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Trust the Process: An Intermediate Guide for Abstract Painting
Intermediate
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1 hour 7 min
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01:20
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02:28
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12:03
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07:15
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13:32
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14:06
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12:38
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04:00
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Taught by Abby Houston
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Elevate your abstract painting practice with fine artist Abby Houston. Before diving into this intermediate course, we recommend exploring Abby's Abstract Art Making Daily Practice, where you'll build a solid foundation of techniques. In this class, Abby guides you through the creation of two finished abstract artworks. You’ll begin by learning how to stretch your own canvas, then follow her as she works on two paintings side by side—one in warm tones and one in cool tones. She leads you through building layers of color, intention, and decision-making to achieve your desired result. This practice-based approach encourages curiosity and risk-taking while staying grounded, embracing mistakes, and trusting the creative process.
Learn how to:
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 12" x 12" canvas stretcher bars, staple gun, unprimed canvas fabric, or pre-stretched canvas
- Liquitex or Golden brand gesso (white)
- Heavy body acrylic paint, Abby uses Amsterdam brand
- Fluid and High Fluid acrylics, Abby uses Golden brand
- Various wall paints / sample paints
- Variety of paint pens in various sizes and colors, Abby recommends Posca and Molotow brand
- Prismacolor Pencils / Posca Color Pencils
- Stablio wooden crayon sticks and wax crayons
- Cold press watercolor paper
- Fineliner syringe pen / diluted fluid acrylic paint applicator
- Flexible wedge tool / various styles of Catalyst wedges
- Various synthetic and foam brushes
- Jars for water
- Cardboard & found objects for circle stencils (can, game boards, tape rounds)
- Masking tape or washi tape
- Pencil
- Unconventional materials: lids, netting from produce bags, collage pieces
Downloads:
- Stretch a canvas using stretcher bars and raw canvas
- Set an intention and infuse it in your piece
- Blend cool and warm colors
- Take risks in the art process
Member Gallery
Browse members' projects from this class and share your own work! Learn how to take great photos here.
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Transcript
Class PDF
Trust the Process: An Intermediate Guide for Abstract Painting Reviews
136 users recommended this class to a friend
Deb Henson
Abby would put down paint and marker, then she would change parts of the design. She kept doing this, without worry that the preciousness was getting destroyed. Such great lessons on how to simply keep moving yet staying true to her initial ideas. Abstract art never has been on my list of methods, but this has given me insight into how it will be. Thank you
6 days ago
Creativebug Staff
Hi Deb, Abby is such a thoughtful instructor -- did you mean to give her one star? Totally fine, if that's how you feel! But it sounds like you enjoyed her class!
5 days ago
Michelle Reaney
Really loved watching your process, as someone new to abstract painting it was great to listen to you walk through the work in the moment as you are creating :)
February 24, 2026
Karen Russell
Just learning about abstract painting and this was helpful.
February 23, 2026
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