Skill Builders
I
f you’re anything like me, you’ve
spent years joyfully creating land-
scape or still life paintings without
considering the exploration of the
abstract (and non-objective) genre.
Abstracts weren’t ever on my radar.
And then I was invited to take an
abstract painting workshop with
Jen Evenhus, an award-winning
abstract pastel artist. I have to admit
that I thought to myself, “Why am
I doing this? I don’t really even
respond to abstract works.” But
thanks to Evenhus’ thoughtful
teaching style, bold mark-making
and brilliant color choices, I gained
a better understanding of—and
appreciation for—the genre. A tiny
switch had turned on for me.
I took a second abstract work-
shop, this time with artist Debora
Stewart—another brilliant prize-
winning pastelist of the genre—and
it served to hurtle me headfirst into
the world of abstract painting. In just
three days, I turned out 13 abstract
works, some of which actually had
some merit.
These days, with a lot of practice
andpaintingundermybelt,I’ve
developedmyownphilosophyon
theartofabstraction:Anabstract
paintingtakespiecesofrealityand
meldsthemwithimagination,and
theninvitestheviewertostepin
andinterpretthestory.BecauseI’m
drawntolight,I’mdeterminedthat
eachofmyabstractpaintingsshould
haveitsowninnergloworlight
source.Thisisa narrativetowhich
I canrelateandoneI wanttoshare.
Herearefiveeasyexercises
thatmightjusthelpyouleanintoDriven to Abstraction
Gear up with these five simple exercises and confidently explore
a new-to-you genre.
By Laura Pollak
abstraction—alongwitha demon-
strationonhowI buildaninnerglow
inanabstractwork.
Abstractpaintingisa different
directionformanyofus,butit’sso
liberating—apureexpressionof
emotion,colorandmovement.Be
fearless,giveit a tryandseeif you,
too,aredriventoabstraction.LauraPollak(laurapollak.com)is a
signaturememberofthePastelSociety
ofAmerica,thePastelSocietyoftheWest
Coast,theSoutheastPastelSocietyand
thePastelSocietyofNorthCarolina.She
teachesclassesinherGreensboro,N.C.,
studioandinworkshopsacrosstheU.S.I tinted UART paper pure red and then experimented with shapes and colors, resulting in
A Delicate Web (9x9). When the abstract won third place in a Pastel 100 Annual Competition,
I realized I was on to something.16 Pastel Journal APRIL 2020