A Visual Vibrant Voice and ‘Aliveness’ with Andrea Wedell
Andrea Wedell’s Workshop at at Willow Pond SLO, August 4-8th, 2025.
Exploring Abstraction: Building Rich Surfaces and a Signature Visual Voice
When the August sunsets arrive with their earthy tones of yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and raw umber rolling across Edna Valley, we heartily welcome Andrea Wedell to Willow Pond. In her generous and immersive 5-day, (yes FIVE-day) workshop slathered with color and vibrancy, 12 lucky souls will dive into their unique and expressive approach to abstraction.
This exciting workshop emphasizes a sense of aliveness in the work and finding a personal visual language. It’s designed for students with a wide range of painting experience from less to more. Wedell, who considers teaching an essential part of her practice guides and demonstrates techniques that create compositions with dynamic movement, and rich color depth through layering and texturing.
“As I help others expand on their skills, develop their eye, and express themselves, I too deepen my own expression. It's a circular, rewarding relationship. Generosity is central to my teaching, and I fully embrace the challenge of articulating abstract concepts to others with skill and precision.”
A previous student describes her experience in Wedell’s classes as more impactful and transformative than what she can recall from her 4 years studying fine art in school.
“Her classes dive into harmonious color theory, balanced composition, paint attributes, and creative design tools."
Andrea is the daughter and grand-daughter of artists and architects. Growing up, she was surrounded by strong willed artists, and grew to hold beauty, balance and a commitment to art as the guiding forces in her own life. She says, the more you paint the better you become and the goal of this workshop is to develop or master abstract and semi-abstract compositions using acrylic or oil paint, cold wax and RF pigment sticks. Over five days, the artist students can create something unique through dynamic and expressive skill building where the comradery and communal meals in the balmy peak of summer can only inspire and enhance the collective experience.
About the artist
Andrea Wedell is an internationally recognized artist and educator based in Sonoma County, CA. She has a bachelor of Arts from UCLA, followed by a French adventure spanning 27 years before she moved back to her much-loved California in 2013. While in Paris, she studied under acclaimed Beaux Art teachers Michele Massiou and Jacqueline Guillermain for over 10 years. She began exhibiting regularly at the Grand Marche d’Art Contemporain in Paris, before becoming a permanent artist with Galerie BE Espace also in Paris for 10 years. Her work has been published by Les Editions Arcadia in France. In California, she was a featured artist at Toadfish Contemporary Gallery in Sausalito, has shown with Desta Gallery in San Anselmo and Mill-Valley, with Gray Loft Gallery in Oakland . She was a part of SFMoma Artist’s gallery in San Francisco.
