# Modern Abstract Expressionism: A Journey in Brush Strokes, Texture, and All the Feels - review & insight | Gareth B. Davies Source: https://garethbdavies.com/course-insights/modern-abstract-expressionism-a-journey-in-brush-strokes-texture-and-all-the-feels/ [← All courses](https://garethbdavies.com/course-insights/) Illustration & Drawing · Solid intro · Rated 6 /10 # Modern Abstract Expressionism: A Journey in Brush Strokes, Texture, and All the Feels By Gareth B. Davies · Updated July 2026 Peggy Dean · Top Teacher | The Pigeon Letters All levels · 90 min A limited-palette abstract painting process taught through raw, unscripted studio talk rather than a structured, step-by-step curriculum. [Get a Free Month on Skillshare](https://skillshare.eqcm.net/c/3155494/298081/4650?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skillshare.com%2Fclasses%2Fmodern-abstract-expressionism-a-journey-in-brush-strokes-texture-and-all-the-feels%2F1280042773) New to Skillshare? Your first month is free, enough to take this course at no cost. ## What the course actually covers Peggy Dean's class walks through her personal process for building abstract acrylic paintings on heavy watercolor paper, organized loosely around a single project: three cohesive pieces sharing a color palette and technique. The arc moves from planning (thumbnail sketches, rule of thirds, testing color combinations on scrap paper) into execution (taping down paper, laying a base color with a silicone spatula, building color transitions while paint is still wet, then layering texture with oil pastels, chalk pastels, India ink, and charcoal). The materials lesson runs long and is genuinely useful, covering specific products like Matisse Background Colour (a colored gesso that spreads without needing water added), Caran d'Ache Neopastels, and Dr. Ph. Martin's Bombay ink for controlled dripping. The mark-making lesson is where the class earns its keep, showing concrete moves like twisting a brush tip for texture, dragging a comb through wet paint, and using an ink dropper's angle to control drip speed. ## Strengths and honest gaps The composition lesson is the most transferable piece of instruction in the course. The rule-of-thirds explanation and the thumbnail-sketch exercise (six small squares to test focal placement before committing to a large canvas) are concrete enough that a viewer could apply them to any painting style, not just abstract work. Similarly, the color-palette lesson demonstrates an actual workflow: picking two or three colors, testing mixtures on scrap paper, then deciding on a neutral only after seeing how the primary colors interact. That is a real, repeatable method. Where the course loses structure is in execution. Once paint hits the page, the instruction becomes narration of what Dean happens to be doing in the moment rather than a taught sequence a student can follow independently. Phrases like "I don't really have a method" and "just go with the flow" appear often, and while that honesty is refreshing, it also means viewers get less of a repeatable framework and more of a demonstration to loosely mimic. Ratios for paint-to-water, drying times between layers, and how many total layers to aim for are never pinned down, so a first-time abstract painter may finish unsure whether they did too much or too little. The pacing also skews toward materials and demonstration over teaching moments. The materials list alone covers a meaningful portion of the runtime, and while it is useful for shopping, it delays the hands-on techniques that make the class worth watching. The final texture and mark-making stretch is dense with good ideas packed close together, which rewards rewatching but can feel rushed on a first pass. ## Bottom line This works best as a mood board and permission slip for painters who already have some comfort with acrylics and want to loosen up, rather than as a structured beginner tutorial. Anyone hoping for precise, numbered steps toward abstract expressionism will find the class more inspirational than instructional. Anyone comfortable improvising from demonstrated technique will find several specific, useful moves worth stealing. The standout Using a cheap silicone spatula instead of a brush to lay down backgrounds so paint spreads fully instead of getting trapped in bristles. ## What you will learn - · How to plan a composition using thumbnail sketches, the rule of thirds, and deliberate focal-point placement - · How to build and test a limited color palette on paper before committing it to a painting - · How to lay down and blend a background using a silicone spatula instead of a brush for smoother, wasteless coverage - · How to build texture and transitions with mixed media including oil pastels, chalk pastels, India ink drips, and charcoal - · How to use mark-making tools such as combs, sponges, worn brushes, and fingers to add surface interest - · How to work on multiple pieces simultaneously to produce a cohesive three-piece collection Best for: Artists with some painting experience who already own basic acrylic supplies and want a loose, intuition-driven process rather than rigid rules. Skip it if: Absolute beginners wanting a structured, narrated technique breakdown, since the class is unscripted and skips over exact ratios, timing, and step ordering. Engaging Teacher Helpful Examples Actionable Steps Organization of Lessons [Get a Free Month on Skillshare](https://skillshare.eqcm.net/c/3155494/298081/4650?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skillshare.com%2Fclasses%2Fmodern-abstract-expressionism-a-journey-in-brush-strokes-texture-and-all-the-feels%2F1280042773)