Reason #1: Abstract art is a conversation starter: Abstract art can be interpreted differently by each viewer and naturally prompts interesting conversation.


 
Reason #2: Abstract art can guide interior design: If a room in your home needs a facelift, pick a piece of abstract art that speaks to you, and let it guide the color palette or room decor. 



Reason #3: Abstract art mingles with anything: The right abstract piece will fit with modern, traditional, rustic, vintage, country (you name it!) decor.  



For other compelling images of interior decor and abstract art, please visit my pinterest board "Decorating with Abstract Art".

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I am passionate about décor, abstract art and color; specifically a combination of the three. As an abstract photographer I often spend my days literally focused on colors. The play between colors within my viewfinder must be intriguing for me to snap the shot. My images may focus on a 1 or 2” square area, but when blown up 600 times their size, the color-play that initially caught my eye is impactful with sometimes surprising results. It takes time, patience and risk to generate a stirring piece of art.
 

Ah, February, the month of love.  Here’s a tip that will never break your heart.  Follow Your “Art”!  This inspiration comes from Mia Romanik, Art Advisor for Luxe Magazine who says, “for me, when I’m looking for pieces [of art], it’s always instinctual—a feeling I get about the work.  Then, I follow the artist for a while, and if that feeling stays, I’m sold; I’m a believer.”
 
That’s what’s great about the Internet and having access to so many resources online.  While you’re contemplating color, form and how you instinctively feeling about a piece of art, not to mention saving up to purchase the art, you can follow artists that you like.  Whether you aspire to own their work or just enjoy what they create, you can watch their websites, Pin them, or follow galleries where their work is shown.  As an artist, I can tell you, we like to be followed.  And the best part, following is free!  So while you’re saving your pennies or convincing your spouse that you really need that piece of contemporary art in your living room, you can indulge in following your favorite artists to see what they’re up to and what they’re creating. 
 
And if your Valentine’s day flowers have wilted or that box of chocolates is empty consider a little gift for yourself…one that will last. Follow your heart and buy some art!
 
Here are some artists I enjoy following: 


Michael Kessler


Hyunmee Lee


Robert Langford


Theodore Waddell

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Form is a critical part of what we evaluate when looking at art. My current show at the Ann Korologos Gallery was inspired by form and color.  Peggy Judy’s acrylic paintings and my abstract photographs create a unique mixture and contrast of the use of form. The beautiful forms within Peggy’s paintings, are somewhat abstract, but recognizable shapes as horses, Indians and Western landscapes; while the forms within my abstract photography are less specific and open to interpretation.

     

(Caballos Chaos by Peggy Judy & Chauvet Cave drawings)

As an artist, I’ve have always been drawn to abstract art's ability to stimulate the mind, and our individual experiences add even more layers to artistic interpretation of form.  An example of this is the Christmas card I created this year that originated with one of my abstract photographs. To me it looked like an abstract whimsical tree with black marks on the tree representing branches. To a friend of mine, it looked like penguins sliding down a mountain. There’s no right or wrong. Either interpretation is simply the workings of our individual imaginations.

     

(Abstract Photograph used for Christmas Card)

Interestingly, we are more comfortable with shapes and forms that we recognize. Our mind remembers familiar shapes from past encounters, and this memory resonates with us. Aspects of this are mentioned in a very interesting book titled Future of the Mind, by Michio Kaku. One of my goals with photography is to push the comfort zone of the mind, to encourage it to grow and stretch and become more comfortable with shapes and forms that may not be so easily recognizable. I believe that increasing our comfort zone with the unknown and exercising our brains to come up with new definitions for what we see may help increase the creativity of our brains.  Could this expansion inspire new solutions and new possibilities for the future by broadening the parameters of what is possible?  Could abstract art play a part in the evolution of the brain?  Is that part of what the classic Abstraction Expressionists intended?  To me the answer is "Yes!"  Consider petroglyphs; these “forms” were one of the first methods of communication used among early humans roughly 40,000 years ago.  Dr. Kaku notes that the use of tools [used to create these forms and in agriculture] helped the brain develop with the distinctly human characteristics to see today. 
 
Here are some of my other thoughts on form:
 
Form is the manifestation of expression.  It is the movement, the message, the impact of art.  Color and general aesthetic may reel us in but form sets the hook.  My “Life in Motion” triptych is an example of the influence of form. With a white background the fluidity of the rust-colored lines make these pieces primarily about the expression of movement. The message is abstract allowing each person to find their own connection to its meaning. When I look through the viewfinder, I’m searching for an abstract form that can inspire and remain open to interpretation.

(Express by Look Studio)

Enjoy the challenge of exercising your brain through art. What better way to express your passion and imagination than through viewing or creating a unique piece of art in any size or form.

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I smile and turn up the radio every time I hear Meghan Trainor’s recording of “All About that Bass”.  There are some things you just connect with.  In Meghan’s song it’s “that bass”; when it comes to decorating your home and selecting modern art, it’s “that color”.  Color may not be the priority for a high-end collector, but for most of us, color is our starting point.  

As you’ve seen in my blogs, the name of my current show at the Ann Korologos Gallery is Color and Form.  I wanted to share my thoughts on Color today and will share my ideas on Form another time. 



Color prompts one of the first instinctive reactions we feel toward art.  Whether we realize it or not, we’re making our initial assessment based on how much we like the color.  Unlike the artist who creates his or her own colors on canvas, a photographer captures the colors in an object and has minimal opportunity for manipulating the original color (unless with software after the image is taken).  One of my primary criterions for selecting what to photograph is based on color.  The colors you see in my art are a reflection of my personality.   

     

AND the colors you select in your art are kind of like a thumbprint version of your personality.  It’s the unique stamp of who you are. I encourage you to experiment with colors in your contemporary art and let that personality shine!   

If you’re looking at abstract art and considering the colors you want to hang on your wall, hum a little of “All About that Bass” while playing with color options.  It will lighten your mood and definitely add some attitude to your final selection.



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