Abstract Horizons

An Acrylic Painting Workshop

Date:  Thursday – Saturdauy • March 5 – 7, 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $300 ANA Members / $350 Non-members

ANA Studio
300 N. 2nd Street
Rogers, AR 72756

The horizon is quite simply a good place to begin a landscape, realistic or abstract. Everything moves from there, even in a totally non-representational painting (especially a color field painting). In this workshop participants will:

• explore notions of abstract painting
• learn about characteristics of acrylic paint and mediums
• observe demonstrations of acrylic painting
• create unique landscapes with acrylic paint
• create a non-representational piece that might be called a mindscape
• have fun in a relaxed, supportive environment

This workshop welcomes beginners and experienced painters alike. Participants are encouraged to bring whatever acrylic paints that they have. A suggested supply list will be provided. Demonstrations will be done primarily with liquid acrylics, but an assortment of heavy body acrylic paint will be available for those who want to try it. The instructor will provide 300# watercolor paper for practice activities.

Supplies for Abstract Horizons Acrylic Painting Workshop

I will be using Golden liquid acrylic paint but bring whatever you have. You will need at
minimum to have:

• red, yellow and blue, two each
• 1-2 green like sap green, Jenkins green, green gold
• black and titanium white
• other colors I like to have are raw umber, magenta, teal, and (my favorite) titan buff
  16oz bottle of matte or gloss medium (Liquitex is fine and less expensive than Golden.)

I will also have a variety of heavy body acrylics on hand for those who would like to try
these.

Palette

I like Richeson’s Grey Matters Paper Palette (9 x 12 or larger), great for mixing colors. Bring a
new roll of plastic wrap for covering the palette and for texture-making. Masterson’s Sta-Wet
palettes are also good but more expensive. Abstract acrylic painting can get wonderfully messy,
at least for me, so I recommend bringing something to put underneath your palette and canvas
when we are painting flat on the table. I use an old plastic tablecloth or heavy cardboard.

Brushes

Acrylic paint is hard on brushes, so leave your Kolinsky sables at home! Bring old brushes,
especially larger brushes. We’ll use synthetic and bristle flat brushes 1” and 2” or larger, but
mid-size round brushes are also useful. You will need:

• an inexpensive set of bristle brushes. (eg. Dick Blick, large scale natural brush
  set—04456-1039—for $7.88.) or
• Creative Mark sells a set of 3 medium bristle blend brushes (Amazon 25.99)
• Escoda round dome brush, size 2, Dick Blick, $16.48
• A set of plastic painting knives for mixing and painting
• Optional but nice to have: Princeton catalyst wedges for moving paint, varied (Amazon)

Part of the fun of abstract painting is the use of tools other than brushes to apply paint. So in
your tool box include some old credit cards, sponges, an icing spreader or even a trowel. If you
have palette knives, bring them, but regardless you will need to have a set of plastic paint

Knives

Bondo spreaders, available from Amazon are also useful. A small set of 3 costs about $5.
I will also have a bucket of miscellaneous brushes on hand for your use.

Substrates

Bring at least three gallery-wrapped canvases or cradled boards. Square canvases work well for
abstracts. For this workshop—minimum 12 x 12; maximum 20 x 20. If you prefer or have others
on hand, bring them but avoid sizes larger than 16 x 20. If you have watercolor paper on hand,
bring it for practice, color mixing, etc.

Additional Supplies:

• Water containers (2)
• Paper towels
• Rubbing alcohol, preferably in a spray bottle
• Pencils, water soluble and non
• Color wheel (nice to have)
• Ruler of straight edge
• Spray bottle for water
• Pastel crayons or oil pastels (optional)
• Plastic bag for garbage
• Sketchbook for preliminary drawings, notes, etc.
• Markers, permanent and non
• Gloves or barrier cream (optional, I never remember to use)
• Smock or apron

Bring your sense of fun and willingness to play and to share as we learn from one another!
Questions? Send me an email and your phone number. I’ll call you back!

Kathleen
kathleensiegfried@gmail.com

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Kathleen Siegried

I think of myself as an experimental painter, especially drawn to the abstract. I often begin with color rather than subject matter, letting colors and textures show me where the painting will go, whether I’m painting with watercolor or acrylic on canvas, paper or board. I enjoy doing land and seascapes from imagined memories of my Ohio childhood and my adult life in New Jersey. Most paintings reflect my fascination with textures, often created by using decorative papers and other self-created collage pieces. During my years as a language arts/English supervisor, I enjoyed blending the expressive power of literature and art. In New Jersey I was fortunate to study and learn from a number of gifted artists. When I retired and moved to Northwest Arkansas ten years ago, I discovered a vibrant and supportive art community that has encouraged me to take artistic risks and to grow.

Website: https://artistsnwarkansas.com/artists/kathleen-siegfried-2/