Etel Adnan, "Untitled", 2015, Oil on canvas
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WHO IS ETEL ADNAN?
Etel Adnan is an accomplished Lebanese artist, poet, journalist, who has exhibited her artwork internationally. Turning to visual art later in her life, she took to painting her surroundings, which range from sophisticated Paris to coastal California. Like Etel, you will be creating a minimalist landscape painting by simplifying the formal shapes of your chosen landscape and playing with color. |
Etel Adnan, "Untitled", 2017, Oil on canvas
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WHAT IS LANDSCAPE PAINTING?
A painting that depicts nature and the land such as the ocean, mountains, desert, etc. WHAT IS MINIMALISM?
Minimalism is a form of abstract art which focuses on simplifying the composition using geometric shapes, lines, and color. |
MATERIALS:
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- Reference photo
- 8.5in x 11in canvas paper - Palette for paint mixing - Paper towels - Pencil |
- Acrylic paint
- Brushes in a variety of sizes - Bright colored marker - Painters tape - Ruler (optional) |
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STEPS: 1. Choose your reference photo! You will be working from a photo, which can be of any landscape including your front yard, a park, the beach, the mountains, etc. Tip: Choose a photo that does not have people or animals in it. You will be focusing on the landscape in this project. |
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2. Set up your workstation! Get out your canvas paper, palette, water cup, brushes, pencil, colored marker, paint, and paper towels for brush cleaning. Using the tape, tape off the edges of your canvas paper for a clean edge. |
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3. Time to trace! With your colored marker, trace around the elements in your reference photo to get the simplified shapes that will become the composition for your painting. |
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4. Sketch your composition! Begin sketching out the simplified shapes on your canvas paper in pencil that you discovered by tracing over your reference photo. Tip: If you want your lines to be perfectly straight, use your ruler to achieve this! |
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5. Ready...set...paint! With your paint, begin filling in your simplified shapes. Each simplified shape should be a different color so you can get creative with your color mixing. Tip: Always mix your own colors instead of using the paint straight from the tube as they can look dull and flat. Remember to clean your brushes with the paper towels and water cup in between colors so each color stays bright and there's no unwanted color mixing! |
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6. Final touches! Once the painting is dry, carefully take off the tape and voilà! You have a finished painting! Now sign your name in the bottom right-hand corner, give it a title, take a photo and share it with your friends! Tip: Once you have completed your painting, make sure to wash all your paints. Doing these two things will keep your brushes and paints in good shape and last a long time! |
Sofia Stark, "The Arb", 2020, Acrylic on canvas paper
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