You’ve been painting for a while… so why does it still feel like guessing?
What You Will Learn:
You’re not stuck because of talent.
You’re stuck because no one has shown you how abstraction actually works.
- Why some abstract paintings feel cohesive, while others quietly fall apart
- The structure behind abstract paintings that feel unified and alive
- How to stop second-guessing your artistic decisions
FREE WORKSHOP
Stop guessing your way through abstract painting.
I stare at a blank canvas and freeze—I don’t know where to begin.
I hear you - and you know what? Some of the most groundbreaking artists never went to art school. Art is about expressing yourself, not about credentials. I started as a self-taught artist too (and so did Van Gogh), and that's exactly why I know what tools and techniques will help you develop your unique style. The only 'permission' you need to paint is your own desire to create.
I didn’t go to art school… so who am I to call myself an artist?
Many of us started as representational painters - I did too! That's actually a strength, not a weakness. I've developed specific techniques that help you naturally transition from realistic to abstract work, letting go of perfectionism while keeping your unique artistic voice. The shift feels surprisingly natural once you know the right approach.
I know how to paint realistically—but I have no idea how to loosen up and find my own voice.
Is this you?
You’ve put in the time
You’ve watched the tutorials
You’ve started more paintings than you can count
And still…
Some work
Some don’t
And you can’t always explain why
That’s the frustrating part.
Because you’re not a beginner anymore.
But you’re also not where you want to be.
That gap? It’s not talent. It’s missing structure.
I completely understand - that blank canvas can feel overwhelming! But here's the good news: I've developed a step-by-step approach that takes the mystery out of starting abstracts. And those muddy colors? That's actually one of the easiest problems to solve. I'll show you exactly what to do to avoid mud!
If you’re here, my guess is:
"you have given me the gift of freedom through abstraction!"
"I now have concrete foundational skills and principles that have really built my confidence"
Andrea has such a generous spirit and shares her wealth of knowledge and experience in ways that really help you grow as an artist. After taking this class, I feel like I now have concrete foundational skills and principles that have really built my confidence.
Your course was presented to me at the right time and right place. I still enjoy realism, however, now I understand realism and abstraction can be combined-or-I can paint either one separately. I will tell you, you have given me the gift of freedom through abstraction!
Jean Morrow
Alexia Lewnes
I created this training because I kept seeing the same thing over and over…
Smart, committed painters—putting in the time, doing everything “right”… and still feeling stuck in the exact same place.
Not because they weren’t talented.
But because they were missing the underlying structure that makes abstraction actually work.
I’m Andrea Cermanski—an abstract painter, gallery-represented artist, and someone who has spent nearly 30 years in the studio and over 20 years teaching.
I built Santa Fe Painting Workshops on a simple conviction:
Abstract painting isn’t mysterious—it’s misunderstood.
Most instruction shows you what to do.
I teach you why it works.
Because when you understand the principles behind composition, color, and design, painting stops feeling like guesswork—and starts becoming a process you can trust.
My approach is structured, clear, and rooted in real studio experience. Not theory. Not fluff.
Just the principles that actually move your work forward.
And what I see happen again and again is this:
Students don’t just improve technically.
They stop second-guessing every decision.
They finish paintings they’re proud of.
They start calling themselves artists—and meaning it.
I don’t hold anything back.
Every technique, every hard-won lesson from decades in the studio and the gallery world is on the table—because access to an experienced eye changes everything.
And that’s exactly what I’m here to give you.
Andrea Cermanski
About your instructor
