Published by: Julia
If you want to discover and liberate your creative side – read this Jeff Koons Masterclass review. I took it and it opened my eyes to the fact anyone has the potential to be an artist.
What to expect from Jeff Koons teaches art and creativity masterclass
Inspiration is the main thing you can expect to gain from Jeff Koons’s masterclass. Next on the list is the confidence to explore and create your own art.
That in itself is gold. But Jeff does not stop there he also provides practical art lessons. He covers the following subjects in quite a high level of detail:
The major building blocks of art –
- Colors
- Textures
- Scale
- Form
As well as :
- How to use the tools of art to express ideas and communicate with others
- How to use source materials to inspire your art
- How to follow your interests to create wonderful things
Who is Jeff Koons Masterclass for?
I am not an artist. The last time I created anything that was purely decorative was in my 20s when I was decorating a home on a tight budget. However, I still got a huge amount out of this masterclass. It was interesting and fun, as well as inspirational. I am now a big fan of Jeff´s work.
In my opinion, the following kinds of people will enjoy or be able to benefit from taking this creativity masterclass:
- Fans of Jeff Koons work
- Art lovers
- Artists at all levels
- People like me who do not fit neatly into the other 3 categories
OK, that is a brief overview. Below, I go into a bit more detail and share with you more about what you can expect to enjoy and learn when taking this Masterclass.
By the way, we recommend purchasing Masterclass for more than just one single course. The value comes when you take several. If you want to read our review of the whole platform, check out this Masterclass review article.
If you want to just find out what some of the best masterclasses are, this is the article for you.
How to turn everyday objects into art
We are our life experiences. Regardless, of what kind of art you create you are very clearly affected by who you are, what you have seen and done. But we can be equally influenced by everyday objects. An approach that has bought Jeff Koons amazing success.
He is not the first to make use of the readymade. But, he has taken things much further, by rebuilding them in new materials, changing their proportions, context, colors, and a few other ways.
If you are a fan of his work, you will particularly enjoy his story about what inspired him to create his 70-foot train. As well as the Kipenkerl sculpture, which as you will hear nearly did not get created at all. You will also learn why that particular piece of art turned out to be a springboard for the rest of Jeff Koon´s career.
How to get past the blank canvas stage
Most creators dread the blank canvas screen. I know I do, as a writer. For some reason the blank page is daunting. If you sit there staring at it for too long you kind of shrink and inspiration will not come.
Jeff explains how to tackle this stage of the creative process. Even though I am not an artist, I found this section to be extremely useful. I picked up several ways of coming up with ideas. My big take away was that inspiration is potentially everywhere.
You need to pay attention to the things that catch your eye. To pause and think. For example, Jeff´s equilibrium series was inspired by his interest in biology and psychology.
How to use your personal iconography to communicate with the viewer
We all have objects and things that we love. Items that are important to us. For Jeff nature is important. Something that inspired him to use flowers so much in his work. Going to see a marine show as a child made him fall in love with dolphins. That is why he has used them repeatedly in his art.
Again, in this section Jeff shares the thinking behind some of his major pieces. A whole section of this video is dedicated to his Banality collection.
Art History: A Dialogue Across Time
A love of art benefits you in many ways. Jeff found that coming into contact with various pieces made him think. To look at things differently. Often, art is a reflection of that time. It tells a story. It speaks to you.
The art is inside you … within you everything exists.
Jeff Koons – Masterclass.com
The case study for this section is his Gazing Ball series. He explains how he used this hyper shiny, reflective object to draw the viewer deep into the picture. To make them focus in a way they would not normally do and be drawn into the painting to become involved. You can best see this effect by looking at his Rubens The Tiger Hunt Gazing Ball piece.
Innovating when creating art
Jeff Koons is renowned for doing things differently. For experimenting with scaling, materials, and finishes. As well as using scanning technology. His Metalic Venus is a great example of this.
He is also not afraid of collaborating with other people. He uses the skills of others to make sure that he gets the best possible results. It is clear that he is also a bit of a perfectionist.
A look inside Jeff Koons Antiquity Stone workshop
The fact that Jeff is not afraid of exploring and using the latest technology for his creation is one of the reasons his work is so remarkable. When working in stone he uses his state of the art Antiquity Stone workshop. Jeff shows you how he was able to create his Pink Ballerina. Sadly, at just 6 minutes long, this video was way too short in my opinion. He did not share nearly enough of his creative process for this piece.
Playing with size and scale
Jeff is known for his huge sculptures. There is no doubt that they catch people´s attention. But not everything he creates is huge. In this section, Jeff explains how he decides what scale to use and provides an insight into how he creates such big pieces.
Of course, the case study for this video was his Puppy. It is 12.4 meters tall so that it can compete for attention with the cathedral it is next to.
The other case study – his Balloon Venus. This sculpture has been created in several different sizes.
In this lesson, you realize why Jeff takes so long to create his pieces and why he is such a perfectionist. As he points out a tiny flaw or slightly misshapen limb could mean that you are unable to scale a piece of art up. Making it bigger would only magnify that flaw.
Harnessing the power of color
Color is one of the main tools an artist can use to communicate. Colors are embedded with meaning that can create a connection between you and the viewer.
Jeff Koons – Creativity Masterclass
Color talks to us on an almost primordial level. As an artist, you can tap into this and use it to make an impact.
Jeff uses bright colors to make an impact. He also taps into the power of gradation, something that many marketers also do. Gradation – one color fading into another, is something we see in the natural world during sunrises and sunsets. For us, on a subliminal level, it is a picture of time.
He also explains how to deal with the fact that everyone has a different relationship with colors. One person may see green as comforting and appealing while someone else will find it off-putting.
Form Case Study: Balloon Dog
In this section, Jeff covers all of the different form factors. To explain what you need to know, he once again does a case study of one of his pieces – Balloon Dog.
Working with texture and materials
Before I watched this, I did not think about what textures mean to people. One of the first ways we explore the world is via touch. It is at the root of why we are drawn to certain textures, while we are repelled by others.
An artist can tap into this to evoke an emotion in the viewer. At least to some extent. They can also use texture to add another dimension to their work.
How to show your art
Showing their work is something that most artists want to do. So, it is good to see Jeff covering this very important subject. He covers the following:
- How to learn to cope with criticism
- Getting your work shown in the right places, the right context
- How to use other forms of media to create interest in your work and speak to different audiences
- How to work within the commercial art world
An insight into living life as an artist
In this final video, Jeff reflects on his work as an artist. He makes it clear that at times, like many famous artists, he has struggled. To the point where he had to move back in with his parents twice. Yet, it has been worth the struggle.
Jeff Koons Masterclass PDF download
When you sign up for Jeff Koons online course, a free Masterclass workbook is included in the package. It is a beautifully presented PDF that tells you, even more, about Jeff´s work and creative processes.
