Course curriculum

    1. How to Use This Course

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Where Does Intuition Come From?

    3. Explanation of Abstract Painting

    4. Explanation of Intuitive Painting

    5. Examples of Abstract Artists and Their Art

    6. Where Does One Find Inspiration?

    1. Tools Demo Supply List

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Example of a Tools Visual Diary

    3. Creating a Visual Record of Tools

    4. Assignment: Tools

    1. A Word About Composition

    2. Assignment: Compositions

    1. Basic Color Demo Supply List

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Color Demo Video 1

    3. Color Demo Video 2

    4. Color Demo Video 3

    5. Color Demo Video 4

    6. Color Demo Video 5

    7. Assignment: Color

    1. Black & White Demo Supply List

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Black and White Paint Video 1

    3. Black and White Paint Video 2

    4. Black and White Paint Video 3

    5. Lesson: B&W

    1. Bold Brushwork Supply List

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. About This Lesson

    3. Bold Brush Work Demo

    4. Assignment: Brushwork

About this course

  • $99.00
  • 47 lessons
  • 3.5 hours of video content

What are my students saying?

5 star rating

Big bold and beautiful

Michele Ross

Excellent course! Kathleen excels in her ability to communicate and patiently teach how to paint intuitively and in abstract. One can immediately see how muc...

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Excellent course! Kathleen excels in her ability to communicate and patiently teach how to paint intuitively and in abstract. One can immediately see how much time and care was invested in producing this class. Personally I enjoyed everything I was taught and in the end I painted my first abstract intuitively! Kathleen Rietz deserves a medal for her Big Bold and Beautiful abstract course !! There was an enormous amount of artistry and technical abilities to create that course ! It took me a while to get through it but it really helped me to paint more intuitively - thank you Kathleen for making the time to write this very comprehensive course.

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5 star rating

Exploring Abstract Art With Tools

Loan Shay

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Why Did I Create This Course?

As a teacher, I have heard many students tell me that they struggle to find their style when it comes to painting. Maybe you are like them. Maybe you like to try everything, and can't narrow down your style to one thing and one thing only. In my course, "Big, Bold & Beautiful: An Approach to Intuitive Painting", I have created lessons and exercises to help you to explore art freely and openly, without judgement. The lessons are designed to help you to focus on learning about yourself as an artist and what you enjoy, without pressure to create a masterpiece each time. Practice lessons are taught using paper as opposed to canvas, in order to get you used to the idea of creating prolifically without the expense, pressure and feeling of commitment that a blank canvas oftentimes implies. I believe in art as a practice, and the only way to learn is to play, try new ways of seeing the world and explore using your intuition as a guide.

Let's Explore Tools

Demo One

This lesson is all about play! We will explore making art using tools such as silicone shapers, acrylic inks, foam rollers, collage paper, sticks, brushes, rubber bands, paper towels and other items. Discovering what you do and don't like using will help you define the style of art you enjoy making.

Create Impact Through Composition

Demo Two

When we think of painting, we gather our supplies and the colors we want to use. But how much thought goes into your painting's composition? Is it a driving force in your work? Or an afterthought? This chapter will challenge you to actively plan your compositions and the impact that using visual weight can make in the success of your work at the easel.

Your Color Story

Demo Three

Do you know that the colors you choose tell a story in your art? Cool and soothing, warm and bold, or earthy and balanced, if you feel like you are struggling to find your style and voice in abstract art, I'll help you identify your color choices as the first step to finding your style.

Learn to Make Bold Brushwork

Demos Four & Five

Let's explore lines using different brushes. First, I'll teach you to mix your own black and white paints and how this can change the perceived value of your work. Then we will take those paints, stand back and create brushwork compositions as we paint from our shoulders, not our wrists. You will begin to notice how much freer you and your art will become. Take note of the lines you make: are the bold and blocky? Or thin and graceful? This in another step forward in finding your style as you explore freedom in brushwork.

Mixing Your Own Hues

Demo Six

Have you ever followed an artist's work and admired the consistency in their color choices, wondering what colors and brands of paints they are using that just make their work look so unique? Oftentimes they are mixing their own colors! Once I discovered their secret and began mixing and storing my own paint colors, it was a complete game changer. I no longer struggled to create consistency and uniformity in my painting collections, and my work took on a more professional, polished look. I'll teach you how to make and store your own colors that you can use for several months, making color swatches in a notebook so that you can refer to and choose your color palettes with ease.

The Finale

Demo Seven: The Big, Bold & Beautiful Demo

In this detailed, full length painting demo spanning the course of 2 days, I will put it all together for you. Choosing a variety of colors I mixed and a few straight from the tube, I will create a 36" x 36" painting on canvas, taking you with me each step of the way. Using my intuition to guide my choices, I will talk about composition and how you can achieve balance in your work. I will demonstrate how to create energy, excitement, movement and eye flow with intention and confidence. I will even talk briefly on how to know when to put down your brush and step away from your painting and call it finished.

This course is for you.

I want you to learn to paint intuitively and find your creative voice in order to master abstract painting, so I created this course with you in mind!

  • Once you purchase this course, it will be yours to use indefinitely.

  • Helpful downloadable PDFs for you to keep and reference.

  • Pre-recorded so that you can start, stop and rewatch the entire course as you desire.

  • Captions on the screen make it easy to follow along.

  • Learn at a pace that fits your schedule.

  • Free private Facebook group for students to post coursework and find help and support.

Instructor(s)

Kathleen Rietz

Award winning artist Kathleen Rietz is a lifelong artist with a passion for art instruction, both in the classroom and online. Her formal art training was earned at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, IL. She went on to a 30 year career in both commercial and fine art. She began creating online art courses in 2020 during the pandemic to spread the joy of art to Instagram and Facebook followers around the world. Kathleen's fine art floral and abstract paintings are collected internationally. She has won numerous awards, and has been featured in American Artist Magazine and Create Magazine among others.