COURSE DESCRIPTION
Jo Moncrief is a local Dallas artist who exhibits her artwork in national and local juried art shows, festivals and exhibitions.
The focus of this workshop is on ways to create abstract acrylic paintings that have visual interest, excitement and drama.
Jo will be demonstrating (twice daily) on yupo or canvas. Each painting will begin as a wet into wet pouring of colors. This method allows colors to explode, mingle and blend with each other - creating magical, unique and unpredictable effects.
There will be daily exercises to help with the comprehension of daily subject matter. The emphasis will be for each student to understand the steps in creating abstract art & complete as many paintings as possible during the workshop.
Jo will explain how she uses composition, color, values, principles & elements of design, contrast and the rule of thirds while working through a painting to finality.
Jo will demonstrate the advantages of a limited palette (see supply list below) , the Munsell Color Wheel vs. the traditional color wheel and how grays enhance any painting.
There will be strong emphasis on how to use color as a value and the surprising benefits of learning how to read paint labels. Jo will also teach the bias of colors and how they affect your palette and the importance of a focal point.
About the Instructor
JO MONCRIEF is continually turning the natural world around her into abstract compositions. On walks near her house, she follows the patterns of shadows on the ground, the sun’s reflection on buildings & surroundings. She studies the intricate cracks and shading on the sidewalk and uses these patterns for many of her abstract designs. She studies the texture and pattern of people’s faces and figures turning them into abstracted images. Many of Jo’s paintings have a touch of humor or thoughtful message implied in the painting.
Jo began her artistic career as a ceramic artist. Gradually her ceramic artwork became less functional and more like paintings on clay. Her acrylic paintings reflect her clay background with lots of texture and the love of glazes and color.
Jo paints or draws each day. Before she begins a painting, she prepares the canvas with texture. She then spatters, throws, lifts and/or moves paint around in a random manner to create an under painting. This under painting allows her to be more creative.
Jo’s artwork can be found in galleries and many of the top juried art festivals in the U.S. Her artwork has been featured in articles in the Dallas Morning News, Ft.Worth Star Telegram, Van Zandt County Line, et al.
In 2016, two of Jo's paintings, Turbulence & Tranquility and Searching for What was, (in Home & Gallery images) have been accepted into North Light Books’ fourth annual Best of Acrylic competitionAcrylicWorks 4: Captivating Color! The book will be published in spring 2017. The artwork accepted in the book will show excellence and originality in acrylic paint achieved via a variety of styles and subjects.
QUESTIONS?
SUPPLY LIST
Artist and/or Student grade paints/hues- tubes/jars/liquid paints all work equally well in this workshop. Jo uses mainly student grade tube paints & hues and a few fluid acrylics. Any major brand like Liquitex, Liquitex Basics, Golden, etc.
Jo buys most of her supplies through www.jerrysartarama.com - or www.cheapjoes.com – be sure to allow 2 weeks or more for ordering.
Alizarin Crimson (hue only) or Quin Magenta (or both) – Jo prefers both –
Cadmium Orange (never use the hue) or Golden Vat Orange - OPTIONAL -or will mix in workshop
Cerulean Blue or Liquitex Brilliant Blue
Cadmium Red Medium hue
Cadmium Yellow Pale or Hansa Yellow Light – look for single pigment PY3
Cad Yellow medium, Orange Yellow Azo, or Diarylide yellow - look for single pigment PY83
Dioxazine purple
Mars black and titanium white - OR craft store black and white ** - either works equally well
metallic gold and silver - OR craft store metallics work well– **
Pthalo Green (blue)
Pthalo Blue (green)
Ultramarine Blue
Liquitex Pouring Medium – 1 quart or larger – do not buy Golden Pouring Medium – Liquitex only – essential for pouring paints
House paint in white, eggshell or off white – OPTIONAL – one pint – prefer gloss, semi gloss or satin – can yield interesting results
Liquitex Gloss Medium & Varnish – OPTIONAL - one pint or more – Jo will show how to use this in thin, transparent glazes of color that can alter the value or tone.
** Craft Store paints are the 2 oz. or larger like Anita's in Hobby Lobby.
** please note – it is not imperative that you buy the above paints but you will see the best results if you do so.
Bring any of your personal favorite paints also – Jo will demonstrate how to mix your favorite paints from the limited palette above
Plastic bottles for pouring & storing paints – prefer bottles with spouts – optional - but recommended – 6-12 bottles - Sam's has good large plastic spout bottles - Item # 595530 – in restaurant supplies - any container with lids – IE: vitamin bottles - will work also.
Brushes - your preference but suggest watercolor style brushes or synthetic sable. Jo uses 1 & 1-1/2” flat wash, #4 or 8 round, #2 liner , & #6 rigger.
Watercolor Paper, Yupo, canvas – your choice –
Canvas - suggest 8” to 12” canvas for daily exercises (Jo will demonstrate only on canvas or yupo) – up to 24” for personal paintings
Yupo – minimum of 5 – 10 (max) full sheets of lightweight yupo – for daily exercises
Watercolor paper – your choice – at least 5 or more full sheets – any weight
Modeling Paste – one cup of your preferred brand – any weight works
2 large spray bottles for:
Distilled Water – OPTIONAL - for mixing large amounts of paint (5-8 oz) otherwise tap water is fine – your choice
Alcohol 70% is my preference - 90% can “burn” a hole in the paints at certain points of drying & should be used within limits
1 pkg. plastic paint scrapers (found in tile department of Lowe’s & Home Depot) - 3 sizes in a pkg.
Small plastic – white only - bowls/plates or Styrofoam bowls/plates for mixing and pouring paints. There are great HDPE plastic bowls at some Dollar Trees – 3 cereal bowls for $1.00. These are not always available but excellent when found. Jo will provide one or more (depending on availability) for each student. No colors other than white please.
- Paper towels, scissors
OPTIONAL
Disposable gloves to work in – this is a request but not mandatory and a good habit to form when painting
Stencils, stamps, etc, – for making interesting marks
Bring old acrylic or watercolor paintings that are not working – you must be willing to paint over these paintings – these make a great base to create new artwork.
Jo will demonstrate using the Pat Dews Atomizer – expensive but worth the price , rubber color shaper, watercolor crayons, etc. - if time permits