Daily Paint

"Abstract Landscape, Sunset", "Abstract Landscape, Trees" and "Abstract Landscape, Waves" (three studies) - ink and acrylic on aquabord, each 6" x 6"

The final daily paint-a-thon for 2015, then a little break before 30 Paintings In 30 Days begins on January 1.  Today's studio time produced a trifecta of abstract landscape studies with my fabulous Adirondack Re-Inkers on aquabord.

Making abstracts requires me to squint mentally.  To soften the edges around everything and pick out the basic shapes.  To back off from perfect details and look instead for the essence of something.  A hint, a suggestion, an innuendo. 

The mental process behind painting an abstract works very well when getting dressed in the morning. (Now hold on a cotton-pickin' minute, you might be thinking.  Abstracts and outfits? Hang in there, dear reader!)  I actually learned this fashion philosophy from my sister, who has a knack for putting together outfits which present the essence of a person, without getting too caught up in matching colors with textures and handbags with shoes.  It's very simple, really.  Once you've got your outfit on, stand back a bit from the mirror and squint.  

Now this will result in a slightly blurry image, which, according to the experts, is exactly what most people see when the look at you out in public.  People are not likely to notice that your whites aren't perfectly white, or that your navy blues don't exactly match.  They may not notice that your shoes aren't perfectly polished or that your hair is slightly askew on the left.  They will notice this blurry image and immediately form an opinion, which will replace anything they may actually see up close (for the most part - there are some details too oddball to forget, truly!) because they've already formed an opinion.

Notice how this reduces the pressure to find the perfect outfit?  What it does require is for you to select colors and styles which suit your body shape and hair and skin tones.  Then don't worry so much about the rest.  The same goes with your hairstyle - pick one to compliment the shape of your face, and everything else will be ok.   Your squinty appearance will be one put-together person!  

Now go forward into the new year embracing your own abstract image, and ditch the close-up realism.  You will be a walking piece of modern art, pleasing to the eye and drawing positive attention wherever you go.

These abstracts are available, framed or unframed.  Inquiries: imajenation@gmail.com.