Abstract Color, Musings and Paintings

If you search the term "abstract art", you will find a vast assortment of sites that have information on the subject. Some will tell you one thing and another will say a totally different thing....so what then is abstract art...and can it actually be described in so many words. Personally, I think not! Have I always painted in an abstract manner....not in the beginning. I tried really hard to represent my subject in a somewhat realistic detailed way. Following the advice of instructors, my work became more realistic but boring. Each year I had a "cleansing" of those boring paintings in an outdoor firepit! Then gradually as the fear of failure was silenced in my mind, abstracting the landscape in plein air settings, painting from ideas and allowing the work itself to make its own demands on my knowledge, experience and imagination, I began to enjoy the painting process more than ever. Some sites that I enjoyed while considering abstract art are.... https://www.

A few weeks back I spent several days learning how to "pour" paint. Using latex house paint, a bit of water and a product by Flood, Floetrol, we poured paint onto canvases and watched with awe at the results. I can't say that mine turned out as awesome as my two friends, but it was a fun activity which gave me some ideas for underpaintings. Here's a couple of pics from our experimenting....and some ideas I had watching the formation of figures and abstract shapes. Back at home...I've tried my hand again with the pouring technique. Using three colors on some small 6x6's. If you are interested in learning more about the process, check out www.acrylicpouring.com Here's todays outcome!   What do you see in the paintings?

What comes to mind when I mention "experimental painting techniques"? Bizarre materials? Weird implements? Unusual or untried ways of painting? yes/no?  Well, it can mean all of those things but it also can mean "ideas which create problems for solving".  Some of the techniques I use to achieve "creating problems" can be scraping, pouring, collage, finger painting, scratching out lines....just to name a few! And yes, I use unusual tools like a grout spreader, plastic wrap, trowels, brayers, aluminum foil...along with the usual brushes, palette knife, stencils, etc. Experimental painting keeps my work fresh and alive and challenges me to find a depth of creativity within myself which can often be allusive. The element of surprise from experimental techniques makes the work....fun! What challenges you to dig deeper in your painting journey? Would love to hear your thoughts!  The underpainting for Waterfall gave me exciting ideas about how to achi

So happy to have found my lost blog! Now for any of you who may have lost admin to your blog, try this. Click on your pic in upper right corner in blogger. If you don't see an account that connects to your blog, click on Add Account. Then put in any or all emails that you may have used and the password if you remember it! If PW is wrong but they recognize the email, google will send you a confirmation # to insert in a blank. Do that and you will have access to any blogs created by that account. You can change from account to account by clicking the pic and choosing. Happy thoughts to all!! carly Lost But Now Am Found 24x20 Mixed Media on Canvas