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Learner Reviews & Feedback for In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting by The Museum of Modern Art

4.9
stars
1,427 ratings

About the Course

Take an in-depth, hands-on look at materials, techniques, and approaches to making abstract paintings. Through studio demonstrations and gallery walkthroughs, you’ll form a deeper understanding of what a studio practice means and how ideas develop from close looking. Readings and other resources provide a broader cultural, intellectual, and historical context around the era when these artists were active. The artists featured in the course—Willem de Kooning, Yayoi Kusama, Agnes Martin, Barnett Newman, Jackson Pollock, Ad Reinhardt, and Mark Rothko—serve as points of departure for your own abstract paintings. Learners who wish to participate in the optional studio exercises may need to purchase art supplies. A list of suggested materials is included in the first module....

Top reviews

AN

May 22, 2021

Excellent. The course was very educational, extremely well put together and Corey´s instruction was excellent. One really needed to put time and effort into it but is worth every second of time spend.

DB

Jul 25, 2020

Beyond my expectations! Encouraged by in studio where I discovered I could be successful experimenting with all the different artists. The knowledge, insight, and fascinating experience was joyous!

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51 - 75 of 625 Reviews for In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting

By Roberto B

May 17, 2017

Very interesting course I appeciate it very much. My only suggestion is: maibe will be nice to go more deeply in the materials used by the artists (not the supposed one) , with link to papers, scientific investigation, conservation treatment report and other useful information about on what is the actual knowledge on the painting materials and tecnique used by the painters of newyork school. That can be useful for people involved in conservation study, or for others involved in museums jobs.

By Jane C

Aug 17, 2018

This is a fabulous course, made even stronger by Corey's painting technique videos - a novel addition to an art history class! I'm just taking this class for fun but I've learned more in 8 weeks than in courses taken at university. The content, structure, and pacing of this class is marvelous. I look forward to seeing what else Mr. d'Augustine has to offer in the future. If nothing else, this class has made me want to spend a week at MoMa. Can't rate this class highly enough!

By katrina s

Jun 22, 2017

I am fond of the New York School poets so I really enjoyed learning about these postwar New York artists who were working at the same time. Many were active when I was living in NYC as a child. I loved getting an idea of how they worked and how the work changed throughout their lives. I did not do the studio part of the course which I am sure would have been great but I loved the videos, readings and links to the MOMA collections. Thank you so much for this course.

By Lisa G

May 30, 2020

This was a great course to take to learn more in depth about the painting methods and art theory of Post WW 2 painting. Cory D'Augustine's demonstrations were interesting to watch. I liked the combination of video content presentations and supplemental reading materials. The quizzes were challenging and the final essay with peer review added a nice format for connecting with others taking the course. This was a well designed course and I would recommend it.

By Ma. K C D C

Nov 20, 2017

Definitely my favorite course taken on coursera so far. It gives the learner a new perspective in appreciating abstract expressionist paintngs. It also tackles in depth the processes of the artists discussed in the course. The opportunity to make your own version of the works that were discussed gives the learners a new appreciation of the famous pieces. I am hoping to see more courses by MoMA similar to this one. WIll definitely enroll in more of these.

By KACIE L

Oct 17, 2019

I learned a lot from this course and I found it to be very interesting. I learned a lot by studying these artists and their different styles, techniques and the tools they would use. The studio work was fun too, trying to recreate the artists styles, it was different from the way I normally would create a painting. Corey is a great instructor and very knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend this course if you are interested in art and art history.

By Lynn M

Sep 3, 2020

I absolutely loved this course. I was very impressed with Cory's knowledge and expertise, and the combination of a 'deep dive' into a different abstract expressionist artist each week and the opportunity to learn and complete an exercise in their style/medium, was really gratifying. My knowledge of the artists, the period, and their process expanded substantially; and, it has made me a better artist by pushing the boundaries I had subconsciously set.

By Doss A D D

Jun 11, 2020

I have really loved this course because the one area of art I have had the most difficult time learning and wrapping my head around was abstraction! This really went into great detail about the art, the artists and the process that they used to create their works. As an artist, I want to be constantly learning and researching artists and methods so that I can broaden my own horizons. These courses will also work nicely with my Museum Studies too.

By Jennifer S

Jan 25, 2021

I loved this course. It seriously eroded prejudices and narrow judgements I had about some eras of art, which freed me up in my own work. Given that it's quite a short course, it covered a lot of ground, including technical info about oil and acrylic paints and gels and painting in the styles of artists, which inspired and gave me more tools to work with. I had quite a breakthrough in a painting I had been stuck on before I started the course.

By kp k

Sep 12, 2020

i really enjoyed studying this class, the videos and presentations by Corey and the curators made the lessons come alive. The career in 8 works for each of the artists made it easy to understand their work and follow how their attitudes changed over the years. The provided reading documents were very informative again broadening my knowledge. Thank you to MOMA, Corey and coursera for providing this course. Look forward to learning more.

By Cyril N E

Aug 23, 2022

I highly recommend this course, specially if you are new to the art world as it will provide you a lot of insights and values to learn from. You will be inspired by some of the world's famous avant-garde artist. Their famous works, techniques used and how their life impact their masterpiecies. Before the end of this course, I learned to apply some of their techniques and I'm more motivated to produce more artworks in my own style.

By Christina T

Aug 18, 2020

this course is fantastic. i wish this course wouldn't end too soon. i wish there is more similar courses like this. Corey D'Augustine you're awesome! i wish i could physically join your class somehow in near future. I really love all the details he shared and the explanations at very art piece. i will continue to explore more on abstract art, at least i now know what to look at compare to before that i have absolutely no knowledge.

By Judith P

Jul 31, 2021

Thank you so much, Corey and colleagues. I've learned a lot from this course, especially from Corey's video's showing studio techniques step by step, and have really enjoyed making the paintings and studying the artists. I have learned practical skills that i was able to put to use in my studio. Learning how to describe a painting and knowing history and terms used has also been of great help. It was absolutely worth the ride.

By Leza H

Nov 24, 2018

Excellent course and one which I have recommended to many people. Gives you a unique first hand insight in to technique and methods. The course tutor, Corey, is impressive. I would love to see more courses led by him, like this one, featuring different artists. I now visit MOMA with a far greater appreciation of the artist’s skills and it has encouraged me to paint using different techniques. Truly insightful and enlightening.

By Paul B

Dec 24, 2017

Crystal clear lectures and fantastic demos by Corey D'Augustine. The readings are often superb but the museum lectures can be a bit droll. Either way, the real magic occurs when you pick up the paint brush and get to work on a canvas. The magic in working :in the style of" is a great way of learning and training oneself to free up the creative flow. I recommend this course even to those who have never painted before!

By Andreea

Jun 13, 2023

Excellent course! Not only it offers practical exercises and it guides through studio processes, but it also educates in art history, art theory, and the lives of some of the world's most wonderful New York School artists. The content is professional and dynamic, presenting a mixture of gallery walks, interviews, studio practice, written materials, and community conversations. I got so much value and knowledge from it.

By sylvia

Oct 6, 2018

This course bas been very effective for my study on abstractionism. Also learning the technique each abstractionist used to express their ideation is a bonus. I always read about few of these techniques but never in form of visual demonstration. Thanks to the instructor and his dynamic way of explaining the philosophy and meaning of each major artwork increase my engagement and curiosity to go searching for even more

By Ileana C

May 27, 2017

Excelente curso, me encanto la forma del instructor de enseñar los gestos que realza el artista al pintar, como mezcla su paleta de color los materiales, la información sobre sus obras y la biografía de los artistas muy completa, la plataforma del curso fácil de seguir mi dificultad es que mi ingles no es muy bueno y me ocupo un mundo de tiempo tratando de traducir muchísimas palabras y ponerlas en el contexto.

By Garland5

Oct 25, 2017

I love this course and am getting a new and deeper understanding of art from this period. Even though i studied art at university and am a painter myself, I still learned new things about the technique of these artists. The video on DeKooning's "Woman 1" was incredible. Great that an art conservator teaches this because you get in depth information about how the paintings were constructed from the canvas up.

By ARMAND C

Jul 16, 2017

I cannot think of how much more thorough an on line course could be. It blended videos, presented by professional curators; an excellent lead presenter, Mr D'Augustine who explained and demonstrated the tools and techniques used by the various post-WWII NY School artists and reading assignments and community feedback, to form a superstructure any dedicated learner could depend upon to progress as an artist.

By Juliana M

Aug 13, 2017

I did not know a lot about Abstract Painting, but I loved the courses of MoMA and decided to do anyways. I was extremely surprised by the quality of the content and how the course inspires us to deepen the study about the New York School. I was fascinated by the theme and started to create paintings inspired by the artists and read more about the subject. I could not be more pleased with this course.

By John V

Jul 23, 2017

I liked this course very much. The instructor Corey D'Augustine has an excellent presentation style: clear, concise and to the point. The studio component of the course was difficult but extraordinary rewarding, the works of the artists covered are incredibly difficult to reproduce. You get a true understanding of the brilliance of their ideas and their works. Excellent course. I highly recommend it.

By SSharada

Feb 22, 2021

The course is extremely beneficial for both beginners and advanced as studying artists and their techniques inspires each one to try out or incorporate something different that we discover through the journey.

Thank you MoMA for the wonderful presentation and Coursera for bringing it to the public. Great work and am going to continue with the other projects too. Extremely well put together. Congrats

By Sune L

Oct 21, 2017

It's incredibly inspiring. Corey gives very good instruction and specific tasks, while encouraging pushing beyond limits if you feel like it. You won't be left flailing if your new to painting (like me) and you won't be limited if you are more experienced and adventurous. If in doubt check out the free "In the studio" videos on you tube, I gives a great idea of what you will get more of here.

By billcat88@comcast.net

Feb 10, 2018

i loved the course leader a lot and was excited to to learn and participate. i learned a lot and was motivated to try new thing in painting. i have wanted to do abstract painting for years but have been afraid to try it. the course opened new doors for me. I know my painting is going to be evolve and improve after this course. thank you Corey D'Augustine! i hope your will do another soon.