Paint Abstract Art with Confidence
Session One
Enroll now to start your artistic journey and bring your vision to life with Paulette Insall’s expert guidance. Discover deeper confidence in yourself and your art, empowering you to paint with more joy, freedom, and creative expression. Designed for artists of all levels, this course guides you through techniques and inspirations that bring your paintings to life.
Discover Your Boldest, Most Expressive Abstract Art Yet
Are you ready to paint vibrant, expressive abstract art with confidence and joy? In this immersive course, I’ll guide you step-by-step through techniques that unlock your creativity and help you create stunning artwork you’ll truly love.
What You’ll Gain:
Master new techniques to craft bold, colorful, and emotionally expressive abstract paintings that you’re proud of.
Learn how to loosen up — embrace freedom and emotion as you paint with greater ease and spontaneity.
Unlock the secrets behind my signature black swirly lines—I reveal my entire process so you can make them your own.
Overcome fears and doubts by learning to trust yourself, your intuition, and the creative journey.
Create art that’s uniquely you, with guidance and fresh inspiration to reignite your passion.
Ideal for all skill levels—whether you’re just starting or an experienced artist, you’ll find invaluable insights and encouragement.
Filmed live during my January 2020 class, each video demo walks you through my creative process in detail. I share my choices for techniques, tools, and colors as I paint, providing clear direction and authentic insights that help both beginners and seasoned artists. Nothing is held back—you get the full experience of how I create my expressive pieces.
This self-paced course is all about your journey to becoming a more joyful, confident artist. I’m here to encourage and inspire you every step of the way. Let’s unlock your artistic potential together!
Below are just a few of the things that will be covered in the class...
-
✺
Intuitive Composition
-
✺
Creating depth
-
✺
Choosing colors
-
✺
Building layers
-
✺
Color mixing
-
✺
Finishing a painting
-
✺
Finding your style/voice
-
✺
How to vary your mark-making
-
✺
And much, much more!
Kind words from my students…
Hi! I'm Paulette!
I'm a passionate painter with nearly 19 years of experience, with 11 of those dedicated to abstract art. In 2024, I was a Joan Mitchell Fellowship nominee. Since 2008, I have had the privilege of teaching and guiding hundreds of students worldwide, helping them unlock their creative potential and transforming their work through my classes.
Like many artists, I have encountered my fair share of self-doubt and challenges along the way—experiences that are integral to the creative journey. I want you to know that you are not alone in facing these hurdles. These moments have enriched my understanding and empathy as an teacher, and I am genuinely excited to share my knowledge and love for painting with you.
I can't wait to see you creating more confidently, with more joy, freedom and ease!
let’s GET STARTED!
What’s inside THIS SELF-STUDY COURSE
Recordings of the Live Workshop Sessions + Bonus
This self-study course contains the recordings of 5 live painting workshop sessions (that included Q&A time) of the workshop that was taught live online in January 2020, where I share ALL my knowledge and techniques I use in my abstract painting process of creating the loose, expressive body of work I'm best known for. I’ve also included a bonus tutorial on how to attach hanging wire to the back of your canvas.
LESSON ONE
THE FUNDAMENTALS (Supplies & Tools) + BEGINNING AN ABSTRACT PAINTING
We'll go through the tools & supplies I'll be using to help you decide which items on the supplies & tools list you want to get so you're ready to get started
Exploring the difference between fluid vs. heavy body acrylics and transparent vs. opaque pigments
How I make my black swirly lines
How to get over the fear of a blank canvas
My mindset and approach when it comes to painting abstracts intuitively
LESSON TWO
CONTINUING THE BEGINNING LAYERS
Finishing the underpainting
How to loosen up and have less control (i.e. more freedom)
Color families and how I use them in my work
How to keep your colors vibrant when working wet on wet
LESSON THREE
THE MESSY MIDDLE
Creating variety and visual interest
Glazing, veiling, and blending
My simplified approach to composition and intuitive process
Lesson Four
FINISHING A PAINTING
Different approaches I take to finish a painting
What to do when you get stuck
MODULE FIVE
VARNISHING AND MORE
Varnishing and why I feel its important
What to do with the sides of your paintings
Signing your paintings
BONUS
HOW TO ATTACH HANGING WIRE TO YOUR CANVAS
Demonstration showing the supplies and tools I use to attach a hanging wire to the back of a stretched canvas
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
-
There are five class videos and one bonus tutorial video.
-
You get access as soon as you complete your purchase. Check your email to gain access...and be sure to check that spam/junk folder. ;)
-
My current online classes are all self-paced and don't come with individual critiques.
-
Each recorded live demo+Q&A session is between 90-120 minutes in length.
-
Yes of course! You don't have to live in the United States to take this class since it's online and you can watch the videos.
-
I send out a supply list to all students when they join a class, but if you already paint with acrylic paints and some mixed media you probably already have much of what is needed for this course. To see my some of my favorite/most used supplies and tools, sign up for the waitlist to receive information on some of my favorite art supplies and tools. If you need to get a sense of what you'll need before you buy the class, check out the suggested supply list here: https://learn.pauletteinsall.art/PAAC-Supply-List
-
You don't have to use exactly the same things I'm using, but do keep in mind that if you are using cheap craft or student grade paints and brushes, you will not achieve similar results. I recommend you use the highest quality supplies that you can afford...my favorite brands of acrylic paint are Golden, Liquitex, Matisse, M. Graham, and Sennelier because of their high pigment content. I also use other brands sometimes, like Liquitex and Nova. You will need good quality acrylic paints for this class. Cheap paints and tools will only cause you to be frustrated as they don't perform as well as good quality ones. You can find my suggested tools & supplies list here: http://shrsl.com/45d79
-
This workshop is for all levels, from beginners to experienced painters. My teaching style provides plenty of direction because I explain everything as I go along….which will help a new painter and at the same time time, share all kinds of secrets that a more experienced painter will find beneficial.
-
There will be some computer/internet skills required to be able to access the class session and the recording, but I feel they are pretty standard and if you're able to create an account on a website, log in, know how to watch content from the web, then you'll have the skills needed.
-
There isn't a Facebook group with this self study class.
-
You will have access as long as the course exists and hasn't been retired...but I advise you not to wait too long to watch the videos and put what you've learned into practice.
-
This is a one time payment and you will not be charged monthly, unless a payment plan is offered and you choose that option.
Other questions? Email me at classhelp@pauletteinsall.com
© Paulette Insall 2001-2025