Abstract Composition 2 - Where inspiration comes from with Karla Duterloo

Inspiration and abstract painting exercises

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Create Arts Online brings you award winning fine artist Karla Duterloo and her online course “Abstract Composition 2: Where Inspiration Comes From.”

Sometimes as artists we stand in front of our canvas or substrate and expect the art to just pour out and it doesn’t. This is where Karla comes in. Karla helps you take a step back so that you can find inspiration everywhere you look. Karla starts with a walk in nature, whether by the water, the desert, a cityscape, or anywhere there are shapes and lines. In this online course Karla will demonstrate how if you are armed with your camera or smartphone, you will be able to find your abstract painting inspiration out in nature.

Once you are back in the studio and have printed your inspiration photos, you will see lines, shapes, and new visions you may not have seen before. With Karla’s tips and techniques you will learn how to create with paper, brushes, vibrant paints, and mark-making tools in a whole new light.

Her style of teaching makes you “feel” like you are with her in the studio as she demonstrates each of the techniques. Learn as Karla paints in real time using different methods of creating her vibrant and loose abstract paintings.

This course is a great follow up to her "Abstract Painting and Composition: Loosen Up Part 1" online course here at Create Arts Online. If you have experience with abstract painting and acrylic paints you can jump right into this course or you can enjoy both of these courses as a “Bundle Option” for more savings.

Scroll below to see the entire curriculum of this course.

This course comes with a PDF list to download of all the tools, materials, and resources.



Your Instructor


Karla Duterloo
Karla Duterloo

Karla Duterloo is an award winning artist with years of experience in the field of mosaic. Her expertise as a mosaic artist has allowed her to develop a truly authentic and unique style. This is particularly recognizable in her series of Nguni and other wild animal heads (buck, kudu, deer and buffalo). She has sold her animal heads to both local and international art collectors from over 20 different countries. Beyond the obvious beauty of each individual animal head (as not one is the same) there lies a deeper value within the collection as a whole.

Upon moving to South Africa Karla quickly realized the threat to the countries dwindling wildlife numbers. Her collection of animal heads serves as a vehicle to spark dialogue about this issue. Keeping the work connected to the land she incorporates a variety of locally sourced items such as different beads and beadwork seen throughout the collection. This led her to collaborate with local crafts men who shared their insight about traditional colours and the history of beading within African culture and craft.

The driving force behind Karla's work is her love and passion for all things colour.

She has a series of small 20 by 20 (cm) mosaics that play with colour and form.

Beyond mosaic, she is also a skilled abstract painter and as of recently has been experimenting with a body of work that seamlessly merges the artistry of mosaic and abstract painting together as a cohesive whole.

Her latest is a series of beadwork mosaics of bird-eye-view seascapes.

As an artist she is constantly striving for that innovative edge that keeps her art modern, relevant and dynamic whilst always staying true to her own style.

Karla initiated and organised 2 successful global Mosaic Charity Projects, (London 2012 and Nepal 2013) and has been working on a Charity MosaicArt Project in a children hospital in Cape Town.

Karla her work is featured in the various international mosaic books.

Previous exhibitions in the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and South Africa.

Her work is held in private and corporate collections in over 20 countries.


Course Curriculum


  Introduction
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  Painting from your own composition images
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  Painting larger format
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 14 days and we will give you a full refund.

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