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Online Class The Art League School


  • Studio 332 105 North Union Street Alexandria, VA, 22314 United States (map)

Title: ABSTRACTING WITH ACRYLIC : Emphasis on Composition 1&2 :Marsha Staiger

Wednesday 8weeks

2 1/2 hours 3pm - 5:30pm

Session Spring l #1 Start April 28 -June 15

Session Summer l #2 Start July 6 - August 24 .

Acrylic paint is a versatile medium. You can add water to make it act like watercolor and watch it soak into the paper . Heavy body or “tube” paint will allow it to form stiff peaks and create and impasto feel. I will demonstrate and we explore techniques. Often the technical side drives the abstraction . Allowing the unexpected to open up into an intention. The elements speak with a louder voice while thinking abstractly . Each class will highlight a Principle and Element. Examples of art and artist as well as our classwork will be used to analyze and “find” the next step towards completing artwork .

Supplies :

Primary Fluids :

Primary Yellow . Primary Magenta , Primary Cyan , Zinc White

Heavy Body Tubes

Titanium White ,Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium red light , Ochre and Burnt Sienna


White Gesso

Gac 500 GAC Golden Artist Color is what it stands for .
 Sketchbook 9x 12 or a size you have

Construction paper multiple colors and black white 
 Graphite and eraser

Water soluble graphite 6B

4 canvas 12 x 12 or ones that you have


4 pieces of watercolor paper 22 x30 I like Strathmore Aquarius II (info about at end of list)

A board or cardboard a little bigger than 22 x 30 to tape you paper to

4 Clips to hold paper onto board or use tape

Frog Tape for edges of paper and masking techniques

Porcelain Palette or palette paper with a board to put paper on . Scissors

Rags for wiping brushes

Clean small sponge great for putting water down and also paint Bar of brush cleaner

Smaller spritzer for rubbing alcohol ( 70 or 90 percent) the bottle usually accepts a spritzer from windex .

Small spritzer for water

Brushes: You may have lots of brushes to work with but if you don’t please check the Art League Store they have a great selection..

I would like for and assortment of 3 Bristle for heavier marks sizes should vary from smaller to large.

Creative Mark 7pc Try Me Set Of Pro-Stroke Bristle Brushes

$16.99 7 brushes Rounds #1 #2 #6 Bought #2 #6 Flat #4

Filbert #10 ( the largest width at 5/16)

Synthetic brushes are helpful with softer application of

washes of thinned paint # 12 (7/8 brush width) or up to a #16

(1inch 1/16 width)

I do like wider brushes 2inch to 3 inch and hake are goat hair

and reasonable. They tend to lose hair after lots of use but ;ay

down and nice wash. This can happen with your sponge as

well but the sponge may produce bubbles .

500 Series Aquarius II® Watercolor Weight: 80 lb. (22" x 30" x 500

sheets) 170 g/m2 Surface: Cold Press

This unique light weight sheet is made with a blend of cotton and synthetic fibers. This fiber combination allows this sheet to resist buckling and the need for stretching when applying light to medium wash. The lightly textured cold press surface is excellent when combining drawing media with watercolor and for fine detail work. Sheet stock has two deckle edges.