OpenTube

Abstracting landscape-- tools and techniques

Alison Watt

79,522 views

A few techniques and unusual tools, to help you break into abstraction.
If you like this, you might consider joining me for 5 weeks of Zoom demos, conversations, and personal feedback.
Explore paths to abstraction, through simplification, colour, perspective, and surface. Discover how we can use experimental techniques and unusual tools to loosen up, move away from the literal, and to create evocative paintings of place. This course will be a combination of the material and concepts in my self-directed Abstracting Landscape Course and new content. It is now open for registration.
find out more: https://www.alisonwatt.ca/yourlandscape

20 Comments

@yvonnewagner5322 8 months ago

I’m always fascinated how you take it from just blocky shapes to something that reads as a beautiful landscape. Bravo!

@gaylenaughton6461 8 months ago

I’m so relieved to find someone who shares genuine information! Abstract seascapes and landscapes are something I’m wanting to do! I would love to see a lesson making your shapes and how this works.
Amazing and inspirational! Thank you

@michaelhackethal8187 1 month ago

Dear Alison, thank you for this super-instructive video. I've learned more from it than from 20 other videos by just listening and watching the process of creating this painting. Great technique and skill!
You obviously work quite fast so you stay in the flow and don't start thinking too much. I like that. The subconscious is where surprises come from.

@shelleysechrist508 1 month ago

You are such a good teacher. Thank you.

@SusanWilliams-g7r 3 weeks ago

I’m not a big fan of abstract but I love your way of creating landscapes is amazing!

@janinafisher101 7 months ago

This is the first time I've seen your channel, and that was an amazing process. It is fascinating how you use your cut out shapes to quickly change the shape of the landscape with nice clean edges. I'm hooked!

@sheenasproule5335 8 months ago

I've been stuck in a rut working to resolve my own abstract landscapes and your video came along at the perfect time. I've known these techniques for years but wasn't ready to incorporate some of them into my work until I watched your video last night and realized I've adhering to old processes that no longer serve my needs. Thanks for your generosity in filming and sharing your process and methods!

@donnawinton9396 7 months ago

honestly, i would have stopped at the first level. so abstract and vibrant! but that's just my aesthetic. i did like very much what you went forward with, and the end (of the vid) result. this demo came to me at exactly the right time because i'm about to do a big abstract-ish thingy for an empty wall in my living room, and i got lots of ideas from this. thks!

@minakatoozi2703 2 weeks ago

Fascinating Alison ..... I learn a lot .... Love you and your Art so much .....

@k8marlowe 2 weeks ago

Love it. Very inspiring! Gorgeous colors. I’ve found that if I wet the sponge roller and squeeze most of the water out, it absorbs less paint and goes on smoother, if more translucent. Thank you so much for sharing your techniques and knowledge. I really enjoyed this!

@irenebeerten5476 2 weeks ago

I think its perfect!!
I would not dare to touch it anymore. Would not want to. I think its finished❤

@chrisray803 8 months ago

Thank you for showing this process. I’ll give this technique a try soon. It would be great to see you come back to this and show how you’d finish the piece. Thanks again!

@IsabelLawrence-h1o 6 months ago

That was so enjoyable watching you assemble this piece. It’s beautiful, thank you. Now onto video number 2

@TheMarkEH 7 months ago

Watching this composition emerge was extremely helpful. I look at a lot of artists video's and the way that various shapes/edges are used in this tutorial was new to me. The use of a roller and paper towel to lift paint off was also something I cannot recall seeing. Thank you for sharing your expertise/process.

@karlbraun5382 3 weeks ago

Good on you lady...I am an artist and what you are sharing I practice!!!!

@yadayada-yadah 8 months ago

This is the first painting demo that i didn't fast forward through... I prefer watching the painting as opposed to listening to (most) talk. You give clear descriptions of why and how and keep it short and sweet.

It was fascinating to watch the painting emerge.

I've never even considered working this way (I'm primarily a watercolorist), but i am intrigued and attracted! 😅

Thank you very much

@MixedMediaArtByTrina 8 months ago

So great to see you creating again. I love your cardboard shapes and the way use them. Thanks my friend.😍

@deannahall2032 8 months ago

It is SO wonderful to see you Alison! I have really missed your videos!! Deanna. xoxoxo

@emilynelson_art 7 months ago

Loved watching you paint. Very fun to see your different techniques.

I personally prefer quiet over music when you aren’t speaking. I’d rather hear the sounds of you painting than any music.