Workshop Description
Join professional artist Samantha daSilva as she shares her unique method of painting: Rollers rather than brushes, tables instead of easels, lots of paint and water, canvas manipulation and plaster, salt, sand and wood shavings to create ethereal, textured abstract paintings.
No previous artistic experience necessary, just an open mind and an open heart.
*Fearless Metallics Workshop is a modern twist to using metallic paints, powders and gold leaf.
**Fearless Mixed Media Workshop incorporates collage, plaster & paint scrapers to create "distressed" surface textures.
No previous artistic experience necessary, just an open mind and an open heart.
*Fearless Metallics Workshop is a modern twist to using metallic paints, powders and gold leaf.
**Fearless Mixed Media Workshop incorporates collage, plaster & paint scrapers to create "distressed" surface textures.
Workshop Outline | 2-days
1. Why is there so much fear in art?
2. Philosophy: "The process of creating evolves into ideas."
3. Materials Overview: Thin Profile VS Gallery Profile Canvases & Student VS Artist Quality Acrylics
4. Why & How to Tone Your Canvas
5. Fearless Abstract Painting Foundational Techniques: Using nature as a starting point, paint application with a roller, color blending, canvas manipulation & paper towel lifts
6. Texture Building & Making Your Own Mediums: Gel Medium, Modeling Paste & Plaster
7. Translucent Layering
8. Varnishing Like a Pro
In addition, heart-centered discussions will be offered to assist you to let go of fear, silence the inner critic, turn up your intuition & explore your own artistic style in a safe, supportive environment including: 5 Questions to Help You Paint Your Truth, Compassionate Critiques, How to tell your painting is finished, and so much more!
2. Philosophy: "The process of creating evolves into ideas."
3. Materials Overview: Thin Profile VS Gallery Profile Canvases & Student VS Artist Quality Acrylics
4. Why & How to Tone Your Canvas
5. Fearless Abstract Painting Foundational Techniques: Using nature as a starting point, paint application with a roller, color blending, canvas manipulation & paper towel lifts
6. Texture Building & Making Your Own Mediums: Gel Medium, Modeling Paste & Plaster
7. Translucent Layering
8. Varnishing Like a Pro
In addition, heart-centered discussions will be offered to assist you to let go of fear, silence the inner critic, turn up your intuition & explore your own artistic style in a safe, supportive environment including: 5 Questions to Help You Paint Your Truth, Compassionate Critiques, How to tell your painting is finished, and so much more!
What is Fearless Abstract Painting?
Fearless Abstract Painting is both philosophy and technique. The philosophy is simple: "The process of creating evolves into ideas."
You might ask:“You mean, I don’t need an idea before I begin?”
Precisely! Contrary to popular belief, you do not need an idea before you begin to paint. The process of creating will evolve into an idea.
“OK. But what exactly does that mean?”
As a fourth generation artist, I was no stranger to the creative process. I was encouraged to indulge in all things creative from a very early age. But as the years went on, I became like so many of the artists I meet today: Paralyzed by fear.
. Fear of the blank canvas
. Fear that your idea isn’t good enough
. Fear that your idea had not only been done before, but done better by somebody else
. Fear that due to your lack of technical skill, you would not be able to give the idea that’s in your head, shape and form on the canvas
. Fear that your work will be judged
. Fear that your work will be ridiculed
. Fear that you will have “proof” that you aren’t a real artist (or creative) after all
Well, it’s no wonder that there is so much fear in art! We put so much pressure and the burden of expectations on ourselves! Enter Fearless Abstract Painting: no easels, no brushes, no pallets, no colour wheel and no preconceived ideas.
"What? Really? How is that possible?"
Yes! And it’s wonderfully liberating. And addictive. When you push the paint around, add water, tilt the canvas and play the process begins to take shape into an idea. Our inner creativity (often dormant or silenced by many layers of “realistic”, linear-type thinking) begins to blossom, grow, and bring balance back into our lives, reminding us that there is a creative source in all of us.
I’ve seen it thousands of times. Most haven’t picked up a brush (much less a roller!) since kindergarten, or they’ve been painting for years but they feel rigid and stiff. The result is that they begin to paint and think in a whole new different way when they use the Fearless Abstract Painting method. Snap!
You might ask:“You mean, I don’t need an idea before I begin?”
Precisely! Contrary to popular belief, you do not need an idea before you begin to paint. The process of creating will evolve into an idea.
“OK. But what exactly does that mean?”
As a fourth generation artist, I was no stranger to the creative process. I was encouraged to indulge in all things creative from a very early age. But as the years went on, I became like so many of the artists I meet today: Paralyzed by fear.
. Fear of the blank canvas
. Fear that your idea isn’t good enough
. Fear that your idea had not only been done before, but done better by somebody else
. Fear that due to your lack of technical skill, you would not be able to give the idea that’s in your head, shape and form on the canvas
. Fear that your work will be judged
. Fear that your work will be ridiculed
. Fear that you will have “proof” that you aren’t a real artist (or creative) after all
Well, it’s no wonder that there is so much fear in art! We put so much pressure and the burden of expectations on ourselves! Enter Fearless Abstract Painting: no easels, no brushes, no pallets, no colour wheel and no preconceived ideas.
"What? Really? How is that possible?"
Yes! And it’s wonderfully liberating. And addictive. When you push the paint around, add water, tilt the canvas and play the process begins to take shape into an idea. Our inner creativity (often dormant or silenced by many layers of “realistic”, linear-type thinking) begins to blossom, grow, and bring balance back into our lives, reminding us that there is a creative source in all of us.
I’ve seen it thousands of times. Most haven’t picked up a brush (much less a roller!) since kindergarten, or they’ve been painting for years but they feel rigid and stiff. The result is that they begin to paint and think in a whole new different way when they use the Fearless Abstract Painting method. Snap!
Workshop Benefits
As described in actual student Testimonials:
1. Awaken the artist within you
2. Get inspired, transformed & have fun
3. Lose your fear of the blank canvas & the idea that you need an idea before we begin
4. Learn how to use “mistakes” to your advantage
5. Learn how to allow the process to evolve into ideas
6. Make your art personal rather than a "paint by number"
7. Incorporate natural elements into your paintings by learning how to make your own texture mediums
8. Tune into your intuition & re-establish a connection with your personal creativity
9. Get unstuck: let go of old, self-limiting conditioning & self-doubt
10. Gain confidence & courage to express yourself authentically
11. Experience a catalyst for self-discovery & self-acceptance
12. Unlock & move energy
13. Gain an arsenal of techniques & philosophies to paint for years to come
1. Awaken the artist within you
2. Get inspired, transformed & have fun
3. Lose your fear of the blank canvas & the idea that you need an idea before we begin
4. Learn how to use “mistakes” to your advantage
5. Learn how to allow the process to evolve into ideas
6. Make your art personal rather than a "paint by number"
7. Incorporate natural elements into your paintings by learning how to make your own texture mediums
8. Tune into your intuition & re-establish a connection with your personal creativity
9. Get unstuck: let go of old, self-limiting conditioning & self-doubt
10. Gain confidence & courage to express yourself authentically
11. Experience a catalyst for self-discovery & self-acceptance
12. Unlock & move energy
13. Gain an arsenal of techniques & philosophies to paint for years to come