Hill Country Council for the Arts invites you to join Artist Pauly Tamez as he returns to the AgriCultural Museum and Arts Center, and leads a immersion class, Abstract Expressionism with Pauly Tamez, at The Classroom, Saturday, October 4, 2025, 10am-1pm. He will introduce you to the basic concepts and techniques of fine art painting, the tools and supplies needed, and the terminology used in creating an abstract expressionism painting.
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 10 am – 1 pm
In the 1940s and 1950s a new artform was created. Artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem DeKooning, Mark Rothko, Norman Lewis, Franz Kline, and Clyfford Still, and others were key figures in changing the fine art landscape. The term “abstract expressionism” was first applied in 1946 by the art critic Robert Coates. The spontaneity of strokes and color and expression of the subconscious created this new form of art.
I’ve always been a landscape painter, and I was drawn into oil painting specifically to create good landscape paintings. Shape, composition, value, depth, perspective, and color gave me much to work on and each new painting was a challenge to make it better than the last. In the last 10 years I’ve created, conservatively, over 500 landscape oil paintings. And each one was worked on with the focus of making it better than the last.
I always wanted to paint abstract, but there was something inside of me that just wouldn’t let me get away from creating a representational, realistic landscape. I learned how to paint a great sky from my mentor Bill Zaner. My artist friend, David Caton taught me about painting water and creating excitement using sky colors in the ground plane, and helped me develop a work ethic. But I had a hard time breaking loose and expressing myself in an abstract way.
Then I left the workforce in December of last year. All of a sudden, I had no meetings to attend, I didn’t have to dress up and drive to San Antonio, I didn’t have to be on the phone – I didn’t even have to get up if I didn’t want to. Monday morning meant nothing, and neither did the weekend – every day was a day off. I felt free, unencumbered, and there were no expectations of me. For the first time in my life, I was able to let go and express myself freely with color and form.Two years prior, I decided I wanted a challenge to help me unlock my creativity and that side of my brain that always held me back. I bought a cello, found a teacher, and started learning how to play. It was a challenge and it was scary, but I persisted and broke through. And I proved that this old guy can learn something new.
I am enjoying this new style of painting and the freedom to express myself. Join me and find your new found freedom!
Pauly Tamez, is an artist residing in Boerne, Texas. He paints impressionistic landscapes and still life using oils and watercolor. He has had a love of painting most of his life, developing that passion in the Texas Hill Country in his early teens. He and a friend would hitchhike from San Antonio to paint all over Hill Country. Tamez learned to appreciate the vast landscapes of Central and West Texas, and painted mostly with watercolors until learning to paint with oils in 2010. This he learned under the mentorship of well-known Hill Country artist, Bill Zaner, Zaner’s love of the Texas landscape, and his dedication to being an exceptional painter motivated Tamez to do the same, painting 50-60 paintings a year.
Class fee: $75 for members, $85 for non-members
Supplies are included for this class*.
*If you wish to purchase your own supplies for the class or to continue painting in the future, here are supplies recommended by Artist/Instructor:
16” X 20” canvas panel
Paint:
I recommend Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Paints. They are of excellent quality, and relatively inexpensive (about $5 per 37mm tube if purchased online)*. Grumbacher “Max” is also an excellent water-miscible oil paint brand.
Water mixable, or water-miscible oil paints are oil paints that are formulated to wash clean with soap and water without having to use harsh chemicals or solvents.
Titanium White
Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue
Cadmium Orange
Cadmium Red medium
Ultramarine Blue
Cobalt Blue
Raw Sienna
Burnt Umber
Here is a link to Dick Blick for the best price on the Winsor & Newton brand. http://www.dickblick.com/products/winsor-and-newton-artisan-water-mixable-oil-colors/ If you only purchase the above in 37mm tubes, it will be < $40 + shipping.
Palette knives
Here is a link for painting knives on Jerry’s website: http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/brushes-and-palette-knives/palette-knives/creative-mark-painters-edge-painting-knives-and-sets/creative-mark-painters-edge-knives.htm
Minimum:
#12T (3- 5/8″ blade)
#25T (1 -1/4″ blade)
For additional information, call Paula at 210-269-8349 or email inquiries in this Mini Workshop to [email protected].
