Composition As Process
July 13 - 17, 2026 from 9:00 am - noon and 1:30 - 4:30 pm EDT (a reception the evening before on July 12th at 4 - 6 pm)
This workshop is at the Centre Culturel Georges-Vanier, 2450 Rue Workman, Montreal
Composition is often the most elusive aspect of creating abstract art because it entails so many variables. If you think of composition as simply layout or the arrangement of visual elements, it can be frustrating because a tried and true layout (such as a grid) does not automatically result in a good composition.
Composition encompasses all of the visual content, all of the stuff that you see on the substrate - colors, values, shapes, lines, textures, patterns, etc. - and all of their relationships. Becoming aware of the variables allows you to make decisions as you work, staying present to the process as the image evolves.
This approach to composition opens up the possibilities and really packs your toolbox full of options. It gives you a framework for composing as a process, not as a set of rules. We will make studies in paint, collage, and drawing to explore visual elements and their relationships among one another. You will then have time to work on larger compositions in a looser and more personal manner.
Refund Policy:
• Cancel before Jan. 30, full refund minus $50 admin fee
• Cancel before March 31 for half refund
• After March 31 no refunds.
