This four-week course invites students into the expansive world of abstract art—exploring abstraction not only as a visual language, but as a way of thinking, feeling, and responding to the world.
Fridays, February 13 – March 6
4:00–6:30 PM
The class meets at The Butternut Valley Arts & Crafts Center and each class begins with a slide-based visual lecture, followed by guided discussion and hands-on studio work. Together, we’ll look at pivotal moments in the history of abstraction and the artists who broke from representation to follow intuition, structure, emotion, chance, and material truth—using history as inspiration, not instruction.
Weekly Themes
• Week 1: Early Abstraction — Hilma af Klint, Kandinsky, Cubism
• Week 2: The Absurd, Sex & Dreams — Dada & Surrealism
• Week 3: Art as Act — Abstract Expressionism & gesture
• Week 4: Minimal & Hard Edge — Structure, systems, restraint
Studio Practice
Students will work with accessible materials including graphite, charcoal, ink, and collage. Exercises emphasize experimentation, risk-taking, and developing a personal relationship to abstraction beyond style. All materials are included.
Who This Class Is For
Open to beginners and experienced artists alike. No prior art history knowledge required—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.
What You’ll Gain
• A broader understanding of abstraction
• New tools for non-representational drawing and image-making
• Increased confidence in intuitive, exploratory work
• A body of experimental studies rooted in history and personal exploration
Ticket Pricing
$225 per student
Includes all four classes (10 hours total), visual lectures, guided studio instruction, and all materials provided.
Optional Early Bird: $200 when registered by [2/1/26]
Registration
Reserve your spot online or in person at the café.
Space is limited and this class is expected to sell out—advance registration is strongly recommended.
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