Letting Go of Details: Landscape Abstraction in Watercolor with Susan Maakestad

Concept

Abstraction is not one static thing, but instead exists on a continuum. In this workshop, discover where on that continuum you wish to work with the rich and dynamic medium of watercolor.

Experience

Using your own photographs, work in a series; gradually letting go of details as you extract only the essential elements of the photo. In the process, see how your work becomes progressively more abstract. Guided exercises increase your color and paint handling repertoire. Daily one-on-one and group discussions provide you with feedback. Expect to create a stack of studies and one or two finished works each day.

Skill Level

Some prior experience with watercolor is helpful.

Instructor

For several decades Susan Maakestad has painted abstracted landscapes empty of human activity, but filled with brilliant color and recollected light. One of her recent projects includes a large-scale public art commission at Memphis International Airport. Like a coach, Susan points out what her students are already good at, helps them with their challenges, and introduces them to new possibilities. When not in the studio, she can be found birding, cooking, or sharing wine with friends. Susan earned her MFA from the University of Iowa, has been honored with fellowships through the National Endowment for the Arts, MacDowell, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Vermont Studio Center, and was Professor of Art at Memphis College of Art for 23 years.