What exactly is abstract?

Ten years ago if you asked me what an abstract was, I would have mentioned Picasso or Jackson Pollack. I didn’t think that would be anything I would ever want to pursue. It made no sense to me.

I even remember my first ever watercolor class. It was with someone I was told was a famous landscape artist. His paintings were exactly what I thought I should paint….rolling fields. forests, mountains. I had never been to an art class before, but a friend had convinced me to go. She had taken several classes with him and told me how much she had learned. Perfect! I was living in a new state with only a few friends, so let’s go!

On day three of this workshop, we were working on coloring some bushes in a landscape piece. I had gained some confidence over the past few days and was feeling pretty good about this piece. As I added some intense pink to indicate the bougainvillea I saw in the reference photo, the instructor stopped behind me shoulder. He said “Oh, I see you like abstracts” and I could tell that was not a worthy goal to him. He then proceeded to grab the brush from my hand, “fixed” my abstract flowers, then said “Better” and walked away. Now if someone did that they would have to wrestle the brush from my hand, but this was my first foray into art. He was the instructor, so he must know better.

So what exactly is an abstract?

The definition I have applied to my work is “the absence of detail”. A more schooled definition is “having only intrinsic form with little or no attempt at pictorial representation.” I think of my art as abstracted reality…you know it’s a flower, but there is very little detail to tell you specifically what kind of flower.

Of course, this is my definition. I don’t believe in hard and fast rules regarding art, so make up your own definition. It makes no difference what you call it. Abstract can mean anything you want it to be and that can change over time.

“Abstraction allows man to see with his mind what he cannot see physically with his eyes.””

— Arshile Gorky

What is holding you back?

Confidence may not be the first thing you think of in relation to creativity, but it is essential to creative exploration and practice.

Confidence is one part of creativity that often is ignored.

The thoughts we have can affect our confidence in all things, not just creativity. How many times have you thought things like “I’m not any good at this”, “I’ll never be able to paint like <that person>”, “Why do I even try”? Your mind believes what you say.

Creative confidence comes with practice, just like many other skills. The more things you try, the more confident you become.

How can we nurture our creative confidence? Here are some tips….

• New experiences allow new ideas. Take yourself on an artist date. See, do, try something new.

• Stop the scroll. Instagram and Pinterest are great for collecting inspiration, but there is a time that you just need to stop looking. You have your inspiration, so now is the time to create.

• Lower your expectations. Allow yourself to just play with no predicted outcome.

• Use positive “I am” statements. Remember your brain believes what you say, so say good things. I have a post-it on my wall that says “I am a brilliant and successful artist”. Add some reminders to your creative space.

• Socialize. Find a group of artists to hang out with. Groups can boost your confidence by sharing ideas and realizing that everyone has the same insecurities.

• Know where you fit in. Find the right places for your art if you are sharing it. There is an audience for every kind of art, you just have to find them.

“A failure is only a failure if nothing is learned from it.”

— Dr. Alan Zimmerman

Let’s celebrate some women

I am always shocked when I hear how few female artists are represented in museums. Depending on whose numbers you look at, it is somewhere between 11% and 18%. Both numbers are upsetting considered about 46% of artists identify as female. That is alot of underrepresentation. I don’t have the answers to how this can change, but I do know that being more educated on female artists is one step.

So, let me introduce our first special guest…

Artemissia Gentileschi was born in 1593 in Florence, Italy.

At a time when it was unusual for a woman to be an artist, she not only painted but took on the patriarchal society. During her teen years, she was raped by her art mentor. Although she demanded a trial and testified, he was given a menial sentence that was never enforced. Artemisia took this outrage to her art.

She is most known for her interpretation of Susanna and the Elders. She painted the artwork to represent Susanna’s experience of two older men leering at her. This was the first time that sexual predation was presented from the viewpoint of the victim. She made a statement with that artwork, resistance to sexual attacks was legitimate. This seems like a small point in modern day, but look at this through the eyes of the 1600’s.

Artemisia was one of the first known women to have a successful career as a painter, a rarity when most women did not have a vocation outside of her home. At one point she was given the decision to be a nun or study under her father as an artist.

She is now known for her technical skill, especially her use of lights and darks. She was a master at chiaroscuro (a heightened relationship of light and dark). You can see this skill in the artwork here. She uses the light to make the woman the center of attention. Everything else seems to sink into the background and we are drawn into this woman’s life. She was also known to paint villains and demons to look like the man who raped her. Considering the times she lived in, it is amazing that she was able to continue painting.

Thank you to Artemisia for standing up to societal norms at the time.

50 before 50

I recently revealed on Instagram that I have given myself the goal of completing 50 paintings before I turn 50. I am obsessed with the fact about Picasso making 50,000 paintings in his lifetime. I started a little late to meet that goal, but I can set a smaller goal for myself.

My challenge’s only restriction is that a “finished painting” is something I would consider selling. I will be working on various substrates, many sizes and mediums.

I will keep you updated here on my progress, but also consider following me on Instagram and following my hashtags #50before50challenge and #50before50.

I wish I created all the time

I know I had a romantic vision of what it would be like to be a working artist. (Most of my early dreams involved living in New York City, for one.) I thought every day would be filled with paint and brushes at a huge easel, naps on a bohemian sofa and twinkle lights everywhere. I never pictured myself sitting at a computer, learning about search engines or applying for a business license. But, here I am.

What did you think your creative life would look like? Did you always know you were going to be an artist? Did you find or rediscover art later in life?

I was creative growing up. My dad taught me how to sketch horses; I made puppets for puppet shows; I even went to a performing arts high school as a drama major. Then “real life” came calling. I wanted to go to art school for Interior Design, but my parents recommended a more profitable career. I never completely gave up my creativity, but my time was very limited. Twenty years later and out of the corporate world, I slowly started rediscovering art. I don’t know if art school would have been the right path for me, but I am so glad I am where I am now, living a life I fill with creativity.

Now what?

We’re at week 6 of our creative challenge. We have set our intentions, created a schedule, allowed ourselves to play, focused our creativity. What else can we do?

The first thing I want you to do is give yourself some credit for making it this far. Even if you haven’t lived up to the intention you set, you made progress. A creative practice does not happen overnight. Any steps you have taken get your farther along the path. Now let’s build on that.

Are there any areas that you stumbled?

• Maybe you planned to use free time, but it never seemed to happen. Another option is to schedule it, just like you would any other appointment.

• Maybe you couldn’t focus on one project. Let’s look at why that happened. Is your art space full of lots of stuff? Can you create a small art kit to carry to the living room?

• Maybe your intentions were too loose. Saying you want to be creative is one thing. Saying you want to play with watercolors for 15 minutes every evening is a focused intention.

• Maybe you didn’t really play. Did you try to create ugly art? Did you create with no intention?

• Maybe you didn’t send the right signals to your brain. Is your art space doing double-duty as an office? Do you think your brain knows you want to create and not pay bills? Clean up before your creative time so you only see your art supplies.

Set your plan for the next few weeks and let’s get to arting!

Add a dash of focus

A few years ago when I decided to focus on my creativity, I didn’t concentrate on focusing my effort. At that point my goal was to bring any creative time into my life. As I met that goal, I started collecting ideas and inspiration. I find that most creative people are hyper-creative…you love it all, want to try it all. Once you start down the creative path, it is a slippery slope.

Now, I love all the things. ALL THE THINGS! I routinely tell my workshop attendees that I have never met an art supply I didn’t like. This leads to a very busy artist and a messy studio (which I love)… but, it also leads to a lack of focus. I know focus doesn’t seem fun, but a little focus can lead to a more satisfying creative routine.

…I know I am saying alot of fun-sucking words like focus and routine, but stick with me here…

Adding a bit of focus can allow you to explore something in depth. It can allow you to complete an art challenge. It can get you through a time when you have limited space or time. It can take away the feeling of not completing projects.

Easy ways to focus…

• Stop the scroll on social media. Most of us do not need to pin more ideas. We have enough ideas for a few lifetimes.

• Look through your current inspiration file and create a separate folder for projects you want to try next.

• Review your new list and pick which one you want to work on first.

• Then pick a timeframe to work on only that. It can be whatever time you think is enough to finish the project or allow you to explore fully.

• Give yourself reminders of your commitment. I like to use post-its around my studio to prompt me back on track. I hang them on my laptop, desk lamp, even on a box of supplies not related to my current project.

• You can also create a tool kit for your project. Move other items off your desk and out of sight.

• Re-evaluate often. Just because you said 30 days doesn’t mean you have to stick with it. Maybe you picked a new project but you aren’t enjoying it as much as you hoped. Re-evaluate…can you modify the project to like it better? Should you try it at a different time? Or is it just not for you?

Send your brain some signals

One of the best things I have done for my creative practice is adopt a routine for starting my practice. When I only had a few minutes to create, it seemed like I should just jump in. I would often feel discombobulated, my brain not shifting from “mom mode”. I would spend that precious time thinking about the laundry I needed to finish or what I was going to make for dinner.

I started adding a little ritual to the beginning of my studio time. Initially I started with just lighting a candle and taking a few deep breaths. Over time I have added to that routine. Now I have a stack of inspirational cards I pull from, incense I burn, candles, even a Tibetan bell. The important thing isn’t what you use, it’s that you have a routine that works for you.

There is a little science behind this. Our brain reads our routines to prepare itself for specific activities that it has learned over time. If you put on workout clothes enough, you brain prepares for exercise. Your pajamas can trigger sleep. The brain likes routines, so it is always trying to learn them. A repeated routine can create a new neural pathway. That is how habits are formed.

What to include in your creative ritual….

• Candles, incense or an oil diffuser

• Tea or coffee

• Cleaning your desk

• Refill your water container

• Your favorite music

• Pick an inspirational card

• Sit and breathe

• Anything that brings you into the moment