Abstracting the Figure with Brighid Jamieson

Date: Saturday, 19 June 2027, 10am - 3.30pm

Workshop Level: All levels welcome, open to everyone. Whether you are beginning your artistic journey or are an established artist looking to refresh your creative practice, this workshop is for you. Drawing skills are not essential.

Cost: $180 (includes all basic materials and the fee to cover the life model)

Workshop Overview

Join artist Brighid Jamieson for a warm, supportive, and immersive workshop designed to help you shift out of your analytical mind, unlock your creative confidence, and build skills to abstract from life.

Using the human form as a jumping-off point for abstraction, you will experiment with mark-making and learn new approaches to translate the essence of the figure onto paper. This workshop focuses on the creative process, honing your observation skills, and strengthening the connection between your eyes and hand. Together, we will explore shape, gesture, form, movement, and structure as expressed through your unique artistic voice.

What you will learn

Through playful experimentation and techniques to help bypass your logical mind and tap into your creative flow, you will explore:

• Mark-making and mixed media techniques
• Approaches to capturing the essence and energy of the figure
• Key aspects of abstracting from life
• A structured approach to abstract painting that supports progressive creative exploration, responding to the canvas, and problem solving through to completion
• Your unique artistic voice.

What you'll take  home

By the end of the day, you will walk out of the studio with:

• Your unique collection of drawings and paintings
• An abstracted collage study
• A finished(/ish) abstract painting
• Practical strategies to loosen up and enrich your creative practice;
• Art techniques and approaches to incorporate into abstract art.

Materials

Included in your registration:

• Basic art materials: Student-grade acrylic paints, Indian ink, charcoal, pastels, crayons, newsprint, and mixed-media paper are all provided.
• Model costs: The fee to cover the life model is fully included.

Optional items to bring with you:

• Any preferred media: You are welcome to bring along any preferred media and paper
• Study wear: An old apron or old shirt - things could get wonderfully messy!
• A small plate to share for morning tea would be greatly appreciated