Free Up Your Paintings-The Advantages Of Obscurity by Nancy Hillis, MD. The Artist’s Journey
Free Up Your Abstract Paintings: The Advantages Of Obscurity
Yesterday I had the most delightful experience. A UPS truck pulled up to my house and delivered a heavy package. It was addressed from Wyoming and I realized that it was a surprise from a wonderful student of mine.
I opened up the package to see this gorgeous catalog from the Women Of Abstract Expressionism exhibit at the Denver Art Museum!
My heart quickened as I discovered wondrously alive paintings over the pages. Wow!
My favorites were there: Helen Frankenthaler, Elaine de Kooning, and Joan Mitchell as well as others: Lee Krasner, Jay DeFeo, Grace Hartigan, and Joan Brown.
Yet the astonishing thing was discovering artists I wasn’t previously aware of: Perle Fine, Mary Abbott, Emiko Nakano, Deborah Remington, Ethel Schwabacher, and many more. Of note is the artist using the professional moniker Michael West who sometimes dressed in male attire and whose name was Corinne Michelle West.
These women poured their hearts and souls into their paintings.
The work is raw, visceral, and immediate. It’s alive and personal. Some of the paintings are voluptuous and lush while others are dark and penetrating. For me it’s a window into each artists life.
Catalog from “Women Of Abstract Expressionism” exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. Edited by Joan Marter. Intro by Gwen F. Chanzit, Exhibition Curator
The Advantages Of Obscurity
One chapter that particularly captures my imagination is titled: “The Advantages Of Obscurity: Women Abstract Expressionists in San Francisco”. Because the art scene was nascent in San Francisco in the 1940’s and 50’s the artists were liberated to create works that were noncommercial, experimental, and utterly personal.
There’s radical freedom in obscurity.
You’re free to paint for yourself rather than constantly looking over your shoulder comparing your work with others…or continually second guessing your paintings because you fear that your audience (clients, galleries, museums, curators, critics…even yourself) won’t approve of it.
The question is: Will you grab hold of this freedom and give yourself permission to paint whatever wants to come out of you?
Will you allow yourself to not know what’s going to happen when you approach the canvas?
Will you let yourself be surprised?
Will you remain open and vulnerable?
Will you finally trust yourself?
With gratitude,
P.S. NOW is the perfect time to create.
This is the existential moment- this is the time where we see what our life is about. We notice what is meaningful and alive for us.
You might be thinking…I’m just too blocked, too down, too scared or frozen….or even just shy….
You may be feeling that you can’t create now….
But I say to you that you’re a creator…you’re an artist and artists create.
And there are many ways to create and be creative….
Pair your explorations in your art studio with our Art of the Possible Book Series!
The Art of the Possible Book Series
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Hi Nancy! I signed up and I by the time I thought of it, it was over and I missed it! I’m so upset at myself. I felt a twinge of something pulling me to watch and listen to what you had to say about creating our own abstract art. I really would love to watch. Is it too late? Can you air it over again ? I’m so sorry I missed it! Thank you for everything you stand for! I feel so connected and yet I don’t know why yet. I’m excited to see what the future holds and why I was mgeant to watch your video’s.
Hi Nicqelle, No worries at all dear Nicqelle! No, it’s not too late. Please write to my team at support@nancyhillis.com and we’ll send you a replay.
You’re so welcome. Thank you for being here. I appreciate your interest in my work.
Warmly,
Nancy
Hi,aww I’m so inspired by your words,same things has been happening to me until I meant you Nancy…Thank you for all you are offering. Even if I were to get nothing more than your already given encouragement, I have learned something. Thank you.
Thank you so much! It means a great deal to me to hear this. Warmly, Nancy
Ah, yes, the freedom of obscurity…how well I know thee. The freedom of painting for myself, only for myself, is a wondrous gift. Studio Journey has given me a wonderful knowing of myself and the confidence of expression that doesn’t seek to please. It has allowed me to journey through the dark nights of questioning and not trusting my work. Nancy you are a superb guide and a compassionate teacher. I encourage anyone seeking to grow with their art in a deeply honest and heartfelt way to join this awesome journey, knowing that some will explore in obscurity.
Much love and thanks to you, Nancy.
Ah…dear Joys, your kind and compassionate words mean the world to me. Thank you. the work of my life to help others believe in themselves in their lives and their art. Your words are an affirmation of this. Thank YOU so much for being in my life.
Much love to you too, dear Joys,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
I have just been reading your article and am really interested in your 7 day trial, not sure if it is still available
I paint every day in oils figurative, portraits, still life,abstract, I love it all but feel I need a direction
Would your course help me
Kind regards
Lesley
Hi Lesley, thanks so much. Well the trial is over but Studio Journey is still open. You can go to courses.nancyhillis.com to read about it and enroll. Each month we explore a different concept/topic in abstract painting. My course helps artists explore these various topics and there are lessons, exercises and a full painting demo every month. You can always try it out for a month and see what you think. Thanks so much for your interest. Warmly, N
Hi Lesley, thanks so much. Well the trial is over but Studio Journey is still open. You can go to courses.nancyhillis.com to read about it and enroll. Each month we explore a different concept/topic in abstract painting. My course helps artists explore these various topics and there are lessons, exercises and a full painting demo every month. You can always try it out for a month and see what you think. Thanks so much for your interest. Warmly, Nancy
All of the above: painted impressionistic ally forever, now wish to abstract it into something looser, more creative, more ME! Thank you for all you are offering. Even if I were to get nothing more than your already given encouragement, I have learned something. Thank you.
You’re so welcome Sandra! I’m delighted that you’ve felt encouraged by my writings.Thank you so much for writing.
I’m a guy in my late seventies I’ve been oil painting for many years mainly landscapes and animals I paint mainly for pleasure I’m not a professional taught
myself to paint via books and the last 20 odd yrs with dvd’s but I’ve been wanting
to try my hand at abstract painting but have not got a clue where to start I have more than enough equipment you name it I’ve got it over the last few yrs I’ve been using watermixable paints or acrylics. Any suggestions
Thank you Mr Alan Gordenfelt
Hi Alan, thanks for writing to me. Years ago I found myself in a similar place where I had painted landscapes and figures in oils and watercolors and wanted to shift to painting abstracts. I loved seeing the work of Cy Twombley, Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell and others in museums and wanted to be able to paint like that…I wanted to paint something expressive and personal and alive…but I didn’t know how or where to start. I recommend Steven Aimone’s book: Expressive Drawing. Additionally, if you haven’t already, you can take my free 7 day email course “The Artist’s Journey: Creating Your Deepest Work” by signing up via this link: The Artist’s Journey: Creating Your Deepest Work. You can also sign up if you go to the ‘Workshops’ area of my website. Additionally, I have an online class: “The Artist’s Journey: 3 Secrets Of The Masters” which is a 4 week online course open to anyone who wants to paint abstracts. I hope this helps! Warm regards, Nancy
I’ve been fascinated with abstract art for a long time, and I’ve just started working on a few pieces of my own. One of the main things I’ve been struggling with has to do with comparing my work to others. I want my paintings to be as great as famous professional abstract artists, so I want to model my work to look as good as their paintings. Your comment about how I should feel free to paint for myself was really insightful. You’re right, comparing my work to others isn’t going to help my art improve. I’ll try to paint for myself without fearing what my audience would think of my work.
Hi Judy. Yes, the language of comparison is a trap. It’s part of the inner criticism that can stop you in your tracks. The most alive and astonishing work comes from trusting yourself to explore and experiment and show the world YOU. When I look at your work I want to see what Judy Wilson is creating…not a facsimile of someone else’s work. It’s an ongoing process to increasingly trust yourself as you create…and deeply rewarding. Thanks so much for writing to me Judy!
Just found you on Pinterest. The cutoff time to receive Bonus module was yesterday. If i sign up today, could i still receive the Bonus?
I am very interested in experimenting with color.
Hi Teresa,
Yes, absolutely! I would love to have you in the course! Register now and I’ll be sure you receive the special bonus module on Experimenting With Color at the end of the course. I look forward to seeing you in there. Here’s the link to sign up: https://www.artistsjourney.com/artists-journey-3-secrets-of-the-masters/
Thanks so much! I’ll see you in the course!
Nancy