Ohl - Abstracts in acrylic & ink

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I dedicate this book to my loving and ever supportive mother. From day one, she has been there to cheer me on and encourage me in every way possible. From her, I have learned so much about life, integrity, work ethic and how to overcome obstacles. Her belief in me has given me the guiding force and confidence to pursue any dream I believe in. Thank you, Mom. Im grateful for it all.

FOR YEARS IVE BEEN DABBLING IN ABSTRACTS. Happily moving paint around the canvas. Scratching into the layers of paint and texture. Writing my thoughts down for the day on a layer that will be veiled by more paint, perhaps covered by a piece of paper. There have been days when I work and I see nothing but a hot mess. Colors that do not go together and a lack of direction with no foreseeable end in sight. I walk away confused and a bit frustrated, yet I almost always walk away happy.

How can one be happy yet frustrated? Its like having a dynamic conversation with enthusiastic participants. The more passion each side has, the more interesting the dialogue is. Does there have to be a winner or loser in the dialogue? Do you have to come to a conclusion that everyone is happy with? Or is it good enough to simply talk and have your feelings heard by another person?

I say this because painting can be like having a passionate dialogue between yourself, your paint and the canvas. The three of you work together back and forth. There are moments when you get so lost in what you are saying to one another, you hardly can believe two or four or eight hours have passed. You have experienced extreme highs when the flow seemed to pour out of you and then there were moments when you had to walk away from the argument before you punched something or someone.

At the end of the day (or the session), a resolution of all the players occurs. You come to an acceptance of one anothers belief systems. Everyone has had a chance to be heard and you are all at peace with what has transpired. Youve detached yourself from the outcome but had a vested hand in what transpired from the moment you started talking. Its no longer yours, hers, theirs, his. The painting has become its own persona. You gave birth in a sense.

That relationship, the dialogue, the argument, the love, the frustration, the acceptance, the letting go, its all in the painting. Its a happy moment yet its a frustrating moment. You cant always control what you create, just like you cant control another person, but if you are lucky, the best parts of you have influenced this being into becoming a bit better than it could have had you not been in its life. Thats all we can ask for no matter what we do.

When I thought about writing a book on abstracts, I rejected the idea, thinking I have absolutely no right to be an author on abstracts, painting or any other artistic endeavor. Ive never attended art school (other than a few long-forgotten drawing classes in high school and college). I am not a graduate with a MFA, nor do I know all of the so-called rules of painting. The fear of writing about something you are not an expert on is so real, it can be paralyzing. Truthfully, the fear of attempting anything you are not confidant about can be paralyzing. Yet, if we all did only what we have mastered, what would any of us do? I think the better way to look at my right to write about abstracts, or art in general, is that I am sharing my experience with you, and if you stick with me, five years from now Ill have new experiences to share. If we all keep trying new things, the world will be a much richer place. The bonus points come from birthing creations (our paintings) into the world, objects that would not exist had we not stepped away from our fear and walked through the door of opportunity.

Dont let the fear of not being ready or not knowing enough stop you from doing what is in your heart or trying something you are drawn to. Theres a reason for it all, and its about to unfold. We all have a sweet and humbling connection to one another. We all start at the same place, the beginning. Life, if we let it, will constantly show us what we need to learn.

That is why I should write a book on abstracts, even though I have had no formal training. The result is a book about learning how to unfold, learn, grow, expand, experiment and experience a dialogue with your art.

WHEN I LOOK AT BOTH my home studio and my working studio (yes, I have two studios!), its hard to believe how many supplies Im surrounded by now. In 2006, when I first started painting, journaling, collage work and overall dabbling in mixed media, I could fit all the supplies I owned on a medium-sized decorative shelf ladder, along with a few assorted stamps, pens, papers and brushes I kept on my desk. Just like most art supply collectors (and I do say that word loosely as there is a fine line between collector and hoarder), I find it hard to resist whatever is calling me at the moment. Whether its the thrill of a shiny new paint color or a brush that promises master pieces at the end of the stroke, its hard to say no.

Over time, though, I have developed an appreciation for higher-quality supplies and professional-grade materials. After disappointments with canvases that warped after I painted for hours on them, paints that appeared dull or cracked because of too much water and impure binder in their formulas, bristles falling out and becoming part of my painting, it goes without saying that some of the frustration experienced could have been avoided if I had invested a little more in my craft.

Heres the contradiction I will pose for you: You dont need to buy the best products if you are new to painting. Its like if you were just starting to sew and werent even sure if you were going to enjoy the process, you more than likely wouldnt buy the best sewing machine on the market right out of the gate. Rather, youd start with one that was affordable and good to practice with and then upgrade after you were fairly certain you would stick with the medium. With that in mind, buy a few key colors (your primaries for example), and learn to mix those colors. In the next few pages, Ill share information and tips about typical supplies we will be using. Hopefully for those that are new to painting, theyll help you make better decisions as to what to add to your artistic arsenal.