Approaches to Abstraction

Approaches to Abstraction

Discover a personal, responsive approach to the act of creating

For artists confident with their chosen media and would like to reflect on where they are and how abstract they want their work to be.

About this course

Are you confident with your chosen media but want to develop a more abstract approach? Maybe you want to know how to develop and gather resources for your ideas. On this unique and transformative course you will discover a framework to create meaningful work.

This course was developed from many years experience, as both an artist and as an educator, and is designed to help artists find their subject matter, explore it fully and create work as a response to it.

You do not need to be working in a particular medium; past students have been painters, printmakers and photographers. This is aimed at artists who want to be more abstract than they currently are, or those who work abstractly but want their work to be about more than just the process.

It is scheduled over 6 weeks, and there is a lot of tutor support – I am available every day of the scheduled time to answer questions, and comment on discussions. You will also have the opportunity to interact and share work and ideas with other students on the specialist course platform (not Facebook).

The course is not time specific, so wherever you are in the world you can take it! The course content is a mix of video and text and as you get lifetime access you can revisit it as often as you like. We will meet up during the course on Zoom to answer any questions.

This is the natural next progression from either my Confident Composition or Urban Explorations courses. My short self-pace course Creative Themes is also the perfect lead-in to this course, is available to purchase anytime, and is designed to help artists explore ideas and find their creative themes, scroll down or click here to find out more.

This course is currently closed for enrolment and will run again in 2025.

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Creative Themes

Students taking Approaches to Abstraction will be working on their own theme. For many, deciding a theme is straightforward. But if this is an aspect of creativity that is new to you then I suggest you take my short course Creative Themes. It is designed to help artists explore ideas and find their creative themes, click here to find out more.

Once enrolled on Creative Themes can use the £50 discount code against the cost of Approaches to Abstraction.

Please note: Whilst those enroling on Creative Themes will receive a discount when enrolling on Approaches to Abstraction, taking Creative Themes does not guarantee you a place. Places are limited on my scheduled courses.

Enrol

Creative Themes introductory price of £50 

“In the past I’ve just done work that I found intuitive and easy but I really wanted more this time. It’s not a quick process but a very enjoyable journey into my inner self, a transformative experience” Anne

Examples of students’ work

Rosemary Warmington
Zelda Tolley
Jeremy Bevan
Kathleen Ellen Theriault
Maureen Mitchell
Gaye Watson

Testimonials

“Last year I took two popular online courses. I absolutely loved both courses and learnt a huge amount however my problem was that there was this element in both courses of ‘now go off and paint something’ and I didn’t know what to paint! I then spent some months nearly signing up for courses but feeling that they were not quite what I was looking for – though I didn’t really know what I was looking for. Then along came Approaches to Abstraction. Wow Sally this was it – this was what I needed. I feel I have a toolbox to which I can constantly refer and I am incredibly grateful that you have given lifetime access because I know that every time I get stuck I will revisit the modules”
Bridget

Approaches to Abstraction

“Finally understanding themes – and subject – and beyond – how they work with one another, has meant I now can see why I love certain materials and images over others.”

Anon

Creative Themes

“In the past I’ve just done work that I found intuitive and easy but I really wanted more this time. This is more like an in-depth research project! Its not a quick process but a very enjoyable journey into my inner self, a transformative experience”.
Anne

Approaches to Abstraction

I can now see what connects the various strands of work regardless whether it be figurative or abstract, drawing or mixed media. It is no longer a hopeless muddle!  I have a direction for further research through my own practice and by looking at artists whose work addresses a similar theme. I feel freshly motivated – there is clarity at last.”

Glenis

Creative Themes

Course FAQs

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THIS COURSE?

This course is designed to help you develop a personal creative theme through my process of Collect, Consider and Create. Over the eight weeks you will dive deeply into all aspects of developing a theme resulting in a series of final outcomes that relate to your theme.

WHAT LEVEL IS THIS COURSE?

This course is suitable for anyone who is confident with their chosen media, have taken my Creative Themes short course and are ready to start developing their ideas practically. Most students taking this course have either taken my Confident Composition course, or go on to do that afterwards.. they are companion courses.

WHAT THIS COURSE IS NOT

Whilst there are a number of practical activities and demonstrations, this course will not teach you how to paint or create prints.

WHEN DOES THE COURSE START?

This is a scheduled course that runs once a year. It runs for eight weeks, I am in the course every day of the schedule. However, many artists enrol when it is available and use it as a self-paced course as you can work through the classes at your own pace, and return to them as often as you need to.

What is an online course?

An online course consists of videos and downloads to enable you to learn new skills and improve old ones. All my online courses are stored on a specialist teaching platform, you do not have to join a Facebook group, and the courses have lifetime access*

The self-paced courses can be done at any-time that suits you, whilst the scheduled courses are set for a specific number of weeks.

Longer self paced and scheduled courses have areas to share work and ask questions that only people that have registered for the course can access. All videos are pre-recorded and you can watch them at your convenience, with additional written content in the form of downloadable PDF’s.

Is there tutor support available on your online courses?

My self-paced courses are designed to be studied independently, and contain all information you need. If you do have questions, my longer self paced courses can ask them on the course forum, an area specifically set up for you to share work and chat with other students. I call in regularly and can be ‘tagged’ for a more immediate response. 

On my scheduled courses new course content is available each week of the schedule, and I am with you on the course on a daily basis to answer questions and join in discussions. You will also be learning alongside a group of other students with  brilliant discussions, sharing of work and encouragement amongst participants – although there is no pressure at all to join in or share if you don’t want to.

What is a 'forum'?

I realise that not everyone is on Facebook, and so I don’t use Facebook Groups for my course. I wanted to provide a dedicated place for you to feel free to share your work with others in the course.

All participants on my longer self-paced courses are invited to post images in one of the course forums, but there is no obligation to do so! 

My scheduled courses have areas with each activity where students can post images and join in discussions.

What if I get behind on a course, will I be able to catch up?

All of my courses have lifetime access*. The courses consist of pre-recorded videos that are available to watch, and re-watch at your convenience.

For scheduled courses I am only available during the schedule of the course, but you get lifetime access* to the course content and all the discussions and posting from other participants. Many students continue sharing and discussing long after the end of the schedule.

*lifetime means as long as I am able to communicate, or as long as the platform is in existence.

How do I enrol on a course?

At the very top of each course page on my website there are buttons for you to click to enrol and pay for a course. Clicking this will take you to the Ruzuku platform and payment will be taken securely by credit card. The Ruzuku platform is where all the courses are kept.

The payment is set in GDP as I am in the UK but when you pay it will convert to your own currency. Payments are made via Stripe, a safe and secure payment platform, using a debit or credit card.

Once you have paid for a course, you will be asked to create a Ruzuku account using your email and a password. Note that this will also happen only the first time you enrol, you do not have to create a new account for each course. All of your courses will all be available in the ‘My Courses‘ section on Ruzuku.

I live outside of the UK, can I still enrol on a course?

Yes of course! I would love you to come and learn with me, and I have people signed up from all over the world. The payment from your currency will convert to GBP.

Only two courses have live meetings with students on Zoo; Approaches to Abstraction and Urban Explorations. I aim to make sure there are options for different time zones available.

Where can I find my course?

When you enter Ruzuku at the top you will see ‘My Courses’. If you click on that you will get a list of your courses. Just click on the relevant course name to enter that course.

If you have any technical problems, find the top right menu and click on ‘Support’ to access the Ruzuku support help-desk.

Can I download the course videos?

No, unfortunately you cannot download the videos due to copyright, but once you enrol you will have lifetime access to them and can return to them at any time.

What internet connection and device will I need?

To get the most out of the class you will need to have a high speed internet connection, and a newer computer or mobile device that is equipped to stream video off of the internet. If you have any questions about this please do get in touch.

My videos are compatible with all devices including iPads, tablets and mobile devices. Please test out different browsers if you have any issues – Safari is the default browser on an iPad, but Chrome is actually the better browser for a lot of people.

If you’re having difficulty watching the videos try these tips:

  1. Close down any open applications and exit out of any extra windows in your browser. These all take up memory on your device and cannot effect the ability to play video smoothly.
  2. Refresh the page.
  3. Restart your device if you have not today.
  4. Make sure your device is updated. (including the operating system and browser)
  5. Try a different browser.  My videos have been verified working with:
  6. Firefox (Windows and Mac)
  7. Internet Explorer (Windows)
  8. Google Chrome (Windows, Mac and Android [4.1.2] tablet)
  9. Safari (Mac, iPad and iPhone)

*I cannot guarantee that our videos will play on your device. There are too many variations in each person’s scenario.

Can I share the course content with others?

My courses are priced very reasonably, and I have worked very hard to give you an in-depth and inspiring range of courses full of content. As such please do not share your login and course access with others.

All of the course content is my own intellectual property, built up from over 40 years as an artist and teacher. You are not permitted to share demonstration/how-to videos of yourself using the techniques I am teaching you.

Of course many general, individual techniques are already out there in the public domain, and no one can claim ownership to those, but it is the sequence of techniques; particularly some of the tools and equipment used, as well as the methodologies and concepts taught on my courses that are not to be shared. More details about my intellectual property rights can be found in the Terms and Conditions.

Also, if you create work that is clearly based on my demonstration pieces, please do not attempt to sell it as ‘yours’. More details about my intellectual property rights can be found in the Terms and Conditions​.

Do you offer refunds?

I do not offer refunds for self-paced courses as the course descriptions give a very full account of the content. In the unlikely event you have booked a course that is not right for you, please let me know before you start accessing the content.

With my scheduled courses if you feel they are not right for you I will refund you within a week of your booking/the course starting, (less an admin fee) or a full credit towards another class.