Abstract

Abstraction comes from an inner creative voice. I’m a meditator, an explorer and I love philosophy. I’ve always admired abstract art much more than any other genre. I create my abstract paintings from experience, memory of place or time, emotion and intuition. Sometimes it’s more challenging for me to paint in this way. It can cause frustration but comes from the need to paint expressively – and for me that is a really important part of my creative process – so I paint abstractly perhaps because I feel confined painting realistically.

It’s a personal journey and process. It’s about developing confidence and personal freedom. As I paint and explore I develop an inner confidence that is exciting and energising. As the painting unfolds naturally I have to let go of any doubt, fear or preconceived ideas. There is something about painting in an unpredictable way where each step is filled with creative potential. There’s a mystery – where, what and how will it unfold. It’s about the creative rhythm, the playful childlike energy and keeping momentum. Breaking rules. Staying challenged.

Abstraction involves a synthesis of ideas, emotions and experiences and there’s a creative and personal unfolding that takes place which is quite magical. Sometimes I start with an idea in mind and end up in a completely different direction and place so I stay open and the aim is to go with the flow. Then one things leads to another and then to another and it keeps changing along the way. I eventually get to a point where I no longer feel stuck at all within the creative process and this brings me a lot of joy. This is what I love seeing my students experience also – this moment of creative freedom and being in flow state.”