outstanding paintings at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ annual exhibition, and the Winsor & Newton Award for a painting at the New English Art Club annual exhibition.

About Our Online Classes:

  • This class is taught live via Zoom. To take this class, you need a microphone and camera enabled computer OR an iPad /smart tablet OR a smart phone (android or IOS) and a strong internet connection.
  • You will have access to a private class message board on our website where you can share work, comment and ask questions. (Exact use of the message board, critique of student work and general class format is at the discretion of the instructor, please check course description for details.)
  • Class will be recorded and recordings expire 60 days after the final day of the course.
  • Participants will receive an email with the Zoom link and class details 5-7 days before the class starts (don’t forget to check your junk folder). Zoom link will also be posted in the class message board. Check your confirmation email for a message board link or visit your Online Classrooms to find your active classes.

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