LIVE ONLINE COURSE
REAL-TIME ABSTRACTION!
with Valerie Allen, Master Artist & Mentor
Demos, Dialogue, and Discovery. Step into the immediacy and energy of painting in real-time with Valerie Allen.
Apply New Techniques in Real-Time by following live demonstrations and painting along with Valerie
Find Your Abstract Voice as you explore color, shape, and emotion with freedom and intuition.
Layer and Refine to build depth, revise intuitively, and keep the energy alive in your work.
Trust Your Instincts so you can observe, respond, and create with confidence and authenticity.
Audience: Fine Art Painters
Mediums: Acrylic, Mixed Media
Stage: Aspiring
Session Dates & Times:
Monday
December 1st, 8th, 15th, 2025
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm MT
$207.00
15 in stock
Course Description
During three, dynamic 3-hour sessions, you’ll watch live demos and paint-along with Valerie, while taking on creative challenges designed to spark freedom, intuition, and confidence in your abstract work.
Each session blends Valerie’s demonstrations with guided REAL-TIME practice, encouraging you to loosen up, embrace risk-taking, and respond spontaneously to color, shape, and emotion.
Through bold mark-making, layered compositions, and expressive final works, you’ll discover new ways to connect with your nonrepresentational voice.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with multiple studies, a finished painting, and practical strategies for sustaining an adventurous, instinct-driven painting practice. Along the way, Valerie will share technical insights and tips drawn from her 20 years as a Golden certified working artist.
Held during the first three Mondays of December, this workshop offers a supportive and energizing way to keep your creativity flowing through the holiday season.
🎥 COURSE RECORDINGS available for 1-MONTH after the course ends!
High School, University, and College students get 20% OFF. See FAQs at the bottom of page.
Supply List
- 20 Paper or Styrofoam plates to use as palettes
- Pencil (I use an Ebony Design pencil for planning)
- Sharpie pen – fine point
- Ball point pen or pencil for notes
- Sketchbook for notes and sketching exercises during the class
- Scissors (use economy grade as we may be cutting materials that can dull the scissors)
- 5 to 10 sheets of wet strength white tissue
- A sheet of aluminum foil
- Palette knife
- 3-disposable 1″ foam brush
- Paint Brushes, bring a few of your favorite nylon or synthetic acrylic brushes. (Not natural fibers) I like to have about a 1″ and 2″ width on my brushes.
- Old credit card or hotel plastic key card
- Blue tape or frog tape
- Spray bottle
- Water Container-medium size
- Paper Towels
Make sure you have at the minimum these colors in fluid acrylic paint. I use the Golden Artist Colors brand.
Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), Quinacridone Magenta, Benzimidazolone Yellow Medium, Titanium White, Carbon Black and Pyrrole Red. Soft Gel Gloss
Instructor Bio
Valerie Allen is a professional artist living in Michigan. She received her BFA from University of Cincinnati and post-graduate studies at Central Michigan University. She is currently a certified artist for Golden Artist Colors
of New Berlin, New York, Master Mentor for Mastrius.com and podcast host for Art Ladders: The
Creative Climb.
Valerie has exhibited nationally including the Chicago Biennial, New American Drawing in Santa Fe, and the National Collage Society in Massachusetts. Her work was shown at Site: Brooklyn in New York and Valerie’s
paintings were included in the American Abstract Painters exhibit at the Lore Degenstein Gallery at Susquehanna University, Pennsylvania.
She lectures across the Midwest on painting with acrylics at art departments, and associations. As an adjunct instructor at the college level, she taught foundation art classes in drawing. She conducts
workshops and teaches virtual classes in abstract painting.
Valerie has juried exhibits in the Midwest, including Anton Art Center’s Michigan Annual XLVIII, Midwest National Abstract Art Exhibition by Indiana’s Southside Art League and the Great Northern International Art Explosion. As a curator, she collaborated with Studio 23 and Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy on the exhibit “Land to River.”
Valerie participated in artists residencies at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, Wave Pool Gallery, Sam and Adele Golden Foundation, Port Austin Artist in Residence Program and Golden Apple Residency in Maine.
Valerie creates her abstract and nonrepresentational paintings in her studio located at Geisler Enterprises, a
business and art incubator, in the Stadium District of Midland, Michigan. She is represented by ADC Fine Art
in Cincinnati, Ohio.
LIVE COURSE FAQ
How many registrations are required for a course to start?
A minimum of 8 registrations are required. If 8 registrations are not received by the time the course is 24 hours from starting, the course will be cancelled and all registrants will receive complete refunds.
What is the maximum number of people in a course?
This varies for each course. The maximum number of registrations is decided by the instructor.
Can I get a refund?
Up until 72 hours before a course’s first session you can receive a complete refund. You can cancel your registration via the My Account portal, or by contacting Registrations@Mastrius.com.
After this time no refunds will be given (if you have extenuating circumstances you believe justify a refund, contact us at Registrations@Mastrius.com).
Can I register for a course already in progress?
No. Once a course has started, no new registrations are accepted.
Where will my course be held?
All courses meet online over Zoom. You will need a device equipped with a camera and a microphone to fully participate.
If you have not used Zoom before, learn about how to use it here.
If you don’t regularly use Zoom, we recommend you join your first session 10-15 minutes early in case your computer needs to install or update Zoom.
How do I join my course?
You will receive a welcome email from Registrations@Mastrius.com when you register. This email includes the Zoom link to join your course session. You will also receive 24 hour and 2 hour reminder emails before each session, and each of these emails includes the Zoom link. You can also access the Zoom link to join your course in your MastriusChat group.
Are the sessions recorded?
Yes, every session is recorded and are typically available 24 hours after a session ends. All session recordings will remain available for the duration of the course, and for one month following the last session. The recordings are viewable within the MastriusChat platform, and cannot be downloaded.
What if I miss a session?
You’ll be able to watch the session’s recording. If you have questions the recording doesn’t address, you can ask them in the chat feed of your course’s private MastriusChat group.
What is MastriusChat?
MastriusChat is an online discussion platform. You and your fellow course registrants will be assigned to a private MastriusChat group where you can connect and support eachother via the chat “feed”. Your group is also where you’ll access the session recordings. Other resources in your MastriusChat group include a link to join your course sessions, and a library your instructor can use to share resources.
What is a Navigator?
A Navigator is an artist who joins your course to ensure both instructor and registrants have an enjoyable experience. They support (as required) with technology, timekeeping, moderating questions, and between-session discussions on MastriusChat. The Navigator has also joined the course as participant, and just like you, they’re wanting to grow their skills and learn the material.
I’m not ready to register because I still have questions. Who do I contact?
We’d be happy to help!
Reach out to us at Mastrius@Mastrius.com and we’ll do our best to support you.
Get the STUDENT DISCOUNT
High School, University, and College students get 20% off ANY course (non-member price).
To claim this discount email mastrius@mastrius.com to enroll in the Student Program.