would like to introduce myself. there is quite a genuine talent pool to be sure. i paint, draw, write, etc. mostly abstract, self-taught, sometimes art brut, outsider. would love to hear from folks! cheers!

hello Michael...hello. I took a look at your works. I'm interested to know how you can call yourself  'self-taught' if you been working as a Graphic designer for so many years?

I have not met anyone who teaches abstract because it isn't a technique or a philosophy either. Perhaps its because I see abstract art as being universal art and not personal. Although it is a personal expression there paradoxically is no boundary between universal and personal.

Having said that, graphic design draws its life blood from Art and when one is exposed to that the influence can be far reaching.

Who are yout favourite Abstract artists (famous) if any?

What are your views about what I have just said?

I like the rawness of your stroke...expressive...one can see you been at it for quiet a few years by now.

Adrian

Adrian,

valid points and great insight adrian. my profession has been graphic design— and even at that i was mostly self-taught. i moved up the corporate ladders by adhering and adapting to industry trends, collaboration and other zealous pursuits. And precisely, the two disciplines (being painting and graphic design) unequivocally fed off each other.

During my journey as a professional graphic designer I found myself torn between wanting to transform many of my graphic work into paintings and adhering to standards and rules, if you will, of gDesign. I was highly influenced by David Carson and other prestigious typographers of the time. Much of their work was painterly in aesthetics and composition. So it seemed an inevitable course for me to channel similar, if not the same, creative energies into painting.

 I really do not think one can teach abstract art. It is a breakdown of something complete, cohesive and non-abstract. Deconstruction. I am a firm believer that you either have it (that is the ability to abstract) or you don’t! and yes, abstract art is certainly universal for it speaks to all languages, cultures and people in some form or another.

 My fav painters have always been cy twombly, deKooning, basquiat to name just a few. Many others but these have always been at the top of my list. Oh, and jean buffet and some other great, ‘outsider’ artists.

 Thank you for your feedback and perhaps we can keep an on-going correspondence. Best, Michael. 

aha Michael...that sounds interesting...thanx for the reply.

I can understand that  push pull with design rules and standards. Certainly something a lot of us have to deal with because of our idea of what authority is.

I struggled for years to not hear that little voice that niggled at the back of my mind everytime I took up a creative venture. How will this sell? Will it sell? etc...all about whether it is good enough and valuable enough. It got to such an extent that I stopped painting altogether. But even that was beyond my control. By the time I did eventually pick up the brush, was the moment none of that niggling was present and it never came back again. I'll put it down to understanding my creative process...starting from who I thought myself to be. It was as simple and complex as that.

I do also think that abstract art is something you either do well or not. There has to be talent for it. Because the talent seems to be intertwined with the passion to express it.

And then there are degrees of understanding around abstractism that vary according to what sensabilities and understanding one has with regards to art. Like making the marks of a child but with the wisdom of an adult...such things. They have a language beyond intellectual understanding.

I remember one British abstract guy (just cant recall his name at the moment..but I saw him on a youtube video)...he said "it's like walking into a room and seeing everything at once" ...hell, yeh...it certainly is and the great thing about it is that the reasoning intellectual mind just cannot fathom it.

Hello, Michael.

Ejoyed reading your statement.  Looks like you have been doing this for some time.  I have recently started my artwork only after realizing how important it was im my life.  Hopefully get to know more about you.

hello Jin,

thank you for the comments! i looked at your work and i must say it is original. you have some great compositions and intriguing subject matter. it makes one want to seek more. nice work. yes, i agree on your remark about how essential doing art is in your life. i would not function without it.

best, michael