Why I Switched to Abstract Art (and Never Looked Back)

Like a lot of artists, I started out painting realistically. In the early days, I painted commissioned portraits — people, pets, houses — all carefully crafted to look just like the real thing. It was rewarding in its own way, and I definitely honed my skills doing that kind of work.

But over time, I started feeling pulled in a different direction.

I found myself lingering on abstract paintings by other artists — the kind that made me stop and feel something without knowing exactly why. There was something powerful in those shapes, colors, and textures that didn’t try to imitate the real world, but still said so much.

That’s when it hit me: I don’t need to recreate a flower exactly the way it looks. I’ll never out-paint nature — it already got it right. But I can capture what that flower makes me feel. Maybe it’s joy, maybe it’s calm, maybe it’s something a little wild. That’s where abstract painting started to feel like home.

These days, if I want realism, I reach for my camera. It does a great job of recording what’s in front of me. But when I want to express something deeper — something more emotional or intuitive — I turn to paint.

That said, I still have so much admiration for artists who work in realism. The level of detail, control, and sheer patience it takes to bring something to life with that kind of precision is incredible. I’m constantly inspired by their work — it’s just not the path that fills me up creatively anymore.

Abstract art gives me the freedom to explore and play. It’s not about getting every detail “right”; it’s about being honest. It invites you, the viewer, to bring your own story to the piece — to see something different every time you look at it. 

Choosing abstraction didn’t mean turning my back on realism. It just meant giving myself permission to follow what lit me up inside.

And honestly? That’s where the magic happens.

Thanks for reading — and for being part of the journey. If you’d like to see how all of this shows up on the canvas, feel free to check out my latest work.