Michael Shemchuk | Quietly Upscale

Workshop: Quietly Upscale: An Abstraction by Design Workshop

Instructor: Michael Shemchuk

Dates: September 12-14, 2025

Days: 3

Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (PT)

Level: All

Tuition: $895

Supplies: Some included

Description

Upscale

In this workshop we expand our surface dimensions as we quietly upscale to large and mid size cradled panels.

• 3- 24”x24”x7/8” panels

• 3- 18”x18”X7/8” panels

Quietly

As the cliche suggests, “Less is more." So let's keep it simple. To accomplish this concept and keep our work quiet (not busy) requires discipline in our creative process from start to finish. We focus on this discipline by pre- designing, pre mixing and pre- selecting our materials and colors. We then segué by referencing visual triggers, inspiring images, personal notions and ideas of color and composition. Referencing these visual triggers and pre-editing concepts at the very beginning of our project act as a guide or regulator, encouraging one to keep it simple by guiding us to selectively add and remove color, lines, forms and shapes incrementally and with purpose to create quiet abstract compositions. In other words we simplify the creative process by setting a quiet disciplined approach to the work.

Redirect

We now redirect and begin applying these materials and (limited) selections to our large scale panels and mid size panels, employing the AbD method of (layering) paint/collage to establish a working surface for our abstract compositions.

Included With Registration

White latex house paint (flat)

Black latex house paint (flat)

Acrylic urethane/varnish (gloss)

Visual References

Students must bring inspirational images of composition, graphic and color.

Material List

3- cradled 24”x24” x 7/8” See Blick 07044-2424

3- cradled 18”x18” x 7/8”. See Blick 07044-1818

Latex or acrylic paint colors.. See blick 00711-1049 or source locally

Black Tissue 20+ sheets 20”x30”

Newsprint 10-16 sheets 18”x22”(Blick) or Packing Paper

Collage papers ( Color, pattern, graphics, re-purposed) and color tissue

2-6 sheets copy(office) paper (white)

1-6”wide flexible broad knife

1-2” putty knife.

1- atomizer (spray bottle)

1- scrubber sponge

2-sheet 80grit sandpaper and 1- sanding block. ( wood block 2.5”x3.5”x.75” works well)

8+ 2” chip brushes

8+ pint/quart plastic mixing containers with covers

2- plastic gallon bucket (for water)

Scissors, utility knife, wiping rags, paint stir sticks, white cards, artist brushes

Optional: hair dryer or heat gun

Optional: Additional cradled panels

Instructor Website

www.mshem.com

Contemporary abstract artist. Mixed media work on panel and Surface Tension work on paper available. Abstraction by Design Workshops.

Instagram Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/m.shemchuk/