Want to know how some of the 20th century’s most celebrated artists made abstract paintings? This course offers an in-depth, hands-on look at the materials, techniques, and thinking of seven New York School artists, including Willem de Kooning, Yayoi Kusama, Agnes Martin, Barnett Newman, Jackson Pollock, Ad Reinhardt, and Mark Rothko. Through studio demonstrations and gallery walkthroughs, you’ll form a deeper understanding of what a studio practice means and how ideas develop from close looking, and you’ll gain a sensitivity to the physical qualities of paint.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the materials, techniques, and approaches of seven New York School artists who made abstract paintings
• Trace the development of each artist’s work and studio practice in relation to broader cultural, intellectual, and historical contexts in the decades after World War II
• Hone your visual analysis skills
• Use each artist’s works as a point of departure for making your own abstract paintings

Who is this class for: This course is for anyone interested in learning more about the materials and techniques of postwar abstract painting.

Please note: No prior knowledge of art history or studio art is required. You may complete this course with written assessments only, or choose to participate in the studio component. The course includes a list of painting supplies you may want to purchase.