Abstract Painting Challenge

In this video I am going to show you how going though a series of prompts can help you to loosen up and create abstract work that requires no inspiration or outside reference. You can free yourself up to paint intuitively and create purely from within your own imagination. Now, I know for some people this will be a challenge - even I found it really hard and I made it up!- but trust me when I say it is worth it. I encourage you all to give it a go, have fun and embrace the freedom. Before I began, I wrote down a list of random art prompts that I would follow to create this artwork. I will paste the list below so you can follow along and create your own abstract artwork if you like. Please feel free to share your results. I’d love to see them. 1. cover canvas with 1 or 2 colours. Get rid of all the white 2. Use charcoal or pastel to draw shapes and gestures directly on to the canvas. Try and keep it loose and flowing and don’t think. 3. chose two colours and a medium to large brush and paint with eyes closed. 4. Turn canvas 90 degrees. With a dark or light value add in some small marks and details. 5. Chose a mid tone neutral color (grey, cream, beige etc) and cover 40% of what you have done 6. choose a light or dark colour, smear paint on with spatula in random areas and use a sharp tool to scratch out patterns 7. chose two colours and paint again with your eyes closed, this time use your non dominant hand. 8. Turn painting upside down and add something dramatic. (A dark colour, or a bright unexpected colour, or a swipe of something transparent, a splash, dribble runny paint, a series of spots/stripes/shapes/pattern in one area etc ) 9. Pick up charcoal, pastel, paint markers or pens and make marks and lines for 5 minuets 10. chose a light colour and with a large brush create board strokes in one or two areas to create negative space. 11. Chose a contrasting colour to your main palette and create small patterns and details with a fine brush. 12. Contrast: look at your work from a distance. Where can you make a bold mark to add contrast? Contrast can be added in the way of value or colour, shape or line, or even the scale of the elements. 13. Spend the last 10 minuets adding details and refining the composition. If the work needs more of a focal point then add in a splash of colour or detail.