ABSTRACTING THE LANDSCAPE
Cost: $990
Instructor: Judy McSween
This week-long oil/acrylic painting course invites you to explore abstraction through the lens of landscape, drawing inspiration from the breathtaking surroundings of the retreat. Building on core abstract principles, we’ll focus on strong composition, intentional color mixing, and expressive mark-making techniques as tools for translating the essence of place rather than its literal details.
Each day will include guided sketchbook exercises and demonstrations designed to help you break down what you see—rhythm, movement, color relationships, and spatial tension—and reimagine it in abstract form. The surrounding landscape will serve as a continual source of inspiration, offering endless visual prompts to spark new ideas and approaches.
Students will be encouraged to experiment, adapt, and follow their curiosity. While structured exercises provide a strong foundation, flexibility is central to this course—allowing each artist to work at their own pace, respond intuitively to the environment, and develop a personal visual language.
Whether you thrive on guidance or prefer open exploration, this course offers a supportive, creative space to play, take risks, and grow.

Over four weekly sessions, we’ll dive deeper into the foundations that give abstract work its power: strong composition, intentional color mixing, and expressive mark making.
Each class will begin with guided sketchbook exercises designed to expand your visual vocabulary and strengthen your understanding of abstract principles. Students will then be encouraged to experiment on their own paintings, exploring new techniques, pushing boundaries, and developing a more personal voice.