What is it about Abstracts?

It's no secret that artists are insecure people. We worry about whether we are good enough to be successful, whether we are exhibiting or creating enough, and we question whether or not anyone is paying attention to our work. As an abstract artist in Maine, I have the particular difficulty of trying to sell in a market that is not only flooded, but flooded with landscapes and realist art. I often ask myself where my place is in this market and how I can broaden my audience.

In many ways, I feel that my art is misunderstood and sometimes not understood at all. It's easy to look at a well-executed and realistic painting of a tree and say, "Wow, that artist has some talent." But what about a series of circles or geometric shapes? The common reaction is, "My five year old could do that and I could get it for free!" While perusing the net for some consolation I found a quote that spoke to my heart.

How else can you express your soul, your spirit, your heart? Abstract is like music without words, you need not understand it, yet for each who go with it's flow there is meaning in a sphere beyond the mediocre. It is food for the soul. -- Esther Snyman

I have long maintained that I don't simply do abstracts because I am bad at drawing. Abstracts are about a deep connection with the soul and spirit of life -- the movement, the flow, the shapes, the texture, and the vibrant everlasting hues. It is my highest expression of self.

I do not know the woman who wrote this on a random internet messageboard but my guess is that she speaks as a fellow artist. In any case, her words spoke to my heart and provide solace when I doubt myself and my work. With these words, I soldier on. My theory is that if I keep producing my work, the galleries, the people, and the money will come. It's all just a matter of time.