Katie Jeanne Wood
Pink & pale yellow abstract painting

Summer has filled her veins with light and her heart is washed with noon.
C. Day Lewis

I created this abstract painting with this quote in mind, which I ran across on Pinterest.

The way I approach abstract painting is different for each one. It’s not as easy as throwing some color down on a page, and being done with it. I mean, sure..I’ve done that, and will do it every so often when I’m feeling dull and uninspired. But, I’ve found that when I create abstracts that way, it becomes boring fast, and I lose interest. 

Katie Jeanne Wood
Large art journal abstract painting No 3

The “veins” with the dark pink underneath are my favorite part of this painting. I created this page with palette knives, soft pastels, pencil, stabilo pencils, brushes, and an awl. 

To me, an abstract painting must have some meaning behind it or what’s the point of picking up a knife or brush? If I have nothing in mind from the start, except maybe the paint colors, the painting is going to be a big nothing to me when it’s finished. Sure, the colors might go together, but so what? Why bother in the first place? I might as well have sat on the couch, and stared at the wall. 

So, before I paint abstractly, I try to tap into something that inspires, interests or moves me. I heavily rely on taking things from every day life such as emotions, sounds, sight, memories, conversations, quotes, words, thoughts, visions I have while meditating, dreams I have at night, poems, books I’m reading, and so much more.

I like to have a jumping off place to begin, which stays with me as the piece progresses. This blue one I titled before I started painting – Every Scar Washed Away, and the title was my starting point. About 2 minutes in, I also had a verse from Leonard Cohen’s Anthem song pop into my head, which was unexpected because I rarely, if ever, listen to music. I have no idea where it came from, but it was there. I picked it up, and allowed my brain to run with it. The last line kept repeating as I was painting. 

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

So basically, I was alternating from the title “Every Scar Washed Away” to “That’s how the light gets in”..back and forth as I painted this piece. The word “washed” was giving me rain, showering, cleansing the body & mind, and most of all, ocean vibes. I could see waves crashing in my minds eye. I envisioned my bestie, Wanda, and the stories she’s told me of body surfing in the Pacific ocean. I caught glimpses of growing up on the east coast, Old Orchard beach, and the Maine coastline. 

Sometimes I’d concentrate on ocean waves, and other times “light” became my focus. You can’t have light without darkness, so that too was showing up in this piece. Since darkness wasn’t my main focus, it only has a small presence in this work. 

If I’m using a quote, I will sometimes write it down, and have it sitting in front of me on my work table. I didn’t with this blue piece because the song popped into my head as I was painting, and it wouldn’t go away. So, I was like..hey, Mr Cohen, since you’re here in my head, uninvited, repeating yourself, you might as well inspire me, and let’s finish this painting together, yeah? lol Yes, I talk to my muses, and you don’t? Maybe you should. 😜😂

I don’t think I’ve ever dug deep into writing about my thought process when I’m painting abstracts, not here anyway. I usually keep it to myself because I’ve had the mindset of letting the viewer see what they see. Tbh, it’s intimidating to bring you along with me inside my head, but since I have this huge art journal to fill, I don’t want to write post after post of “here’s a blue abstract”, “here’s an orange one”. UGH. That would be super dull, and have no substance. Yeah, great, blue paint – whatever. Abstract painting to me is so much more than color on a page. I want to remember each painting – how it began, and why I painted it. 

I hope this post inspires you to think abstractly next time you paint, and to let those thoughts, visions & feelings come through in your painting. Feel free to use any quotes or anything I write to inspire you, and paint your own abstract painting. Let your mind wander, and see where it takes you. It just might surprise you. 

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See my artwork in a new movie – The Whale starring Brendan Fraser, which was released on December 9th, 2022.  

If you haven’t checked out my eBay store in a while, you should. Some artwork I have marked down to only $10 or $15, and auctions starting at only 99 cents. I also sell on Etsy. 

As always, if you want to say hello or have any questions you can write me here. I love getting email, and hearing from you. 

Other places to find me online. 

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