Learn to paint watercolor abstracts with John Salminen

Join John Salminen in this Master Class Watercolor instruction video as he uses the language of design to build a complex layered abstraction. The design analysis and thinking he demonstrates in A Designed Approach to Abstraction, may be applied to all media and is appropriate for artists at all skill levels. Also, watch John's skillful use of a mouth atomizer, and other tools. [continued…]

A Designed Approach to Abstraction

John Salminen, AWS DF, NWS, begins with simple objects as a springboard to suggest shapes and line. He then launches on a sequence of steps to create intriguing and unpredictable effects all the while using design principles to create a cohesive captivating painting. He floods in warm tones, dry brush blending, scrapes in darks, and masks lines. He creates a variety of line and edge qualities, careful to always add to the whole.

John explains the rationale for each step. He capitalizes on the strengths of watercolor: delicate and subtle middle values. He verbalizes his composition and problem solving strategies and uses the design principles of dominance, texture, linkage, and repetition to bring unity to the painting. John Salminen uses a variety of techniques to create interest: salt, dry brush blending, splattering, mouth atomizer, collage, and acrylics. (2 hr, 40 min)

MATERIALS: Some of the materials used in this video are: tracing paper, drawing paper, black & red felt pens, 140# cold press arches watercolor paper, masking tape, acrylic paint, a variety of watercolor paint, 3-inch and 1-inch flat brush, salt, and mouth atomizer.