Artist-tutor: Johanna Melvin
This course runs fortnightly on Sundays
Term fee £485
This is an ongoing course, so spaces are limited. Early booking is advised to secure your spot this coming April.
Venue: ESOP Main studio (click here for google directions)
This course offers guidance and instruction on various key painting methods, processes, and materials. It caters to individuals across a range of experience levels, providing support for newcomers to abstraction as they navigate their practice, while also aiding experienced artists in refining and sustaining their research areas, honing skills, techniques, and building confidence.
While the primary emphasis is on practical aspects, the course also includes presentations and debates exploring the context, history, and various discourses surrounding the genre. Join us as we delve into the world of abstraction and deepen our understanding of painting as an expressive medium.
Over a series of days held fortnightly in the spacious main school studio, participants will engage in one-to-one tutorials and group discussions, focusing on developing personal areas of inquiry and intuitive responses within their painting practice.
Artworks by Esther Sample, Neha Nandedkar, Gina Cross and Stephen Bushe
Course timetable
| TERM | DATES |
| January Term | 7 Jan to 17 Mar 2024 |
| April Term | 14 April to 23 Jun 2024 |
| End of Year Exhibition | Date TBA |
About the artist-tutor
Johanna Melvin was born in Limehouse, east London and worked for many years as a self-taught illustrator before studying BA Hons (Fine Art) at The School of Art, Architecture & Design, (London Guildhall University at that time). From 2006 –15 Jo held the post of Editions Manager at the Whitechapel Gallery, working with leading contemporary artists, printers and fabricators on the production of limited editions, commissioned produced and sold in support of the gallery programme. Throughout this time Jo continued to make her own work, exhibiting at The Royal Academy of Art and Flowers Gallery, as well as The Contemporary Art Society and others. From 2017-2018 Johanna co-tutored with Bob and Roberta Smith, RA OBE on Painting The Bigger Picture, followed by two years co-tutoring with Alex J Pollard on the Intuitive Abstraction Year.
Jo is a board member of The Essential School of Painting >>> read more >>>
Testimonials
The Approaches to Abstraction course really helped me develop a stronger visual language and enabled me to develop the confidence to make decisions with course tutorJohanna Melvin’s guidance. The playful element of working intuitively allowed me to get quite expansive, but as the course progressed I was able to be discerning about how to bring a work to completion. It’s been a wonderful stepping stone for my work and the experience of showing with the other ESOP students in a Summer show was fantastic. The Essential School of Painting is a great discovery and I would really recommend getting on a course there!
~ Gina Cross. Curator, artist and mentor.
Over the last several years, whether on concrete or canvas, with spray can or oil paint, I have pursued a desire to create large expressive imagery and have been constantly looking at the ways and reasons to make ‘art’. In signing up to the Approaches to Abstraction course, led by Johanna Melvin at THESOP, I was given the perfect space and support to do this. I was able to learn new technical skills, explore new and interesting mark making techniques, receive in the moment feedback from tutor and fellow students and examine how intention versus chance play their parts in the work I create. I can’t recommend the ESOP highly enough. The space, the tutors, the guidance is a great combination and a great place for any artist to grow their creativity.
~ Stephen Bushe. Creative Director @stephenbushearts
The Approaches to Abstraction course with Johanna Melvin has been nothing short of outstanding for me. I joined the course as I was stuck and didn’t know how to move ahead from where I was in my art journey. Guidance and insights during the course helped me find a new way of thinking and seeing abstraction. I have evolved more in my style, understanding of colour and mark making. What was fascinating for me was how each student on the course produced their own unique work, despite using the same lessons and tools provided. I really enjoyed working with such a lovely group of people and constructive criticism from Jo and my fellow students helped my art to grow. The cherry on the top however were both the group gallery visits and the end of the year showcase. It’s been a pleasure to learn from Johanna at The Essential School of Painting. I would urge anyone who is interested to join the course to explore fresh perspectives towards abstraction.
~ Neha Nandedkar. Lighting design and artist @neha.nandedkar
Copyright of the image/video belong to either the Artis or the Essential School of Painting.
