a return to abstract

Creating is a funny thing. Much of the time it is pure experimentation. Even with a plan - you are literally trying something and seeing what happens. I've been tinkering around with this creative side of myself for a while now. I've gotten to feel all the feelings - creative block, doubting myself, hating my work and then loving it. Some things feel very easy to execute and others are much harder. I've learned what comes easy for me (most of the time) and what does not.

And I do think that a lot of people believe that artists can do anything. I get asked all the time if I can paint specific things - like someone's dog, hand-letter a gift, or sketch a place or a person. The thing is, this is a different kind of skill and I'm just not very good at it.

But where I really do come alive is when I paint abstracts. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, painting abstracts is where I got my start. What's funny about this particular artwork is it makes sense to me now after several years of painting.

An abstract may look like a bunch of colors and markings thrown on a page or canvas. In a way it is, but part of the process is really marrying this fluid practice with the right composition. It's about putting this color over here or maybe this marking here. If you study painters everyone has their own style - and you can see this very clearly in abstract work. There is usually a certain stroke or marking that tends to show up. It could be a color palette or a layering effect. Really good artists are know for their use of color or a layering technique. It's why when you look at a Picasso, you know it is a Picasso.

The beautiful thing to me about art - and especially abstracts - is its an interesting, non-binding form of art - which means each person gets to receive it the way they want to. This happens in a way with all art pieces, but with abstract pieces - the image is not telling your brain what it is like a portrait or landscape. An abstract leaves it up to your imagination, which in my opinion, can make a painting feel even more personal.

I've so enjoyed this return to abstracts - and I hope you do too. I can't wait to share them with you. Look for another post soon on the color theme that landed both in my paintings and in the entire collection launching on March 5th.