This course is designed for students who wish to explore abstract painting in detail and to develop their own painting practice in this area. Students will develop their individual approach to distinct modes of abstract painting over the duration of the course with the intention of finding their own creative voice within this diverse area of practice and developing a studio practice in relation to recent and contemporary abstract painting.

The course will first introduce students to fundamentals of early abstract painting from early to mid-20th century through a series of studio exercises focused on specific approaches to abstraction, paying attention to line, colour relations, tone, shape, texture, and space. Students will develop a rich and contextual understanding of pioneering abstract art, which will help them to make informed decisions within their own studio practice.

Following this foundational learning, a series of close case studies and demonstrations focusing on specific approaches from the mid 20th century to very recent practice in abstraction will prepare students to explore their own individual approach to contemporary abstract painting. Students will learn to utilise traditional and nontraditional materials and techniques paying close attention to gesture, process, scale and space.

Students will advance their own studio painting practice over the duration of the course while learning to develop and apply the visual and critical language required to judge their own works while developing the conceptual and critical skills required to analyse, contextualise and critically discuss their own works and those of their peers.