What Kind of Art do You Make?

What Kind of Art

“What is this kind of art called?” a commenter recently asked about the works shown my recent YouTube video, “How to Create Distinct but Cohesive Artwork “.

How do I answer this? My simplistic answer is that it is abstract. But, because of my long association with this commenter, I present one that is more heart-felt.

The Official Answer

My home page says, my works are a “distinctly positive and colourful focus for your walls”. Further, “Keeping a positive focus in my artwork is important because I truly believe that the world needs all the optimism any of us can offer. My works are created to add a bit of colour and joy into your spaces.”

Nonetheless, this all sounds a bit like “spin” which, full-disclosure, it is, in this SEO-driven online world.

The heartfelt answer

However, that being said, “keeping a positive focus in my artwork” is at the heart of what I do in the studio. Indeed, I seek optimism every day. Furthermore, I make sure I implement planned steps to keep it so.

Personality reality

Choosing optimism is not an easy choice for me because, by my own analysis, I’m a bit choleric…actually, probably more than a bit! Hence, I naturally focus on the not-so-good in life. Therefore, I make pretty rigid personal rules to avoid dwelling on doom and gloom.

Intentional search for the lovely

One tenet is I seek, “whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, (to) think on these things”. Thank God I’m married to the most positive, yet realistic, person on earth. It makes pursing the positive more obtainable.

Avoiding despair

However, after languishing in the first-world despair of the past several years, including my mother’s passing, closing our business, the seemingly relentless repair and remodel of our rental and our home, and all the consequences from the COVID lockdowns; I cannot continue the navel-gazing ways of my former artistic pursuits.  

What I seek instead

While I’m really pleased with my collection of narrative realism works, I no longer have the heart to contemplate the weightier issues of existence. Moreover, I’ve contemplated them long enough.  Thus, in a nod to the ecclesiastical philosopher, my intention is to live a God-honouring life in and out of the studio. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Choosing Abstraction

Consequently, I pursue abstraction whole-heartedly. Accordingly, I embarked on the 52 abstracts in 52 weeks pursuit in 2023.

One of the early “rules” of that pursuit of studio play meant I’d only use primary colours. Thereby, I produced fairly happy looking works early on.  However, using mixed colours, especially neutral tones, lent a bit more sophistication to the later works in the  ‘Moving On‘ and ‘Hurly Burly‘ collections.

Reinterpreting works from ‘Hurly Burly’ led to my latest “Mountain” works. Thereafter, I created stripes from carefully chosen colours and neutrals which created optimistic works. However, the optimism is not without deep thought.

Optimistic Abstraction

Hence, I added Rahab’s thread to “Mountain Moving Time’. I borrowed this element from my previous realism series, ‘Ephemeral Perception’ and ‘Out of Hand’. Furthermore, I love the redemptive and hopeful message contained in the biblical narrative of Rahab woven throughout Old Testament and New Testament scripture.

Late, but Better

I’m now in the closing weeks of my “52 works in 52 weeks” challenge. Begun in early March 2023, it probably will end up being 52 works in 131 weeks. Thus, it’s about two and half times the original goal.

I’m at peace with not meeting that target because I enjoyed what was developing in my studio on 31 May 2024, which was the official end of the challenge. Further, I wanted to make a collection of works that were challenging, optimistic, and that I liked.

Dilemma over the earliest works

Often, the best thing you can do for your work is to take a break. Honestly, I’m glad I still like them, and now want to frame them. Some of them, however, perhaps look better with a changed orientation.

Take a look to the side (or down below if you’re on mobile) to see the works virtually framed. What do you think?  Which orientation do you like.  Let me know in the comments. 

These works will soon be added to my online shop. Be sure to join my email list to get email list-only prices to purchase them.  Also, those on my email list will be the first to see when my latest new works debut.

Limited Time Offer for Free Online Mentoring

Attention artists! Free, for a limited-time, I offer online mentoring. Details are coming once I get your input.  So sign up now.

We’ll use Zoom to start. So, be sure to go to the sign up form below to register your interest.

Check out these other joyful artists I’ve discovered

In my pursuit of making joy-filled art I’ve come upon two Oceania artists I hope you check out.  I really like both of their works a lot.