Abstract Painting for Beginners

Course Overview

Do you love abstracts? Are you interested in exploring your creative side and building on your painting skills? Do you want to create stunning abstract paintings using acrylic paint on canvas and ink on paper? If so, this course is for you. Beginners to advanced students is perfect for you!

This course is designed for beginners with little to no experience in painting abstracts. More advanced students who attend will be encouraged to explore their own creativity and loosen up their technique. Over the course, you will learn the fundamentals of acrylic abstract painting, colour and composition. You will explore different textures, collage and abstraction techniques to create depth and dimension in your paintings.

Each week, you will work on a different aspect of creating an abstract painting, building upon your skills and knowledge with each session. Local professional artist, Elaine Foulsham, teaches this course.

In addition to learning painting techniques, you will also gain an understanding of the creative process and how to approach each painting with a fresh perspective. By the end of the course, you will have created multiple abstract, applying all the techniques you have learned.

This course offers a supportive and collaborative learning environment where you can connect with other likeminded art lovers. Whether you are looking to create art for fun, relaxation, or to build a new skill – this course is perfect for anyone who wants to explore their creativity and develop in painting abstract landscapes.

Macquarie Community College operates from a range of venues across Northern and Western Sydney. We have campuses in Blacktown, Carlingford, Chatswood, Epping, Mt Druitt, Richmond, and Ryde. Enrol now!

Learn more about this course

What you will learn

Course outline

In this course, you will:

  • Learn or extend on the fundamentals of acrylic painting and ink on paper with collage
  • Work and experiment with art materials
  • Understand composition in abstract landscapes
  • Learn techniques for creating depth and dimension in a painting
  • Create texture and layering
  • Understand negative space and line
  • Apply all the techniques learned to create abstract landscape paintings
  • Rules for exhibiting in shows

Course outcome

By the end of the course, students will have explored various color techniques, such as color blocking and glazing, and gained an understanding of color harmony. Students will create multiple abstract landscape paintings, applying all the techniques learned throughout the course with the benefit of personalised feedback and critique.

What you need to know

Entry requirements

There are no essential prerequisites for this course – it is designed for budding artists with little to no experience in painting and those who desire to explore and be creative.

Students should come with a willingness to learn and experiment with different techniques. Additionally, students should be prepared to spend some time outside of class working on their paintings and practicing the techniques they have learned.

What you need to provide

Please bring the following items to class:

  • Acrylic paints, Matisse is best , cool and warm colours, or a starter set in various colours (tubes or jars)
  • Black waterproof ink and gouache paint for working on paper
  • Canvas (A5 and/or A4 to start) and watercolour paper pad A3 300gsm
  • Assorted selection of paintbrushes (different sizes/nylon long-handled)
  • Palette paper pad and palette knife
  • Water container (for cleaning brushes)
  • Water sprayer
  • Paper towels or rags (for wiping brushes)
  • Gesso
  • Visual diary (for planning compositions)
  • Table easel and sheet to cover tables
  • Baby Wipes
  • Hairdryer

Students may also want to bring any additional materials they prefer to use, such as specific types of brushes, a paint scraper or stencils.

Class details

Start Date15 February 2025
End Date05 April 2025
Sessions8
DaysSat
Time1:30pm - 4:30pm
TutorElaine Foulsham

$325

Delivery Mode

To meet the needs of our students Macquarie Community College balances delivery and engagement across permanent, regular and temporary delivery sites and offer face-to-face, remote zoom classes and self-paced learning options.

Ways to Study

  • On campus

Our college campus locations are:

    • Blacktown
    • Chatswood
    • Carlingford
    • Epping
    • Ryde
    • Mt Druitt
  • Virtual classroom
  • Complete workplace training
  • Combine ways to study

FAQ

How you got questions? Please see our comprehensive FAQ page for everything you need to know about Macquarie Community College, our policies, student support, application and enrolment procedures.

How to Enrol

Step 1 - Choose Your Course

  • Select the non-accredited short course you are interested in.
  • Find a day and time that suits your schedule.

Note: Enrolment is open to anyone 18 years or older.

Step 2 - Enrol and Verify

  • Click ‘Enrol Now’ after selecting your course and schedule.
  • Enter your details on the enrolment page.
  • Verify your email through a secure link sent to your email address.
  • Complete the secure checkout and payment process.

Ensure you read the Terms and Conditions available at: Macquarie Community College Terms and Conditions. For assistance, call customer service at 1300 845 888.

Step 3 - Receive Your Enrolment Details

  • You will receive an immediate enrolment confirmation email upon successful enrolment. Check and read the attached Terms and Conditions.
  • The payer of the enrolment will receive a tax invoice immediately after processing.
  • You will receive a course reminder email a day before your class begins.
  • For Online Zoom classes, a Zoom link and password will be emailed the day before class. Use the same link and password for subsequent sessions if applicable.