Dare to Be Different

"Neopolitan"
​Abstract sample, available for commission.

It's pretty obvious that I made a big change in my art in 2015 when I started painting abstracts. There are a lot of artists that think I am crazy. That I sold out. And that I am not really painting "real" art. So why did I choose to go down the "abstract path"?

I did it for me.  

I wasn't necessarily bored with painting traditional palette knife oil paintings. I just wanted more. And it seemed as if everyone was painting landscapes and seascapes. And seascapes and landscapes. Plus, I was intrigued with the popularity of abstracts in all of my decorating magazines and my ideas to paint abstracts with a palette knife.

So here I am a year later and I am happier than I ever imagined. I wil admit I am still trying to juggle both painting abstracts and painting traditional palette knife oil paintings. I certainly favor the abstracts but I am trying really hard to also paint with my oil paints. And this past year has been hard. My marketing efforts have doubled. Both types of paintings appeal to different types of buyers (with some overlap). So I am working harder at marketing than ever to build a huge new client base of abstract collectors and artists )who want to learn how to paint abstracts). And it hit my pocketbook a bit last year.

But it's so worth it! Why? Because it's magical in my studio every day.

I know it sounds corny. But I am not kidding. I practically run in to my studio every morning. Painting abstracts is fun, challenging, exciting and absolutely unpredictable. In my abstract workshops I use the words "play" and "fun" all of the time. And even though I have worked really hard at finetuning my approach to painting abstracts, I am still often blown away with the outcome. In a really good way.

It's a big change but I have never regretted it for one second. Can you tell?