From Observation to Abstraction

Artist/Instructor: Joey Goergen 

Fee: Members $35, Not-yet members $50 

Supplies included 

Register Here

In this relaxed, exploratory workshop, we’ll use colored pencils to slow down and look closely at the world around us, then transform what we see into something uniquely our own. Rather than simply copying from observation, we’ll experiment with ways to simplify, exaggerate, and reimagine forms through color, shape, and pattern. Drawing inspiration from Charles E. Burchfield, who closely observed nature and transformed it into bold, expressive compositions, we’ll explore how everyday subjects such as insects, plants, and flowers can become abstract shapes, rhythmic patterns, and unexpected color combinations.

Participants will:

• Find inspiration in the Charles E. Burchfield exhibition
• Layer and blend colored pencils to create rich, luminous color
• Develop your own visual “language” based on what inspires you
   

This workshop is open to all skill levels. Whether you’re new to drawing or have years of experience, you’ll find a supportive space to experiment, take creative risks, and enjoy the playful possibilities of color.

Joey Goergen
Joey Goergen is an artist from Buffalo, New York. He is currently teaching at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Goergen attended the University at Buffalo for his MFA in studio art, graduating in 2024. He had his master’s thesis Anything Can Happen Here at Hunt Art Gallery. This show featured abstract paintings that examine grief and finding joy through sampling personal narratives, punk as a subculture, and fiction. Joey went to the Cleveland Institute of Art and graduated with a BFA in Drawing and Printmaking in 2018. Joey has also shown work at places like Transformer Station, Cleveland, as well as at The Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo, New York. His works often manifest in works on paper and have also reached into installation and sculptural works that explore the shapes and themes presented in his paintings through laser cut Plexi glass and sound.

For Further information, please contact Kathy Shiroki: shirokkg@buffalostate.edu