10 Instructional Modules + Bonus Materials

I’ll guide you through 10 clear, step-by-step modules that build on each other, with over 20 video demos. Also included are bonus lessons where I share professional tips on social media, loosening up your process, and the artists who’ve influenced my style.

Color, Composition & Flow

Learn how my loose and joyful approach to landscape is rooted in timeless principles of composition, harmony, and value. I’ll show you a clear process that moves from sketch to underpainting to final painting—so you can see how strong foundations support expressive, intuitive work.

Evaluating with Confidence

Learn practical strategies to step back and evaluate your work with fresh eyes. I’ll guide you through revisiting key principles—composition, harmony, and value—so you can make clear adjustments and finishing touches that bring balance, clarity, and confidence to your painting.

Meet Andrew

With a focus on abstract landscapes and cityscapes, my art is influenced by my Northern California surroundings. In my mind, each piece becomes a world of ‘invented color space’ where landscapes come alive. My work invites you to journey through compositions where color fractures and reforms, creating depth and atmosphere open to personal interpretation. Born into a family of artists, designers, and architects, my paintings fuse the structural sensibilities of my architect father and color sense of my interior designer mother. I studied painting at Trinity College with colorist George Chapman who was a student of Joseph Albers. Website: andrew-faulkner.com Instagram: @andrew_faulkner_art GALLERY PARTNERSHIPS: My work is shown at The Pamela Walsh Gallery (Palo Alto, CA), The Portland Art Gallery (Portland, ME), and Hagan Fine Art Gallery, Charleston SC.

About the Course

I find it so rewarding to teach weekend workshops out of my studio in Sausalito, CA as well as one destination painting retreat in Europe each year. After years in development, I'm thrilled to finally be able to offer this online course based on my teaching techniques. This course guides you through a clear, repeatable process for creating expressive landscape paintings from photo references. You’ll learn how to develop a quick sketch using oil pastels, build a personalized color palette, and compose your painting with intention. With techniques like sepia underpainting and harmonious color mixing, you’ll gain tools to make the painting process easier, more dynamic, and deeply satisfying—from your first photo to your final brushstroke. BASIC SUPPLIES LIST PAINTS: A simple starter set in oil or acrylic (warm/cool primaries, earth tones, black, white). BRUSHES: A couple of inexpensive flat brushes (1" and 2"). Palette knives: Flexible metal knives, small to medium. MEDIUMS: Basic painting medium (oil: Galkyd/Liquin, acrylic: matte medium) and a solvent if using oils. SURFACES: A few canvas boards or stretched canvases (around 9x12" to 12x12"). PALETTE: Wood, glass, or disposable palette pad. PRINTING: Access to a standard color printer for sketch references (nothing fancy—copy shop works too). OTHER BASICS: Paper towels or rags, apron or smock. NOTE: This is just the starter list. For a full detailed breakdown (including optional colors and tools), see the free preview of the Materials Lesson.

What People Are Saying

Discover how this course is transforming the way people approach landscape painting.

”
Andrew is a fantastic teacher - generous, encouraging, and clear. His presentation is clear and easy to understand and he generously shares his process which I loved. The lesson around simplifying the landscape using a photograph was awesome. So helpful. I loved learning how he plans his work, mixes color, and makes the magic happen!
Samantha K.

Art Student

”
This course is everything I hoped it would be. The emphasis on joy and experimentation is inspiring. His approach to working with color fascinates me and to be able to see “ behind the curtain “ has been enlightening and really helpful.
Jill A

NYC

”
This workshop was one of the best hands on workshops I’ve taken. Learning from him is amazing- he shares his techniques, his color mixing and magic, and his overall approach to abstracting the landscape.
Lori S.

Denver, CO

I absolutely did not expect such profound changes in myself, so the workshop one hundred percent exceeded all my expectations.
Mariia V.

Professional Artist

”
Coming from an abstract background, I wasn’t sure how a landscape course would fit into my practice, but Abstracting the Landscape completely surprised and inspired me. Andrew’s method of preparing his sketches and the way he builds color relationships helped me unlock a new way to approach my work and how I think about my own process.
Mariana D.

Artist & Designer

”
This online workshop is not only informative & inspiring, but Andrew’s generosity of spirit & encouragement is as vibrant as are his paintings.
Christine B.

West Clare, Ireland

Video Testimonial

Linda, a professional artist, talks about how this course helped her. She also had lots of fun doing it!

Course Curriculum

12 Chapters · 36 Lessons

  1. 1

    Module 1: Introduction to Abstracting the Landscape

    1. 1.1: Welcome to the Course Free preview
    2. (Included in full purchase)

      1.2: How to Use This Course

    3. 1.3: Tour My Studio Free preview
    4. 1.4: Materials Overview Free preview
    5. Materials List PDF (downloadable) Free preview
    6. (Included in full purchase)

      1.5: If You Want to Use Acrylics: Things to Keep in Mind

    7. 1.6 Connect with artists with Communities & Discussions Free preview
  2. 2

    Module 2: Art Principles Overview

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      2: Art Principles Overview

  3. 3

    Module 3: Diving Into Your Sketch: Using Photography as a Tool

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      3.1: From Photo to Sketch: Building the Foundation

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      3.2: How to Choose an Inspiring Photo

  4. 4

    Module 4: Using Imaginative Color for Your Sketch

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      4.1: Getting Started: Using Imaginative Color for Your Sketch

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      4.2: Making Creative Color Choices

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      4.3: Using Art Principles to Evaluate Your Sketch

  5. 5

    Module 5: Laying the Groundwork for a Vibrant Landscape

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      5.1: Making "Sludge" for Your Sepia Underpainting

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      5.2: Laying the Groundwork for a Vibrant Painting

  6. 6

    Module 6: Developing Your Palette & Color Mixing Techniques

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      6: Mixing Vibrant Colors with Harmony

  7. 7

    Module 7: Blocking out your color for a strong underpainting

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      7.1: Brush Demo

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      7.2: Blocking Out Color For a Strong Underpainting

  8. 8

    Module 8: Evaluating Your Work: Stepping Back with an Artist’s Eye

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      8: Stepping Back With The Artist's Eye

  9. 9

    Module 9: Moving Beyond the First Painting & Deepening Abstraction

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Moving Beyond the First Painting & Deepening Abstraction

  10. 10

    Module 10: Conclusion: From Evaluation to Completion

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      10.1: Refining Your Painting: How to Know When it's Done

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      10.2: Thank you!

  11. 11

    Bonus Materials

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Color Theory: Let's Review our Sketch!

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      My Approach to Painting Trees

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      My Artist Influences

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Digital Painting Demo

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Using Instagram and your Website for Professional Development

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      A Few Book Recommendations

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Framing Your Work

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Using Acrylics with the Course

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Get 15% Off My Prints!

  12. 12

    Frequently Asked Questions & Course Policy

    1. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Free preview
    2. (Included in full purchase)

      FAQ Printable PDF

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Satisfaction Guaranteed

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      How to Contact Support

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Music License Info

What you'll learn

Diving Into Your Sketch: 

Discover how to transform a photo into a dynamic oil pastel sketch that captures the essence of the landscape.

Lessons in Abstraction

Push abstraction through imaginative color choices and using simple cropping tool techniques

Stepping Back with an Artist’s Eye

Learn to evaluate and refine your painting by adjusting contrast, balance, and color placement with a fresh perspective.

Ready to Transform Your Artistic Skills?

Unlock the secrets to creating stunning landscape paintings and elevate your artistic journey today. The full course is now available for $249 (one-time payment)

$249.00

Enroll Now Get a Free Preview

Abstracting the Landscape: Andrew Faulkner

"AS A CHILD I CELEBRATED COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES. THIS EARLY EXPRESSION OF FREEDOM EVOLVED INTO THE GESTURAL PAINTING STYLE THAT DEFINES MY WORK TODAY." Andrew-Faulkner.com • Instagram: @andrew_faulkner_art