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Fri, Sep 12
|Woodward Contemporary
Michael Shemchuk | Quietly Upscale
$895 | It’s not about throwing everything at the canvas. Shem teaches the art of restraint: the power of keeping things simple, intentional, and quiet. Complete six panels. Some supplies included.
Time & Location
Sep 12, 2025, 10:00 AM – Sep 14, 2025, 5:00 PM
Woodward Contemporary, 3935 Harney St, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
Workshop Description
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
Level: All
Tuition: $895
Lunch: Complimentary lunch provided in studio daily.
Supplies: Some included
Description
In this session, you’ll be upscaling your work to larger panels. Each participant will work on three 24x24 panels and three 18x18 panels, giving you the space to stretch, explore, and really push your process.
Here's the twist: This isn’t about going bigger just for the sake of it.
Michael Shemchuk aka "Shem" focuses on creating abstract work that is bold but quiet, strong but restrained. He teaches the discipline of “less is more” and shows you how to plan, pre-mix, and pre-select your colors and materials so every move you make is intentional. You’ll learn how to use visual triggers, personal inspiration, and design choices to guide you as you layer, edit, and simplify.
Once you’ve set the stage, you’ll redirect all of that preparation into action. Shem will walk you through applying paint and collage with his AbD layering method, building surfaces that are rich, subtle, and deeply expressive. The process is structured but still leaves room for discovery, which is what makes his workshops so sought after.
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
