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“Art Journey: My Paintings and Perspectives"
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Why Nature is Already Abstract
This blog post humorously chronicles the creation of “Autumn Flares,” an abstract landscape that mirrors the fiery energy of fall. Emphasizing color, texture, and the importance of not copying nature too literally, it highlights how abstract art can transcend the physical world and evoke profound emotional responses.
Finding Meaning in Abstract Landscape Art
Approach abstract landscapes the way you’d savor “Another Year Gone By”. step back, let the visuals breathe, and allow the paint’s nuances to swirl around your senses. The heart of this painting offers a textural “tsunami” of natural energy, proving that it’s not just about depicting a hill—it’s about how lines and colors come together to truly speak to us.
"Apex” Abstract Art: Where Shadow Meets Light
In a playful, conversational tone, this blog post reveals how the painting “Apex” came to life at dawn, driven by the belief that art must resonate with real emotion. By capturing the tension between light and dark, the artist illustrates that creativity is about forging connections that make perfect sense once they appear on the canvas.
Embracing the Unknown in Abstract Art
People ask me what this painting means. I just laugh. It means I spent way too much time staring at dark paint trying to figure out if I should add more white or just order pizza. It means I have learned how to make paintings different from others. Most importantly, it means I stopped trying to make perfect art and started making real art.
“Wheeled Universe”: Creating Universal Motion Through Abstract Art
Ecliptic Motion captures the chaotic beauty of space, blending swirling textures, layered movement, and cosmic depth to create a gravitational pull on the viewer. Inspired by celestial motion, this painting is a portal into an abstract dimension where gravity and energy collide, thriving on the tension between chaos and balance. Expressive brushwork and palette knife textures convey a sense of endless motion, drawing viewers into an orbit of artistic energy, making it not just a painting, but a force field of movement and depth
Rocks on the River: Reflections on Painting the Ventura River
Staring at my canvas, and on this day, the white space took on an ethereal, misty quality, making me think, "Wait, white sky" The bottom part of my painting looked like rocks by a river or my early morning coffee. Using thick, moody black, I aimed to convey, "I contain multitudes, and possibly some pebbles." The texture mirrored nature's abstract existential crisis. Art, you start with one idea and discover countless justifications. The painting embodies contrast, where black and white paint mimic water and stone, chaos and stillness. It’s about movement and how even solid rock changes.Think about staring at a river and just watching the water.
"Landfall" – Capturing the Chaos of a Storm in Paint
Trying to capture a storm’s essence can be chaotic. I’ve been battling this overpriced BMF-650 sable blend brush (aka “expensive mistake maker”), trying to pin down the perfect turbulence effect with a tube of Prussian Blue that cost more than my weekly coffee budget. Just when I thought I had it, my easel decided to tumbling thirty feet down rocky terrain. Good thing I didn’t skip the extra thick varnish. The composition took a hit, but sometimes the best art comes from unexpected disasters—or in this case, not-so-happy tumbles. Storm painting is like that: nature’s chaos meets artistic chaos, where the paint does weird things, and you just roll with it.
Abstract Expressionism and the Ocean: 'Wind Blows North”
Living just a few blocks from the ocean has its perks. One of my favorite things to do is head down to the shore when it's stormy. There's something about feeling the wind and rain coming off the ocean that just gets the creative juices flowing. "Wind Blows North" is a reflection of those stormy days. Abstract expressionism is all about letting go and allowing the paint to guide you. For this piece, I used aggressive brushstrokes and splatters to convey the chaotic energy of a storm. The colors are bold and dynamic, with splashes of yellow, black, and white against a blue background. "Wind Blows North" isn't just about a storm. It's about the feeling of being alive, of standing on the edge of something powerful and uncontrollable. It's about embracing the chaos and finding beauty in it.
“Between Me and the Stars” abstract landscape
"Between Me and the Stars" captures the feeling of standing beneath an infinite sky, searching for connection, and explores the spaces that hold light, thought, and possibility—the in-between moments. Creating this abstract work was like forming constellations—each stroke adding to a greater story.
Why Abstract Art Feels Like a Journey
Abstract art is like a journey without a map, guided by curiosity rather than a plan. It invites you to explore, as each piece—like Night's Song, where a storm meets the horizon—unfolds a new story with every glance. There are no instructions, no need for understanding—only the raw feeling that connects you to its essence.
When Painting a Landscape See the Land Differently
From the Earth strips away color to reveal the raw patterns of farmland. Black and white allow the lines, contrast, and textures to shine, capturing the rhythm of row crops, the weight of the sky, and the structure of the land in its purest form. The absence of color makes the landscape's structure more powerful, with farm fields stretching to the horizon, their lines pulling the eye forward. The sky, scraped and textured, mirrors the roughness of the land, presenting farmland through form rather than hue. Painting this piece felt like working the land itself, with a palette knife scraping and layering the paint.
Wide Sweep: A Reflection on Art, Nature, and Chaos
Living by the ocean, with farmland just outside the city, gave me unique inspiration. Here is a stormy blur where land and sky collide. Blue is usually calm, but not here. This blue is restless and full of movement, capturing the chaos of storms across the fields. At 95 inches wide, this painting is like standing in the middle of a storm. It’s bold, alive.
Capturing the Spirit of Agriculture in Paint
"Facing West" captures the essence of farmland life, honoring the connection between land and people with textured layers and bold colors that pulse with the same energy that drives the fields. More than a landscape, "Facing West" is a tribute to the farmers and the resilient relationship they hold with the land—every stroke is a thank-you to their labor and love. This painting is about more than what the fields look like; it’s about how they feel—alive, enduring, and tied to the heartbeat of the land, honoring both the beauty and hard work behind it.
What a Tiny Painting Taught Me About Scale
I've always leaned toward painting large. Most of my landscapes measure at least 5 by 6 feet, with some stretching to 4 by 8 feet. Enter my new obsession: small-scale impressionistic landscapes. These pieces are tiny compared to what I’m used to—think 5 by 7 inches instead of feet. Despite its size, that painting felt enormous and practically dominated his living room. How did the artist pull that off? I still don’t know.
An Artist's Reflection on Abstract Art
Some people just can't handle the fact that Picasso and Pollock exist. They want nothing more than a steady diet of fruit bowls and horse portraits. But you know what they say - if a bunch of bright shapes on a canvas is enough to rock your worldview, maybe that's your problem, not mine.
Finding Reality in Abstract Painting
I’m not painting exact scenes or locations – it's more like closing my eyes and feeling the ocean, imagining that wild surf crashing, the water swirling, the waves pulling back and then charging forward again. To me, it’s about capturing that raw, alive feeling of being in that moment – like standing chest-deep in the ocean, completely lost in it
The Beauty of Imperfection in Art: Why Perfection is an Illusion
The relentless pursuit of perfection can stifle creativity and innovation, trapping artists in self-imposed limitations and preventing them from taking risks, exploring new techniques, and fully expressing themselves. Instead of chasing an unattainable ideal, artists should find fulfillment by embracing the beauty of imperfection, where every brushstroke, note, or word becomes a unique expression of vision and emotion. By letting go of perfection, they free themselves from self-doubt and anxiety, allowing joy, exploration, and self-discovery to flourish. It is within these imperfections that true artistry emerges, touching hearts, inspiring minds, and leaving a lasting impact.
How the Ocean Shapes My Abstract Art
Living close to the ocean means daily inspiration for my abstract art. I don't paint the sea as it is but rather how it feels to me. It's about expressing a concept, like the essence of the sea, through a mix of subconscious inspiration and personal experience. Abstract art invites interpretation. My goal isn't to dictate what you see but to offer a piece that resonates with you in your own way.
"Exploring Abstract Landscape Art: A Journey of Truth and Emotion"
Abstract art is not about reproducing reality; it’s about capturing emotions and feelings, bringing them to life on canvas. Aesthetics are key—before the mind tries to make sense of it, the artwork must first catch the eye with its shapes and colors. Often, the patterns in abstract art stem from nature, reflecting the artist’s subconscious connection to the world around them.
"Calm and Commanding" – A Journey in Art
This painting is more than just a depiction of a rolling hill; it’s an exploration of something deeper, resulting in a piece that felt more like me—genuine and connected to what I wanted to express. It speaks to anyone who’s ever stood at a crossroads, contemplating the path ahead.