Choosing the Abstract Path: Beyond the Tangible Canvas

The world of art presents a fundamental fork in the road for every creator: realism or abstraction? Both offer powerful means of expression, yet they lead the artist and the viewer down dramatically different paths. For me, that path is decidedly the abstract.

 

 

The Power of Realism's Anchor

 

Realism serves as an anchor. It strives for a faithful, recognizable representation of the observable world, emphasizing accuracy and detail. A realistic portrait is a mirror, reflecting the tangible features of its subject, giving the viewer a clear, common point of reference. It is a powerful style that roots us in the familiar, making the artist's skill a triumph of observation and technique . The goal is to successfully translate the physical world onto a two-dimensional plane.

 

 

Abstract Art: Freedom Beyond the Confines

 

My own artistic journey, however, finds its voice in abstract art. This style is a deliberate departure from literal depiction, choosing instead to use colors, shapes, and forms to express emotions, concepts, or a more personal interpretation of reality.

The observable world, while beautiful, sometimes feels too limiting for the inner turbulence or joy I wish to convey. How do you paint a feeling of overwhelming anxiety, or the soaring lightness of sudden inspiration, using only accurate depictions of objects? The choice between styles often hinges on this: realism anchors the viewer in the tangible, while abstraction offers freedom for emotional and conceptual exploration beyond physical confines.

 

Why I Choose to Speak in Shapes and Hues

 

For me, abstract art is the most direct language of the soul and the subconscious. When I create, I'm not trying to show you what I saw, but how I felt it.

Emotional Expression: An intense, jagged line in deep crimson can convey anger more viscerally than a photo of a frowning face ever could. A wash of soft, blending blues and yellows can capture the quiet melancholy of a rainy afternoon without needing a recognizable landscape.

Pure Self-Expression: Abstract painting is a form of unfiltered self-talk. It allows me to bypass the constraints of logic and physical accuracy. The canvas becomes a diary where my emotions—raw, immediate, and complex—are translated directly into paint and texture. There is an immense freedom in knowing that a painting's success is not measured by its likeness to an external object, but by its authenticity to my internal state.

By choosing abstraction, I invite you, the viewer, to move past the superficial and to truly feel the work. You are not just looking at a painting; you are engaging with a record of a human experience, translated into the fundamental elements of art. It's a conversation that begins not with recognition, but with raw emotion.

Spare of the Moment 8x8, acrylic on canvas. Artwork by Silvana Santana.