Continuing the traditions of the avant-garde, contemporary artists often question notions of originality through the practice of appropriation and repurposing familiar or loaded symbols and signs (Barrett, 2011). This Instructional Resource focuses on three aspects of artistic practice: improvisation as a way of emphasizing a process-driven curriculum, layering as a method of aggregating ideas as well as diverse source materials, and the use of text as a way to enhance visual imagery. These practices are seen in the work of Mark Bradford, Abstract Expressionists, and street artists. The ideas introduced in this article evolved from strategies and resources introduced in the Art21 Educators program.