Color can be expressive, emotional, and atmospheric—but its true power comes from a strong understanding of value. Explore how light, dark, contrast, and tonal relationships work within a vibrant color palette to create depth, movement, structure, and visual harmony in abstract painting.
Through guided exercises, demonstrations, and studio practice, students will discover how color and value interact to shape mood, atmosphere, and spatial relationships while developing a more confident and intentional approach to painting. Explore dynamic composition, layering, transparency, expressive brushwork, mark-making, paint consistency, and the use of mediums to create rich, luminous surfaces. Exercises throughout the day build toward one finished abstract painting.
Ideal for painters interested in abstraction, color theory, or strengthening their understanding of how value and color work together to create compelling contemporary paintings.
See list below for materials students should bring to class.
School Policies
Students who withdraw 48 hours prior to the first class are eligible for a refund or credit toward another class, less a $25 registration fee.
Please click here for more details.
Term: Fall 2026
Suggested Ages: 18+
Materials Needed: 3 sheets of Rives BFK paper or 3 canvas panels Acrylic paints variety of colors. Needed Primary Colors, red, yellow, blue + black/white. At least 3 brushes in different sizes Gloss glazing medium or airbrush medium One large canvas 30in x 30in or bigger