Composition, Colour and Abstraction

This course explores techniques and mediums of acrylic painting, composition, colour, abstraction, representation, collage and the use of text in art. In this two-day course, Christine will guide students to a deeper understanding of Abstraction; drawing upon her specialist knowledge of the history, theory and practice of Abstraction.

In the studio, Christine introduces you to the relationships between primary, secondary and tertiary colours, as well as tone in relation to the theme of abstraction. This may involve experimenting in pure abstraction or abstracting from reality including landscape elements, still life, space or the figure.

You will learn how to combine two and three dimensions in the form of collage, using natural human-made materials to construct a relief painting. The aim is to produce a series of smaller finished works or a large-scale painting that brings together techniques such as colour, collage, abstraction and text informed by your personal, cultural or political concepts.

* NAS Short Courses are open to students of ages 16 years and over. The NAS Art Club is open to students from ages 15 years and over.

* Drawing and painting short courses may be held in upstairs studios. If access to stairs is not suitable, please contact us at short.courses@nas.edu.au

* What to bring? Please refer to the list of required materials in the Art Materials field below.

Dr. Christine Dean commenced exhibiting as an artist in 1988.  Her studies include a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Art History, 1986; followed by a Diploma of Art Education, 1988; a Graduate Diploma in Painting, 1991; a Masters of Fine Arts, 2000 and a PhD, 2010. In 2000 she was awarded a Pollock-Krasner Fellowship and in 2001 an Australia Council Residency at the Los Angeles studio. Christine’s exhibition history includes, Spirit + Place, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; Juice, Art Gallery of NSW, 1997; Points of Departure, Tobey Fine Arts, New York, 2007; Minus Space at PS1, New York, 2009; Fabrik, Ian Potter Museum, Melbourne, 2016 and The Public Body 2.0, Artspace, Sydney, 2017; Solo exhibition 'From the Collection', Penrith Regional Gallery 2022; 'Thinking Through Pink', Wollongong City Gallery 2022; 'The Party', UNSW Art + Design, 2023; Blake Prize finalist, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, 2024. Christine's work is represented in the Art Gallery of NSW permanent collection.

Students must supply their own art materials, please refer to the list below.

• Notebook or sketchbook, and drawing media such as pencils, crayons, mixed media
• Acrylic paints in a good range of colours including white (basic prices acrylics are fine). Bring whatever paints you have and you can purchase more at Parkers.
• Acrylic painting mediums
• Gesso (500ml or 1 litre)
• Brushes, square and round bristle – bring an assortment of sizes including up to large house painting sized brushes
• Palette for mixing paint e.g. disposable paper palettes or flat plastic sheet or plate
• Surfaces to work on, may include prepared paper, stretched canvas, canvas boards, of any size you’d like to work on.
• A range of plastic tubs, disposable containers are useful
• Masking Tape
• Scissors
• PVA or Craft Glue
• Collage Materials including a wide range of imagery such as old magazines, books such as art history books, encyclopedias, family photographs, dictionaries, technical manuals, advertising brochures etc.
• Enclosed footwear is essential in all studios on campus. 

The teacher will advise on additional materials as the course progresses. Art materials can be purchased at Parkers Art Supplies on campus at NAS.