How to start an abstract painting? Sometimes I still get a bit stuck when beginning a new painting so in this video I show you my first steps in making an abstract painting.
In this weeks live studio update I share how I make an abstract painting. My approach to how I begin each painting varies as I grow as an artist but I’m generally consistent in the type of initial paint marks I make on my surface to find and guide myself through the first steps of a painting.
I also show some work that I will be including in my upcoming studio sale which has 50% off selected paintings! If you are on my mailing list you will have access to this, if not please sign up below. The selected paintings range in size from 40x40cm right up to 100x70cm and are all made on canvas using oil paint.
Thanks for watching, Aisling x
Background to my Live Studio Updates:
When Covid-19 arrived in the UK all of my upcoming exhibitions, art fairs and arts facilitation roles were either cancelled or postponed. If Covid has taught me anything it’s the importance of proactivity and self-resilience. If I had no way to physically show my paintings then I had to work out an alternative. I had a small online presence through my website and Instagram account but wasn’t very sure how to use either.
However, I saw these platforms as a way to keep my work moving during the pandemic & to get my paintings seen. I did an overhaul of my website (ongoing!), began to be more active on my Instagram and started a YouTube channel. One of the hardest things I did was I began speaking live every Wednesday from my studio about what was happening, what work I was making, the ethos of my painting practice and all the realities of life as an artist. However, amazingly this practice each Wednesday has proved to be one of the best decisions I’ve made over the last year or so!
Building Virtual Art Relationships
Through chatting and sharing directly from my art studio I’ve connected with first-time art buyers & seasoned art collectors around the world. I’ve had lots of positive feedback but the main thing I keep hearing is it’s great to see what goes into making a painting rather than just buying the finished artwork.
I share the materials I use, why I use them, painting techniques and how I build a painting. Also because abstraction can sometimes be viewed as an inaccessible area of art people tell me they’ve enjoyed learning about this genre as I also share artists who have influenced my work and any exhibitions I go to (when I can!)
For me, I love that people can now buy my original abstract paintings online from me, connecting with me directly and build a virtual art relationship. As these videos have become an integral part of what I do, I’ve decided to start sharing them on my website in my creative journal posts as it opens up my work to you. If you can’t come and visit me at an exhibition or in my painting studio at least now you can see & hear all about what I’m making and how I’m making it!
If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch as it’s always a pleasure to hear from people interested in my paintings Sign up to my newsletter (via website) for sporadic updates, preview access to new paintings, free shipping & a few nice surprises in between – let’s start a conversation! Many thanks, Aisling