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Paint Like An Abstract Expressionist: The 9th Street Women with Colleen Gianatiempo


  • Workshop SLC 153 2100 South South Salt Lake, UT, 84115 United States (map)

Date: Saturday 22nd, & Sunday 23rd, April 2023

Times: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Cost: $395

Level: All Levels

THIS WORKSHOP IS A HYBRID: WE ALSO OFFER IT ONLINE!


Workshop Description

Learn the inspiration and painting techniques behind the 9th Street Women: Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, Helen Frankenthaler, Grace Hartigan and Elaine de Kooning. These women were pioneers that burst the door open for us to paint impassioned, wild and exhilarating abstract paintings! 

Students will discover paint staining, action painting, collage, goddesses, the figure and more! This class will set the stage to be in the creative mindset of each artist through lecture, slideshow, demo and projects worked on in class.

Supply List

  • Substrate Mixed media paper (12 x 18 or larger), white Kraft paper roll (48" wide), unprimed canvas (I bought a drop cloth and cut it into the sizes I wanted....way cheaper! WASH BEFORE YOU USE TO GET THE SIZING OFF)

  • Palette paper plates, or freezer paper or an old ceramic plate, styrofoam meat trays

  • Brushes small, medium, large, credit card, paint spreader, paint roller

  • Paint Acrylic, water media of any kind also ok, watercolor, gouache, inks

  • Mediums Acrylic Flow Release/Wetting Agent, Retarder, Gel Medium, Gesso

  • Drawing jumbo charcoal or graphite stick or sharpie or all!

  • Sketch book, pencil, eraser

  • Other: You will need plastic cups to mix very fluid paint!


About the Artist

Colleen Gianatiempo is a mixed media artist, educator, and designer living and working in her new location in St. George, Utah (previously the East Bay of San Francisco).

Colleen’s  journey as an artist began when she was 3 years old. She remembers cutting up family photos and drawing on walls with lipstick.  She learned early on that it’s possible to express the world around her in different ways and this is where Colleen’s passion began.

Colleen approaches life the same way she paints, by embracing the mystery, staying open to change, finding courage, honoring her intuition and trusting the journey.  This mindset has enabled her colorful, layered, contemporary, and distinctive style to emerge. Nature is her main influence as she always marvels about the design and beauty it beholds.  She works in many mediums and thrives most when she can experiment and discover new techniques. Colleen has been told that she is the Mary Poppins of art supplies!

In 2017, Colleen earned an MFA in Non-Figurative abstract painting from the Academy of Art in San Francisco.  As her formal art career developed, she has been privileged to be selected for several heart-themed public art projects including Hearts of San Francisco, The Heart of Sonoma, The American Backyard (city of Dublin, CA), Sea Lions of San Francisco, and Small Town with A Big Heart Mural in Martinez. This has given her the reputation as “the Artist with a Heart”.