Abstract Seascape I - Oil on canvas by Stephen Lursen

"Abstract Seascape I"

Acrylic and oil on canvas

by: Stephen Lursen

20"x20"

2016

($300 - for sale by clicking the link)

Abstract Landscape V - Oil painting by Stephen Lursen

"Abstract Landscape V"

Acrylic and oil on canvas

by: Stephen Lursen
20" x 20"

2016

$300
(For sale by clicking the title link)

Also, If you would like to learn how to paint your own abstract landscape painting, please check out my online workshop "Abstract Landscape" sold here.

Sunset Steam - Original Acrylic painting for sale

"Sunset Steam"
4' x 3'
Acrylic on Canvas
by: Stephen Lursen
January 2016

For Sale: $750
For inquiries write me at stephenlursen@gmail.com
or order online at
https://howtopaint.myshopify.com/products/sunset-steam-original-painting-by-stephen-lursen

"Size Does Matter" Painting Workshop with Stephen Lursen

Size Does Matter!

with Stephen Lursen

at Donna Downey Studios 

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY

April , 8th, 9th, & 10th. 2016

$575 per person includes 3 days of instruction, ALL supplies, 
and shipping for your paintings afterwards.

Want to make an impact with your art? GO BIG!

Want people to notice from anywhere in the room? GO BIG!

Want people to stop and stare at your art trying to figure out why they FEEL something when they look at it? GO BIG!

What do famous Abstract Expressionists like Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Helen Frankenthaler, and Joan Mitchell have in common? THEY WENT BIG! 

What about current artists like Brian Rutenberg, C​laire Desjardins, Lola Donoghue, and Alisa Burke? They go BIG too!​ All of these artists are or will be going in the history books for various reasons, they all had their unique stories to tell and secret techniques that set them apart. What they definitely have in common however is the size of their work. They weren’t so afraid to go big, that they held back. Instead, they overcame the obstacles in their way and pressed on to create the most powerful art of their careers. 

In this workshop you will paint larger than you have ever painted before. We will be painting on a 5' x 4' gallery depth canvas, and each artist will have a back up canvas included. You will work with tools bigger than you’ve used before, and you will have a HUGE art adventure where you will take part in the legacy of artists that have come before you and open a world of painting that you never knew possible.

You will learn many techniques that have been used by professional artists of the modern art movement. Moreover, you will learn the tools to develop your own unique style of working BIG. 

Towards the end of each day we will have time to look at each individual’s work and offer praise and thoughtful remarks that will propel each artist forward with new ideas and build security in their creativity. 

If you feel stuck in a rut creatively, then this is perfect for you! I will guide you each day with demonstrations and explanations for each technique. I will tie in stories of trail blazing artists who have gone before us, what makes their art truly significant, and what we can learn from them.

Each participant will be painting a 5'x4' canvas. We have a maximum of 10 seats to maximize each artist's experience in the space and time provided. We have already sold a couple seats and I have been asked "Can we participate even if we don't have any space on our walls at home for a huge painting?" My answer is YES! I came up with a creative solution! If you would like, you can work really big on a single canvas, and then later in the weekend we can cut the canvas down into a collage of smaller pieces and I will build new frames and re-stretch your smaller canvas paintings for you! Once complete, they will be shipped to you. So you can still work big, learn all the techniques, and then hang the paintings as you see fit in a smaller collage version with two, three, or even more canvases! 

I can not express to you how excited I am to teach this workshop! I hope you will take the chance, and go beyond anything you've done before in painting.

If you have any questions at all about the workshop, please don't hesitate to email me at stephenlursen@gmail.com. I am happy to work with you to make this the absolute best experience for us all!

Click here for more info and to sign up!

Sincerely,

Stephen Lursen

Other large paintings I've completed include (but are not limited to...)

"Starry Eyed"
4'x3' Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas
FOR SALE

"Starry Eyed"
4'x3' Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas
FOR SALE

"Diamonds In The Sky"
5'x3.5' Acrylic on canvas
FOR SALE

8'x3' acrylic and oil on canvas.
Sold to Starbucks Coffee Co.
Hanging in the Lake Norman Starbucks location in Cornelius NC

Same as above.
8'x3' acrylic and oil on canvas.
Sold to Starbucks Coffee Co.
Hanging in the Lake Norman Starbucks location in Cornelius NC.

6' x 3 ' acrylic and oil on canvas.Sold to private collector in NC

Image from Gallery opening in 2010

8'x4' oil on canvas
Hanging in the Brickhouse Tavern in Davidson NC.
For Sale

8'x4' oil on canvas
Hanging in the Brickhouse Tavern in Davidson NC.
For Sale

Same image as above, turned vertical.
8'x4' oil on canvas
Hanging in the Brickhouse Tavern in Davidson NC.
For Sale 

8'x3.5' Acrylic and oil on canvas.
Sold to Starbucks Coffee Co.
Hanging in the Dilworth Starbucks location in Charlotte, NC.

Same as above
8'x3.5' Acrylic and oil on canvas.
Sold to Starbucks Coffee Co.
Hanging in the Dilworth Starbucks location in Charlotte, NC.

Same as above.
8'x3.5' Acrylic and oil on canvas.
Sold to Starbucks Coffee Co.
Hanging in the Dilworth Starbucks location in Charlotte, NC.

"Fall in Vermont"
6'x3.5' oil on canvas
Sold to Private Collector in SC

5'x4' Mixed Media painting on canvas
For Sale

Family Portrait
5'x4' Acrylic on panel
SOLD to Collectors in S.C.

Abstract Landscape
4'x3' Acrylic and Oil and oil pastel on canvas
Sold to Collector in NC

Same as above viewed at a gallery opening with two additional abstract landscape paintings
Abstract Landscape
4'x3' Acrylic and Oil and oil pastel on canvas
Sold to Collector in NC

The Shipyard III
8'x3' Acrylic on Canvas
Sold to Bikram Yoga Studio in Mooresville, NC

Same as above
The Shipyard III
8'x3' Acrylic on Canvas
Sold to Bikram Yoga Studio in Mooresville, NC

A Rose View of Heaven
5'x4' Acrylic on Canvas
Sold to private collector in NC

Same as above
A Rose View of Heaven
5'x4' Acrylic on Canvas
Sold to private collector in NC

Color Splash
3'x3' Acrylic on Canvas
FOR SALE

Galaxy Splash
3'x3' Acrylic on canvas
SOLD to private collector in Utah

Sun and Moon
3'x2'  Mixed Media on canvas
FOR SALE 

Antique World Map
4'x2.5' Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas
Sold to private collector in NC

Expecting Glory
7' x 6' Acrylic on panel
FOR SALE

Daily Itinerary:
(* means that it includes a demonstration)

FRIDAY

10am: Meet and greet. Talking about past art experiences and what each person hopes to take away from the workshop.

11am: Select background colors and paint background using rollers.

12pm: lunch break.

1pm: Stories from art history and how they relate to our weekend experience. How the size of a painting effects its power and emotive quality.

2pm: Layering onto the background, smooth blending, and mixing tints*

3:30pm: Creating big contrasting marks*

4pm: talking about and creating alternative mark making tools to add mystery to your painting

4:30pm: adding unique marks with new tools*

5pm ­- 6pm: Dinner break

6pm: Day 1 Review and art critique. Stephen will request that you use Pinterest.com to create a board of your top 5 abstract paintings and be able to give a short explanation of what you like most about them the next day. ***note: This is subjective and you can not be wrong about anything you say. This is totally based in opinion for the group to learn about new artists and get to see from other people’s perspective about what makes art great. Also, if you do not have access to a computer/device during the weekend, then this can be prepared in advance. There is no benefit to waiting until Friday evening to begin this process.

SATURDAY:

10am: Coffee and art talk. What are your 5 top abstract paintings? and a brief description of why.

11am: Begin painting using some of the techniques and ideas from the discussion.

12pm: Lunch break.

1pm: Adding medium sized marks with artist brushes. picking your moments for boldness*.

3pm: Using layering to edit*.

4pm: Adding in tiny details to draw your viewer in close* (splattering, finger painting, hatching and cross hatching, writing using the fine-liner, pastel pencils, charcoal, graphite, etc.)

5pm: Dinner break

6pm: Review and art critique

SUNDAY:

10am: Coffee and art talk. Where we go from here. Learn how to respond to your painting. Fine tuning. ­ How to draw attention to your favorite parts of the painting and editing out parts you don’t like.*

10:30am: Go to work on your painting

12pm: lunch

1pm: Continue working on your painting (Photographs taken of each painter while they work ­with permission)

2pm: Final art review and critique.

Donna Downey's and Stephen Lursen's Collaboration Art Workshop #3

In May of 2015, Donna Downey and I taught a workshop at Donna Downey Studios in Huntersville, NC. The paintings were broken down into 2 main segments. First, Donna taught how to create a beautifully colorful background with layers of texture and imagery. Once she had completed her part I took over and taught how to draw a figure using the grid method and then proceeded to teach how to paint in with flesh tones and hair, etc. The end paintings that were produced were all spectacular and uniquely their own!

I'd like to show you the process I used to teach them all how to add the figure to their canvas. 

This is the only image I have that almost shows 100% of Donna's work. I wish I took a photo before I began drawing the figure on the canvas. But from here, you get a pretty good idea of what a beautiful painting I had to work with!

Here is the final version of the painting. It will be for sale soon at www.donnadowney.com along with the other finished collaborative paintings from our workshops. Thank you so much for following my blog!

I will be teaching a new large scale painting workshop at Donna Downey Studios from April 8th - 10th!  Please click the link to find out more! Space is limited to 10, so seats won't last!