A contemporary abstract artist's manifesto
Having been a professional contemporary artist for over thirty years, I believe I can offer a few ideas on the subject of a sound philosophy and the right approach for abstract artists. So I present these ideas as my artist's manifesto.
1. Capture the essentials and ignore the insignificant
Try to capture the essential elements of a visual experience. Ignore the superfluous bits and eliminate unnecessary details. Focus on the critical aspects of the subject and capture only the significant and lasting characteristics.
2. Never compete with the camera
Reproducing accurately what the eye sees is not necessarily artistic creativity. Technical profiency may only produce an impressive illustration. A musical composer does not merely reproduce the sounds heard in nature, but creates a composition from his heart. Be interested in only creating images which reflect your subjective response to places, or express your feelings and capture the mood of being there.
3. Venture beyond the comfort zone
Do not be content to settle into a commercially successful and 'easy' style. Refuse to limit your output to 'much of the same' thus avoiding the use of a tired old formula. Choose to move beyond the safe comfort zone. Search for variety, revel in the excitement of discovering something new and unfamiliar, and also learn to experiment with 'future possibilities'.
4. Be seduced by abstraction, learn from music
Good abstract painters use the same basic principles as composers of music -- balanced composition, integrity, mood, tone, colour, texture, rhythm, harmony, contrast, balance, tension, counterpoint and so on. The objective is the same: creating a mood, arousing a feeling, stirring the emotions.
5. Focus on happiness and not on the dreary side of life
If you opt for using bright, cheerful, Australian colours, then you can express the thrill of being alive. I tend to focus on creating happy and optimistic images that contribute to the pleasant experiences of life.
For me as an artist the real achievement is when people tell me that my artworks speak to them, when my creations touch their hearts and spirit. When my paintings wash away the sweat and dust of their stressful working days, I am happy.
