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Abstraction From the Figure (Online Course) Fall 2026 w/ Yuval Yosifov
November 1 to November 29 (Sundays), 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite. Our business hours are 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM. All course information and email correspondence will be sent during business hours. If students purchase a course, workshop, demo or recording outside business hours or during the weekend the course information or recording will be sent the following business day.
Course Description
This course explores abstraction in figure and portrait painting using photographic reference. Students work from images as a starting point, focusing on reduction, value and color relationships, distortion, and edge work. Photographs guide rather than dictate, allowing ambiguity and unresolved passages to shape the work. Emphasis is placed on process, intention, and developing a personal approach to the abstracted figure.
Course Outline
Week 1:
Presentation and introduction to observational strategies; reduction of the figure to primary masses and gestural structure.
Week 2:
Presentation and critical review of student work; investigation of value relationships and structural hierarchy through the collapse of form into limited tonal ranges, resisting descriptive detail.
Week 3:
Presentation on color as an abstract system; exploration of non-naturalistic color, temperature relationships, and color harmony. Studio work with ongoing formative review.
Week 4:
Presentation on distortion and fragmentation; analysis of exaggeration, cropping, and intentional imbalance within the figure or portrait. Individualized critiques.
Week 5:
Group critique and synthesis of student work, followed by a concluding presentation addressing process, intention, and outcomes.
Course Materials
Colors:
Company’s: Winsor& Newton ( the cheapest) / Williamsburg/ Michal Harding
Titanium white / cremnitz white
Yellow lemon
Cadmium red /vermilion
Alizarin crimson
Dioxide purple
Ultramarine blue
Cobalt blue/cerulean blue
Viridian green
Light green /pale green/ cinnabar green
Emerald /veronesee
Raw umber
Burnt sienna
Green gold
Additional colors: manganese purple, pale violet
Brushes : synthetic ones and filbert ones . tintoretto ,Robert Simmons Signet Brushes size 1-6,Raphael textura synthetic-super heavy body paint
Fabric:
I recommend classens fabric-oil primed or not oil primed, If not then any Linen(not canvas) in any case with gesso. Bought or home made.
Palette: wooden palette regular size 30*40 cm or bigger if needed
Palate knife: prefer long and narrow one
Mediums: gamsol solvent and galkyd, Linseed oil
Additional materials:
Jar for solvent, paper towels/ fabric for cleaning brushes and paint , paper masking tape, palette knife (all companies, this size and shape) small mirror recommended,
November 1 to November 29 (Sundays), 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite. Our business hours are 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM. All course information and email correspondence will be sent during business hours. If students purchase a course, workshop, demo or recording outside business hours or during the weekend the course information or recording will be sent the following business day.
Course Description
This course explores abstraction in figure and portrait painting using photographic reference. Students work from images as a starting point, focusing on reduction, value and color relationships, distortion, and edge work. Photographs guide rather than dictate, allowing ambiguity and unresolved passages to shape the work. Emphasis is placed on process, intention, and developing a personal approach to the abstracted figure.
Course Outline
Week 1:
Presentation and introduction to observational strategies; reduction of the figure to primary masses and gestural structure.
Week 2:
Presentation and critical review of student work; investigation of value relationships and structural hierarchy through the collapse of form into limited tonal ranges, resisting descriptive detail.
Week 3:
Presentation on color as an abstract system; exploration of non-naturalistic color, temperature relationships, and color harmony. Studio work with ongoing formative review.
Week 4:
Presentation on distortion and fragmentation; analysis of exaggeration, cropping, and intentional imbalance within the figure or portrait. Individualized critiques.
Week 5:
Group critique and synthesis of student work, followed by a concluding presentation addressing process, intention, and outcomes.
Course Materials
Colors:
Company’s: Winsor& Newton ( the cheapest) / Williamsburg/ Michal Harding
Titanium white / cremnitz white
Yellow lemon
Cadmium red /vermilion
Alizarin crimson
Dioxide purple
Ultramarine blue
Cobalt blue/cerulean blue
Viridian green
Light green /pale green/ cinnabar green
Emerald /veronesee
Raw umber
Burnt sienna
Green gold
Additional colors: manganese purple, pale violet
Brushes : synthetic ones and filbert ones . tintoretto ,Robert Simmons Signet Brushes size 1-6,Raphael textura synthetic-super heavy body paint
Fabric:
I recommend classens fabric-oil primed or not oil primed, If not then any Linen(not canvas) in any case with gesso. Bought or home made.
Palette: wooden palette regular size 30*40 cm or bigger if needed
Palate knife: prefer long and narrow one
Mediums: gamsol solvent and galkyd, Linseed oil
Additional materials:
Jar for solvent, paper towels/ fabric for cleaning brushes and paint , paper masking tape, palette knife (all companies, this size and shape) small mirror recommended,