I once heard a well-known artist discuss abstract paintings like they were simply meaningless shapes and blobs and masses of color. I've also heard many people say that a particular painting looks like it was done by a three-year-old. Years ago (when I was much younger), the term "modern art" called to mind something that was very unusual, difficult to interpret, and probably didn't look like anything we would recognize. You know, if you can't understand it or identify it, it must be that dreaded "modern art." But that's not it at all.

Most people can differentiate between representational art ("That's a house and a tree.") and abstract art ("That's supposed to be a house and a tree. At least, that's what the title says."). From one extreme, such as photo-realism, to the other extreme with unidentifiable shapes and colors, we have an infinite number of variations. Sometimes, the definitions are cloudy. Just remember that the term "abstract" can mean different things to different people.

Abstract painting is not that hard to understand. An abstraction (an abstract work of art) is a condensed, cut-to-the-chase version of what the artist is painting. It starts with something real and is converted to something that is the essence of the subject. It is more like what the artist feels or wants to feel than what the artist sees. The artist is seeing beyond mere objects. It means we can take liberties with our work--it's artistic license, you know (By the way, don't forget to renew your artistic license this year.).

Abstract art can also be based on moods, feelings, impressions, sounds, and almost any other intangible. These, of course, are non-objective, or non-representational works. After all, how do we know what someone else's mood looks like?

I'm told that paintings should be carefully planned. Design, color, value, balance, and all of those other confusing things should be considered--even if you decide you don't know what they all mean. That said, I must admit that I don't plan ahead as much as I should. I just paint--no planning, no thinking (easy for me), and lots of hoping that it will come out OK.

I think it's important to realize that your picture does not have to look like the subject. If you want it to look just like the subject, then use a camera and be done with it. I hope that my paintings always look better than the subject. Even when they lean toward abstraction, I want them to be something more than what I see in front of me.

But the important thing is to have fun. I enjoy putting paint on paper and watching it run. I see, in my mind, what I want want to paint. I see shapes and values and I try to get it on paper. Sometimes it works. Sometimes, it's a mess. But it's always fun and I always learn from it.